Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches from No. 144 to 149, inclusive; also, your circular despatch of 12th ultimo, and your communications marked “private,” under date of September 17, 19, and of 4th instant. The latter, touching the appointment of the present Belgian minister to the United States on an extraordinary mission to Mexico, will be acted upon in accordance with your suggestion. M. Rogier is out of town, and will be absent for a week or so longer.
The King is absent on a visit to Germany and Switzerland, to return early the coming month.
A corps of Belgians, about 600, according to the. journals, recruited here for service in Mexico as “Empress Guard,” have left here for the country, via St. Nazaire, and sailed last week in the regular French packet for Vera Cruz. Want of funds will probably be an obstacle to the completion of the enlistment proposed here. Apart from the dissatisfaction which seems to be felt among the soldiers and officers as well, the debates in the Chambers reported to you, and which will doubtless be resumed at the next session, have also tended to make the service unpopular; and my impression is that the “Mexican Empire” cannot safely count upon more soldiers from Belgium, even had it the funds to continue recruiting.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.