Mr. Hale to Mr.
Seward
No. 65.]
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, November 17, 1866.
Sir: On the 3d instant our consul at Valencia
informed me that an American vessel had been ordered from that port into
quarantine at Vigo, the voyage from Valencia to Vigo requiring about
three months, whilst there were quarantine stations in the
Mediterranean, at Port Mahon and Carthagena. He also stated that an
English and a Russian vessel had received similar orders at
Valencia.
I addressed a note to Sir John Crampton on this subject, and his reply
confirmed our consul’s report in regard to the English vessel, and
informed me that he (Sir John) had addressed a note to the Spanish
minister of state on the subject. I also addressed a note to that
minister and have the honor to enclose a copy of my note, and of the
reply of the minister of state with translation.
On the 13th instant Mr. Andrews apprised me, from Valencia, that the
affair seemed to have been satisfactorily arranged, as the vessels had
all gone to Port Mahon for quarantine instead of to Vigo.
I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, sir, your obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Hale to General Calonge
Legation of the United
States, Madrid,
November 9, 1866.
Sir: I desire to call the attention of your
excellency to the case of the American vessel I. F. Chapman,
recently arrived at the port of Valencia, which has been ordered to
go to Vigo to perform quarantine.
I trust I need not say to your excellency that this is a very
injurious and ruinous proceeding for the owners of the vessel, and I
am sure that if the same end can be obtained by another course less
burdensome to the owners of the vessel, which will subserve the
public interest quite as well, the government of her Catholic
Majesty will not object to adopting it. Therefore, I most
respectfully, but urgently, request that if it be compatible with
what the government of her Catholic Majesty thinks the public
interest may require, said vessel may be ordered to some more
convenient port for the purpose of performing quarantine.
The undersigned avails himself of the present opportunity of renewing
to the minister of state the assurance of his most distinguished
consideration.
His Excellency the Minister of
State.
[Translation.]
General Calonge to Mr. Hale
Department of State, Palace, November 12, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that
under date of to-day I have transmitted to the minister of the
interior government of the kingdom the contents of your note of the
9th
[Page 517]
instant, relative to
the vessel of your nation, I. F. Chapman, ordered to the port of
Vigo to perform quarantine.
I will hasten to communicate to you the reply which I receive on this
subject, and avail myself of this occasion to renew to you the
assurance of my most distinguished consideration.
Minister Plenipotentiary
of the United States.
