Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Third Session of the Fortieth Congress

Mr. Hale to Mr. Seward.

No. 119.

Legation of the United States, Madrid, January 2, 1868.

Sir: Your dispatch No. 93 has been received, and inclosed you will find a copy of the communication which I made to the Spanish government, pursuant to your instructions on the subject.

With much respect, I have the honor to be yours,

JOHN P. HALE.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Legation of the United States of America, Madrid, December 2, 1887.

Sir: I am instructed by the Secretary of State of the United States to make known to her Majesty’s government that a mutinous affray occurred on the 21st of October last on board the American vessel named the Abd-el-Kader, in the port of Malaga, and that but for the timely interference of the officers of the Spanish revenue boat, the Alerta, who caused the arrest of the mutineers and their delivery to the United States consul, the affair would no doubt have proved a more serious one than it did. And I have much pleasure in communicating these facts to your excellency, to comply with the further instructions of my government, in expressing to her Majesty’s government and to the officers of the Alerta the grateful acknowledgments of the government of the United States for the friendly assistance given by the officers of the Alerta on that occasion.

The undersigned avails himself, with much pleasure, of the present occasion for renewing to his excellency the minister of state the assurances of his most distinguished consideration.

JOHN P. HALE.

His Excellency the Minister of State.