Mr. Seward to Mr. Perry.
Sir: The department has received your despatch No. 2, of the 8th instant relative to the detention of several United States vessels ordered to Port Mahon [Page 540] pursuant to Spanish sanitary regulations. Your were yesterday fully instructed upon the general subject on the occasion of a despatch to the department from the United States consul at Teneriffe.
The case of the vessels at Port Mahon does not seem to require any other special instructions than that you should let the Spanish minister for foreign affairs understand that this government will expect full indemnification for any unjust or unnecessary detention, or other injury to United States vessels resorting to Spain, when such proceedings are based upon quarantine laws obviously abused and unjustifiable.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Horatio J. Perry, Esq., &c., &c., &c.