Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton.
Sir: In a recent note to the department Mr. Mercier suggested that as ships-of-war in French ports had a right to purchase supplies from the public warehouses free of duty, it was desirable that French ships in our ports should have a similar privilege. The authority of Congress was, of course, necessary for this. Accordingly, by the act approved on the 14th instant, increasing temporarily the duties on imports, this privilege has been granted, under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe, to the vessels-of-war of any nation which may reciprocate such privilege towards the vessels-of-war of the United States in its ports.
You will apprise Mr. Thouvenel of this enactment.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Wm. L. Dayton, Esq., &c., &c., &c.