Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward
Sir: * * * * * * * * *
Your despatches, from No. 510 to No. 522, both inclusive, No. 513 being in duplicate, also despatch No. 506, are received.
Our consul at Bordeaux informs me that the Georgia is still lying there three miles below that port, and that, as she came in to repair her engine, by putting [Page 77] force enough at work to tinker about the repairs and not make them, she may remain there as long as she may think proper. The rule is that they need not leave port until the repairs are completed. Our consul says that it is rumored and believed that arms and munitions of war are on the Georgia for the purpose of being supplied to the Yeddo, one of the clippers, when she goes out, and that a crew for the clipper is being kept at a boarding-house at Bordeaux. To these reputed facts I have, of course, called the attention of M. Drouyn de l’Huys.
Those clipper ships at Bordeaux and at Nantes have all closed up, or, rather, concealed their port-holes, so as to a casual observer they would have no appearance of ships-of-war.
* * * * * * * * *
The parties concerned continue to advertise in the Gironde at Bordeaux that one will leave for China on the 30th of next month, and the other on the 30th of the month after. The time for sailing, you will observe, has been extended one month for each vessel.
I do not at all doubt the good faith of M. Drouyn de l’Huys in reference to the sailing of these vessels.
* * * * * * * * *
There are a number of rebel officers about Paris who seem to be waiting here for employment on some rebel ship.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.