Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward.
Sir:Lieutenant General Chapelie, “charged by his Majesty the Emperor of Mexico with the mission of organizing a body of troops destined to form part of the imperial Mexican guard,” has issued a notice under date of yesterday, which I enclose herewith, touching the conditions, &c., of enlistment. The service is for six years, with a bounty of from sixty to one hundred francs, for non-commissioned officers and soldiers, and the same amount to be given at the expiration of their service, with return passage to Antwerp. Those who remain in Mexico as colonists will be entitled, the common soldier to about ten acres, the sergeant to about thirty acres of land, and to certain advances for its improvement; this grant of land to be doubled in the event of completing a second term of six years’ service.
The pay while in Belgium is to be the same as that of the Belgian army. In Mexico it will be augmented in accordance with the needs of the soldier, and will be equal to that given to the best paid corps.
[Page 255]I have been told that the organization of this corps is complete, in so far as the officers are concerned, and that leave has been given to officers of the army who have joined this corps, which will number two thousand men.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.