delit, he then would be able to act. He said he would take occasion to see Mr. Barache at once and ascertain the position of the case, and allowed me to infer that he would do all he could in the premises without compromising his own government. I repeated to him that it had been and was no part of my purpose at this interview to discuss the nationality of the Olinde, now called the Stonewall, but simply to invoke his friendly co-operation with us in persuading Spain to detain the vessel if only for a few weeks, during which time events were likely to occur that would relieve us of any further trouble on her account. Here his excellency, while expressing entire willingness to do his best for us as soon as he could receive suitable assurances from the minister of justice, remarked that he had gathered from Mr. Mercier's communications that that gentleman had already allowed the Spanish government to see that the detention of the Stonewall would not be ungrateful to him. I have here given, I believe, the spirit of a long conversation, with the tone of which, on the part of Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, I felt perfectly satisfied. I think the subject is one in dealing with which he is obliged by the political exigencies of his position to act with great circumspection; but so far as I could gather from his language, tone, and manner, he was fully impressed with the justice of what I asked, and I shall be surprised if he does not promptly manifest through suitable channels a new interest in preventing the escape of the Stonewall. I only hope his efforts may not be made too late. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. JOHN BIGELOW. No. 46.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 21, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of several despatches from you, relating to a piratical vessel which was built for the insurgents by Arman, ship-builder at Bordeaux, went under a sale, or negotiation for sale, to Copenhagen, came from that port to Honat island, received an armament and a crew there from an English steamer, and coal from a French steamer, and then took her departure in a southwesterly direction. These despatches are: No. 13, dated January 30th; No. 14, dated January 31st; Nos. 16 and 17, both of which bear the date of February 3d. I have also received several telegraphic despatches in relation to the same vessel from our very vigilant consul at Nantes. I have also received advices from our minister at Madrid, to the effect that a piratical vessel from Copenhagen has put into Ferrol for repairs, which vessel may or may not be the one to which your despatches refer. The knowledge of the affair which we have thus far been able to acquire is very vague and unsatisfactory. It is uncertain whether there are not at large two of the vessels built at Bordeaux for the insurgents, instead of one. We cannot certainly ascertain whether the vessel which was reported at Ferrol is the same vessel which is also reported at Corunna, under the name of the Shenandoah. We cannot definitely decide whether the Danish government has been derelict in the performance of international duty, nor will we for a moment believe that the French government has intentionally permitted its faith to be compromitted. We do not yet certainly know that the vessel or vessels in question have passed into the hands of the rebels. It is only in general terms, therefore, that I am able to write upon the subject, and what I do must be on condition that the facts represented shall be verified. I approve the communication you have addressed to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, and I sincerely hope that the next steamer may bring us intelligence that the Emperor's government has adopted effectual means to vindicate its sovereignty, and to defeat those of its subjects who have engaged in this new attempt to commit it to a war with the United States. You are authorized to say this to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, and to add that this government will expect indemnity for whatever injuries to the United States shall be inflicted by the pirate vessel in question from the parties to whom, in the end, the responsibility shall be traced; that after an endurance of covert war from the subjects of maritime states, of which we admit with pleasure that France has not been one, but which covert war has been rendered practically effective by the policy in which all the maritime states have hitherto concurred, in opposition to the unremitted remonstrances of the United States, this government now expects that the maritime powers will rescind all decrees, orders, and regulations, by which they concede belligerent naval privileges to vessels built, fitted out, armed and equipped in foreign states with which the United States are maintaining relations of peace and amity. I reserve more definitive instructions until we shall hear your report of the proceedings of the Emperor's government. I am, sir, your obedient servant, From the account which you give me of the state of opinion on American affairs now prevailing in Paris, I infer that there is less cause than heretofore for anxiety about our relations with the Emperor. If we can be fortunate enough to avoid actual collisions between the armed subjects or authorities of the European powers and our own, by sea as well as by land, time and events may then be expected to render easy of solution political questions which now it is even hazardous to touch. I trust that the affair of the Olinde may prove to be one in which we are to suffer no injury, and so have no cause of complaint against France. I am, sir, your obedient servant, SIR: Your despatch of the 10th instant, No. 28, informing me of the move"ments of the insurgent vessel Stonewall, and suggesting that the commanders of United States vessels-of-war in foreign waters be instructed to notify the legations of the United States in those countries with which they are in communication, of their arrival and departure from port, has been received and is approved. I have invited the especial attention of the Secretary of the Navy to your sug gestion concerning the movements of United States vessels-of-war in foreign SIR: Your despatch of the 6th instant, No. 19, which relates to the movements of the insurgent steamer Stoerkodder, alias the Olinde, alias the Stonewall, and to your proceedings with a view to her detention or seizure, has been received, and is approved. I lost no time in submitting it to the consideration of the Secretary of the Navy. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c, &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 39.] Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Enclosed you will find a rejoinder from his excellency the minister of foreign affairs to my communication of the 31st of January last, in reference to the repatriation of William Horace Castaned, of Mobile, an inmate of a workhouse at Graffenstaden. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, JOHN BIGELOW. Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Drougn de Lhuys to Mr. Bigelow. Paris, February —, 1865. SIR: I received the letter which you did me the honor to write me the 31st January last in reference to the request of M. the Prefect of Bas Rhin, with a view of obtaining the return to his country of young Castaned, (William Horace,) a native of Mobile, United States, at present apprentice workman at the work-house of Graffenstaden. In informing me that, in accordance with my desire, you will not fail to communicate this request to your government, you add that, "it is your duty at once to discourage any hope of relief from that quarter; since, though it is ever ready to succor generously, without regard to nationality, the destitute residing within the territory of the United States, except by its example, it does not project its charities beyond its frontiers." Permit me to remark, sir, that these observations do not meet the purpose of the demand which I had the honor to address to you. It is not a question of public or private aid that destitute foreigners (even though they be neither ill nor insane) are sure of finding upon any point whatever of French territory-aid of which young Castaned, abandoned by his family and his country for two years past, has experienced the disadvantage. The request of M. the Prefect of Bas Rhin has for its special object the restoration to his country of this young man, and I do not doubt that the government of the United States, informed by you of the state of distress in which one of its citizens finds himself in France, following the example of all other foreign governments, will at once furnish him with the means to return to his native country. Receive, sir, the assurances of the most distinguished consideration with which I have the honor to be, your very humble and very obedient servant, DROUYN DE LHUYS. No. 40.] Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: On Sunday morning, the 25th instant, I was called upon very early by a Mr. who brought me enclosure No. 1 from Commodore Craven, of the Niagara, then lying at Ferrol. Mr. informed me that it was his impression that when Commodore Craven came around from Corunna to Ferrol, he had intended to run into and sink the Stonewall, but he found her lying in such a position on his arrival, fortunately, as to render the success of such an assault doubtful. Mr. also says, that if the Stonewall were to run into the Niagara in the bay, of which Commodore Craven is not without apprehension, she would sink the frigate in two minutes, or if she were to fire one of her three-hundred-pound shots into her, the result would be nearly as fatal. Either of these contingencies he seemed to think the Stonewall might possibly be desperate enough to attempt, and trust to our example in the port of Bahia for her justification in the eyes of the world. Craven keeps his steam up, and his cable ready to slip at any moment, so that he cannot be overtaken by anything but the shot of the Stonewall in the harbor. I un The Sacramento has reached Ferrol, and in an open and rolling sea. derstand that Craven feels no anxiety about the result of a combat, though it is apparent from his letter that he is hoping anxiously to be re-enforced by a monitor. I cannot hear of Page in Paris, though Mr. informs me that he tracked him one day in his advance from Spain at every station into France, and I have no doubt he is now here; I heard that a gentleman of my acquaintance had seen him here. I thought my authority for believing him here sufficient for addressing enclosure No. 2 to his excellency the minister of foreign affairs, on the 26th instant. It occurred to me that it could do no harm to have the government assign as a reason for not proceeding against Page, that they did not know his address, for that would imply that they had no other reason. If, on the other hand, they had other reasons, I was equally certain that it could do no harm to know what they might be. A private note from Mr. Perry, which accompanpied his despatches for you, sent here for my perusal, and which I forward by this mail, mentions that a commission rogatoire has been issued by the French government to take testimony in Spain in regard to the escape of the Stonewall. From this he infers, correctly no doubt, that this government is more active in the matter than it is disposed to admit to us. Mr. returned to Ferrol by last evening's train, bearing enclosure No. 3 to Commodore Craven, and this was intended as a private note, but I find, upon reflection, that it deserves to enter into the official record of my proceedings in this case. * I am sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, JOHN BIGELOW. Secretary of State. Enclosure No. 1.] Mr. Craven to Mr. Bigelow. UNITED STATES SHIP NIAGARA, DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 13th instant I have just received. As I have already informed you by telegrams, I arrived at Corunna on the morning of the 11th instant, and there learned that the rebel ram Stonewall, Captain Thomas J. Page, had put into that port on or about the 2d instant, in a leaky condition; and after remaining there three days went to Ferrol for repairs, and that she would be ready for sea on or about the 14th instant. On the evening of the 15th I came here and was informed on the following morning by the military and civil governors of the place that the Stonewall had been reported as being ready for sea, but her commander had not appointed a day for sailing. On the morning of the 17th our consular agent came on board, and in great glee informed me that the governor had called upon him, and said that Captain Page had asked if there would be any objection on the part of the Spanish government to his absenting himself for a few days for the purpose of visiting Paris; that his vessel still leaked badly, and he wished to confer with the confederate commissioners in relation to selling the Stonewall, or compelling the contractors to take her back, as she did not come up to contract and was not seaworthy. On the evening of the 17th, Page took passage in a Spanish war-steamer for Corunna, en route for Madrid and Paris. On the evening of the 18th, our consular agent for Corunna came on board and informed me that Page had given out to the people at Corunna that his repairs were all completed, and that he was going to Paris for the purpose of purchasing another vessel. When I arrived at this port, there was lying lashed to the port-side of the ram a Spanish government hulk, in which were deposited her stores, ammunition, &c., and for the first two days after our arrival I noticed that their deck-pumps were frequently used, but for the last two or three days these symptoms of leakage have disappeared. The Spanish corvette (hulk) was hauled off from her side yesterday morning, and to-day she is taking in coal and appears otherwise ready to sail at any moment. I am inclined to suspect all reports relative to the continuance of her leak as being "humbug," or, in other words, she is “playing possum." She is a very formidable vessel, being completely cased with five-inch plates of iron. Under her top-gallant forecastle is her casemated 300-pounder Armstrong gun. On her quarter-deck in a turret are two other rifled guns, 100 or 120 pounders; besides these she has two smaller guns in broadside. If she is as fast as reputed to be in smooth water, she would be more than a match for three such ships as the Niagara. So, sir, you will readily perceive I am placed in a most unenviable predicament, and that our only chance for cutting short her career rests upon the possibility of detaining her here until such time as our government sees fit to send out the necessary re-enforcements. In regard to the refusal of the French government to intervene in this matter, on the ground that the ram was a Danish vessel, &c., &c., it appears to me that the plea is a forced one. The vessel never was owned by the Danish government, and Mr. Arman had never completed the sale of her to any other party; and so far as the fitting of her out and supplying her with arms, ammunition and a crew, it was done in French waters, in a French port or roadstead-just as much in violation of neutral rights as if it had been done in the harbor of Cherbourg or of Brest. If she had been run down or captured by one of our vessels at the Isle of Houat, the French would not be long in discovering that we had committed a breach of neutrality in their port and a gross outrage upon their flag. |