Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton
Sir: Mr. Geofroy has to-day submitted to me a despatch which has been received from M. Drouyn de l’Huys, in which he states the fact of the sale of two ships, the Yeddo and the Osacca, which Arman built for the insurgents, to alleged neutrals, to be delivered in Holland, substantially on the same terms as those which M. Drouyn de l’Huys made in communicating that transaction to yourself, as you have related them to us in your despatches. In the absence of full and definite information about the names, condition, or character of the alleged purchaser, the terms of his contract or the other circumstances of the alleged sale, this government is not prepared to pronounce its acquiescence in the disposition of the subject which has been made by the French government. We are to be understood, therefore, as maintaining in regard to France all the protests we have heretofore made concerning those vessels, and reserving all the rights and remedies in respect to the vessels themselves which belong to the United States under the law of nations. At the same time we willingly believe that the French government has taken proper care to guard against the vessels being used for making war upon the United States.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
William L. Dayton Esq., &c., &c., &c.