Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches as follows of the 8th of June, Nos. 483 and 484, and of the 10th of June, No. 485, all of which relate to the “Rappahannock,” and to the ships which are building at Bordeaux and at Nantes for the insurgents.
After a careful reading of these papers, I am authorized by the President to approve of all that you have said and written to M. Drouyn de l’Huys concerning those vessels.
I agree with you, that what Mr. Drouyn de l’Huys has now said and written on that subject is less decisive in regard to the prevention of the vessels from going into the hands of the insurgents than his former verbal assurances, and less emphatic than this government has a right to expect. It is proper for me to remark, however, that Mr. Geofroy seems to understand the purposes of his government in respect to the vessels, and he has certainly given me expressions just as decisive as the earlier verbal assurances of M. Drouyn de l’Huys, which were accepted by yourself and by this government. Under the circumstances, we indulge a hope that before this time you will have received from him a full and distinct guarantee in reply to your note of the 7th of June, a copy of which is appended to your No. 484. I can conceive that the proceedings of the French government might be legal, so far as we are concerned, and yet that it might desire to practice reserve in regard to the future destination of the vessels. In any case, it is not easy to see that you can do more than to persevere in the course of proceedings which you have hitherto pursued.
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I am, sir, your obedient servant,
William L. Dayton Esq., &c., &c., &c.