Mr. Wood to Mr. Seward.
Sir: A. Dudley Mann, the confederate commissioner, and whom I have known for years, was here last week. He was accompanied by his son, Grayson Mann, to act as interpreter if necessary. Mr. Hall, the foreign minister, refused to see him on the usual ministerial conference day, or to see him at all in his representative capacity, but received a call from him the next day as a private citizen. Mann stated, in substance, that the confederates were unconquerable, and would achieve their independence. Hall replied, “that he had a different impression.” Mann rejoined, “that time would soon show the truth of his assertion, and he hoped that the government of Denmark would not be the last to acknowledge their independence.” To which Mr. Hall said “that though Denmark might not be the last to do this, she certainly would not be the first.”
Mann represented here that we were on our last legs, and for the truth of his assertion referred to the price of gold with us, while he said it was so much less with the confederates.
Doctor Leas, our late consul at Stockholm, writes me from Hamburg, on the day of his sailing for the United States, that the secessionists had held a conclave in that city to act on the northern powers. From this I infer that, with the approbation of the French Emperor, a simultaneous movement is being made with all the powers of this continent for acknowledging the independence of the Confederate States.
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I have the honor to remain your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.