Mr. Perry, United
States chargé d’affaires, to Mr. Seward, Secretary of State.
[467]
*[Extract.]
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, February 25, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit,
inclosed, the translation of Mr. Benavides’s note to me of the 21st
instant, in reply to mine of the 18th instant, which was forwarded
as inclosure C of dispatch No. 168, of February 20. This note
confirms the result announced to you in that dispatch. Last night in
company I saw Mr. Benavides and inquired of him if this note was
intended to be the end, or whether repairs on the Stonewall would
ever be recommenced in this jurisdiction. Mr. Benavides said no,
that this was the end of repairs on that ship, and that such was the
meaning of his note.
With sentiments of the highest respect, sir, your obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington.
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Benavides, minister of foreign affairs, to Mr.
Perry, chargé
d’affaires.
[Translation.]
Department of State,
Madrid, Palace, February 21, 1865.
[468]
Sir: I have had the honor to receive
your note of the 18th instant, in which you are so good as to
*manifest to me, referring to telegraphic dispatches of the
consular agent of the United States at Ferrol, that after the
termination of the repairs on the iron clad steamer Stonewall
this vessel is still not in a condition to take the seas,
because of certain radical defects of construction which you
solicit may not be permitted to be remedied in the ship-yard of
the said port of Ferrol, nor in any other in Spain.
The reasons which you present in support of your wishes have been
duly appreciated by the government of the Queen, which, being
convinced of its duty not to separate its conduct from the line
marked out for it in the royal decree of June 17, 1861, has
dictated the proper orders that it be thus done in the case to
which you refer.
[469] The minister of marine, confirming
the orders previously communicated, that the repairs which might
be made on the Stonewall should not be such as to better her
military or sea going qualities, has instructed the naval [Page 98] authority at Ferrol to
strictly comply with those orders, and not to permit any other
work on the said vessel than that qualified by the commandant of
naval engineers *as indispensable to repair the particular
damage which obliged her to come into the port where she now
is.
I take pleasure in believing that you will find this resolution
of Her Majesty’s government in accordance with the suggestion of
the note to which I reply, and I avail myself of this occasion
to renew to you the assurance of my distinguished
consideration.
The Chargé d’affaires
of the United States.
