Mr. Seward to Mr. Hale.
Sir: Your dispatches to No. 113, of the 6th instant, inclusive, have been received.
The refusal of the Spanish government, as announced to you in Mr. Arrazola’s note of the 5th instant, to repeal the quarantine interdict which has been a subject of recent correspondence between this department and the legation at Madrid, is much to be regretted. That refusal, so far as it relates to this country, seems to be based upon more incorrect statements than even the original promulgation of the interdict. It [Page 4] assumes the continuance of yellow fever at New Orleans, whereas it is well known that, as usual, that disease ceases there with the first frost, and any danger of its introduction into or propagation in Spain must have been annihilated by the same cause there. Under these, circumstances it becomes my duty to instruct you to give notice to the minister for foreign affairs that the Spanish government will be held accountable for any damages which the shipping of the United States may have sustained or may hereafter sustain in consequence of the quarantine regulation referred to.
You will also express regrets at this conclusion of a matter in which so much forbearance has been shown by this government.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
John P. Hale Esq., &c., &c., &c.