Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward
Sir: * * * * * * * *
A pretended sale of rebel vessels to Denmark I have already reported to you, but Mr. Wood, our minister at Copenhagen, writes me that the minister of foreign affairs assured him there was no truth in this—at least there was none at that time; and should anything be done there, it will doubtless be promptly reported to me here. * * * * * * *
I had a long talk with Admiral de la Ronciere Le Noury, the person holding the place in the marine department next after the minister himself. He said that the Rappahannock was yet detained by the French government; that the gates of the dock where this vessel lies having been out of repair, and, therefore, not of themselves sufficient, as I understood, to confine her if she determined to leave, they had ordered a French ship-of-war around to Calais to lie off the dock to watch and prevent her departure if necessary. I assured him I was happy to hear this statement, and hoped that the French government would yet see its way clear to making an order for the permanent detention of this vessel.
Matters affecting our interests are apparently very quiet here at present; but if you have another disastrous spring and summer campaign, or even one of no useful and practical results, coming at the same time or in connexion with the immediate proceedings of the French with the archduke in Mexico, there will be a strong effort made here from different quarters for recognition of the south. I am heart-sick of this question, and was in hopes something definitive might be done in this campaign; but if the late reports are true harbingers of the future, it would seem that we are to have a repetition of the past—advancing and retreating, battles gained and battles lost, but ending in nothing decisive. The disaster in Florida, the return of the armies of the southwest to Vicksburg and Memphis, and the small progress of Farragut at Mobile have a very gloomy look for the future.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward &c., &c., &c.