Mr. Dayton to Mr.
Seward
No. 536.]
Paris,
September 9, 1864.
Sir: Having received notice from Captain
Rodgers, of the United States steamer Iroquois, that he was off the
coast of France watching the confederate ships now being built at
Bordeaux and Nantes, and that he would seize them on their trial trips
should he meet them at sea, I addressed a note to M. Drouyn de l’Huys, a
copy of which I herewith enclose. He informed me yesterday that he had
at once forwarded a copy of my note to the minister of marine, and
should he be informed by that minister that these vessels, or either of
them, had been conveyed to a neutral, he would at once apprise me of the
fact. The Yeddo, in the first place, and lately the Osacca, being two of
the four clipper ships constructed under that contract for the
confederates, having been delivered to Prussia, and being now under her
flag, would seem to increase the probabilities of the other two ships
having the same or a like destination.
I desire, therefore, to be very careful to obtain all possible
information before attempting to seize these vessels.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.
Dayton to M.
Drouyn de l’Huys
Monsieur le Ministre: I regret to be under
the necessity of again troubling your excellency as to the ships now
or recently being built at Nantes and Bordeaux for the so-called
confederates of the south. I do so to prevent, if possible, any
difficulty springing up between France and the United States.
Your excellency has in possession evidence that four clipper ships
and two iron-clads were contracted for by these parties, and have
been in the course of construction at these two ports. As respects
two of these vessels, the Yeddo and Osacca, they have been disposed
of, it would seem, to a power neutral as respects the United States;
but your excellency has given me no assurance that the two other
clipper ships at Nantes, and the iron-clad at Bordeaux, or either of
them, have been disposed of in like manner. These vessels, so far as
I have knowledge, are yet the property of the confederates, and one
or more are about to go to sea. They will, under these
circumstances, be subject to capture by our cruisers. In the hope of
preventing any unpleasant questions between our governments, I beg
your excellency will state, in reply, if you have knowledge of any
change of ownership in either of the vessels above referred to.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
His Excellency Drouyn de l’Huys,
&c., &c., &c.
