Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your despatch, No. 133, under date of the 4th instant, with enclosures.
The Niagara and Sacramento are now at Antwerp; have been well received, and no objection offered to their frequent visits, to taking supplies, or getting [Page 258] repairs; on the contrary, I have reason to believe that their visits afford gratification to the authorities, as their presence has been of excellent effect upon them and the people of the country generally.
So long as the policy of Great Britain and France forbids the usual courtesy and aid to our national ships, which we extend to those of all friendly powers, the Scheldt, with its easy access, commanding position, safe shelter, and abundant supplies, would seem to afford all the facilities which are denied them elsewhere. I am informed by Commodore Craven and Captain Walke that the authorities at Flushing have also given them a hearty welcome, and extended to them every accommodation, and I cannot but express the hope that we shall ask as little hospitality as is compatible with the exigencies of the public service in the ports of those countries which give it so grudgingly.
Supplies of all kinds can be obtained, probably cheaper than at any other port, at Flushing or Antwerp. Arrangements can easily be made here or in England for the delivery of coals alongside the ships at stated places, and the Belgian coals are, I believe, preferred by our engineers. The ships could appear constantly off the French and English ports, communicate with our officials, and exercise all necessary vigilance without entering them, save by stress of weather, if this treatment of our national flag is to continue. There seems, however, to be a disposition not to insist upon a rigorous application of the existing regulations to our ships-of-war, judging from the fact that the Kearsarge is permitted, without objection, to lie in wait for the Rappahannock, now at Calais, from the opposite port of Dover.
The destruction of the Alabama by the Kearsarge, and the frequent appearance of our ships-of-war in or off neighboring ports, has been productive of good effects on the public mind. Attention has been thus drawn to our naval strength, and details concerning our vessels, their armament, &c., are given in the press and eagerly sought by the public. An end, too, has been put to the reproach often made, that while making so frequent reclamations touching the building or harboring of rebel craft we did not show interest enough in their capture to keep even a force equal to that of the “confederates” within ten days’ sail of our principal navy yard; that but one steamer, the Kearsarge, was in the waters off the French and English coast, when three confederated war vessels, and seven more rapidly approaching completion, were in ports of France.
In this connexion I would again call your attention to the possibility of procuring seamen for our navy in this country. As has been before observed, there is no legal impediment in Belgium to the engagement of soldiers or sailors for our service.
Apart from the easy access from the Baltic ports, where the best sailors of Europe are to be found, there are many Belgians employed on the canals here who have been for the most part sailors or fishermen on the high seas, and who now, owing to the competition of the railways, finding their calling unremunerative, would, if opportunity offered, seek, I doubt not, service in our navy. If we had, as suggested in a previous despatch, a receiving-ship in the Scheldt (say at Flushing) to which sailors could be directly sent, and from which they could be transferred for distribution to our navy yards or to other vessels, I think a great saving might be made in the bounties now given for seamen, as well as of time in procuring the crews we so urgently need.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.