[412] *The Duke de Louie, minister of foreign affairs, to Mr. Harvey, United States minister.
January 29, 1864.
I have the honor of informing you, in addition to my notes of the 23d instant, that the minister of finance informs me, in a communication of the 20th instant, that on the same day the most positive orders were being sent to the directors of custom-houses in the Azores Islands, to the effect of their adopting, under the severest responsibility, all such measures as may be within their reach, to prevent confederate vessels from supplying themselves with munitions of war in the custom-ports of said archipelago.
It is my duty further to inform you that the minister of war has advised me under that same date that, notwithstanding the orders already transmitted to the general commanding the tenth military division, which were communicated to you on the 2d December, 1862, he now again recommends the aforesaid general to employ the utmost vigilance, and to give his most positive orders, so as, by co-operating with all the other local authorities, to frustrate all plans and attempts of the confederates, and thus maintain a rigorous compliance with the decree of July 29, 1861.
I renew on this occasion the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
James E. Harvey, Esq.