SIR: Your despatch of the 10th ultimo, No. 148, announcing the election of M. Rogier, has been received. His conduct of affairs has been so just and fair to us that we may be allowed to express satisfaction with the results of an election, which leaves him in a position, no doubt, as beneficial to his country as it is agreeable to us.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

HENRY S. SANFORD, Esq., &c., Brussels.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Sanford.

Department of State,

Washington, November 9, 1863.

SIR: I have your note of the 15th of October, giving an account of a conversation with the French minister for foreign affairs.

I am sorry to perceive in his remarks no evidence of a consideration that indifference to the struggle going on between this government and the insurgents is infidelity towards the United States. Mr. Drouyn de l'Huys seems to suppose that this country will ultimately recognize as friendly towards itself even the concessions which are made to the insurgents, because the insurgents, not less than the loyal men, are citizens of the United States. He falls into the error of our northern apologists of the insurrection—that is, of supposing that when the Union is restored the south will regain and wield their former political influence. On the contrary, it is clearly enough to be perceived now that the division between north and south will disappear in this war, and that the loyalty of the whole country will be homogeneous in the sentiments which are now maintained by the government. I cannot but desire that France may, at the end of the struggle, hold in relation to the United States the position she held when the war began. Perhaps you may have another opportunity to folthe conversation.

low up

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

SIR: Your despatch No. 157, dated November 10, has been received. His Majesty's reception, on the occasion of the late opening of the legislative session, both without and within the chambers, was a gratifying expression of the affection felt by a loyal people towards a wise, kind, and liberal monarch.

The King's discourse, though mainly devoted to internal affairs, is interesting, and gives evidence of the continued prosperity of Belgium.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

SIR: Your despatch of the 19th of November, No. 161, has been received. It is accompanied by information that Great Britain, after deliberate consideration, has declined to enter the congress proposed by the Emperor of the French. The President sincerely hopes that the apprehensions of war in Europe, that attend the agitation of the Emperor's suggestion, may not be realized. If the great maritime powers could now see the expediency of revoking their recognition of the American insurgents as a naval belligerent, they would hasten the return of peace in this hemisphere. If they themselves are going to engage in war in their own hemisphere, I think they will soon find occasion to regret the positions they have assumed in regard to the civil war which distresses the American continent.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

HENRY S. SANFORD, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Brussels.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Sanford.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, July 16, 1864.

MY DEAR SIR: I thank you for your note of the 27th of June. I think M. Thiers is right. Our enemies in Europe want us divided, and thus destroyed. They will not by intervention drive us into closer union and increased vigor.

I am, my dear sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

HENRY S. SANFord, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Brussels.

No. 134.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Sanford.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, July 16, 1864.

SIR: Your despatch or June 28, No. 195, has been received, and your proceedings therein related are approved. I feel an assurance that our interests in Europe will derive much benefit from your return to your post. Your despatch gives me my first information of the arrival of the Niagara at Antwerp. I hope soon to hear of the Iroquois in European waters. If our diplomatic and consular agents shall keep the naval commanders well advised of the movements

of the pirates, I shall hope that, though we may not all at once rescue our commerce, we shall at least save ourselves effectually from foreign interference in our affairs.

SIR Your despatch of July 14, No. 202, has been received. The political occurrences which, under ordinary circumstances, would be inconsequential, assume significance at this moment, when the balance of power on the continent is seriously disturbed. I hope that the withdrawal of members from the lower house of the legislature in Belgium, so as to prevent a quorum, and defeat the administration, forebodes nothing more than a resort to a constitutional election. I am, sir, your obedient servant,

SIR: I have received your despatch of July 14, No. 203, which announces the arrival of the Niagara at Antwerp, and her early departure from that port on a cruise for the Florida. That pirate, when last heard from, was capturing unarmed vessels near our coast. The vessels which we sent out in chase have,

SIR: I have your private note of the 15th of July, which, I see, is tinged with a dark hue of apprehension. With my present convictions I cannot think that any adjustment between Denmark and Germany will increase our exposure to European assaults against our independence. On the contrary, I think whatever arrangement is made, there will be new jealousies among all the principal maritime powers. The disturbances of this year adjourned to another will excite more anxiety than any present outbreak would.

I think, however, that parties in both Great Britain and France will be glad to leave foreign questions, for a time, to engage in domestic agitation. Of course, we may have disasters here, although we are not looking for them. War is war; and this is only another name for uncertainty and vicissitude. But, in any case,

we are so well prepared for foreign intervention now, that I do not think we need to be disturbed by apprehensions of it. If I do not mistake, all the high rebel expectations of becoming a naval belligerent through the protection of Great Britain and France have collapsed.

I am not able to see how the insurrection could stand six months, even if we should not give it another effective blow.

Gold is falling; our stocks are rising; and our exports increasing now. These circumstances seem to indicate that the systematic inflation of rebel expectations which has been kept up in Europe since the opening of the campaign has failed of effect.

I will tell Mr. Fessenden what you say about smuggling, and the means of preventing it.

SIR: I submitted to the Secretary of the Navy your despatch No. 200, marked confidential, in which you suggest the feasibility of enlisting foreigners in Belgium for our naval service. In returning the despatch to this department he states that "the proposed measure is both inexpedient and unnecessary, as we are now receiving recruits in abundance."

SIR: Your despatches from No. 204, of the 21st ultimo, to No. 208, of the 29th ultimo, inclusive, have been received. I thank you for the interesting information communicated in your No. 205, relative to the movements of his Belgian Majesty. Your No. 206 was, on its receipt, submitted to the perusal of the Secretary of the Navy.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of August 12, No. 209, and it gives me much pleasure to learn that the elections which

necessarily followed a legislative crisis have been conducted with good order, and that the results are deemed auspicious to the stability and welfare of the kingdom.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

SIR: Our consul at Halifax has informed this department that Major Walker, late insurgent agent at Bermuda, who was for several days in Halifax, took the last steamer preceding that of the 23d ultimo for England, and that his visit thither is for the purpose of attending to shipments of cotton of the insurgents sent out to liquidate the cotton loan. He also goes out to use his best endeavors to fit out in England another war vessel for the insurgents. You will, therefore, watch his movements, and endeavor to frustrate any designs hostile to the United States.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

HENRY S. SANFORD, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Brussels.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Sanford.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, September 17, 1864. SIR: I acknowledge the receipt of your private note of the 19th of August, which, as I perceive, was written under the influence of wearisome waiting for good news.

Well, before this time you have been relieved. Admiral Farragut has demonstrated the national strength and energy at Mobile. Sherman has consummated his campaign, and established the power of the Union, if not its authority, in Georgia. The political intrigues at Niagara have exploded at Chicago, to the undoubted edification of the whole people of the United States. The reenforcement of the armies is all that is desired. Peace is certainly three years and three months nearer than it was when the war began, and political movements on both sides of the line indicate a rational conviction that peace must come soon as a fruit of the sacrifices already made, and that when it shall have come it will be attended by the firm re-establishment of the Union.

up

I think revolution is looming up in Europe everywhere, but it will not come this year.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

SIR: I thank you for your interesting despatch of the 7th of September, No.

214.

The wisdom of allowing Belgian subjects to take military service against the republic of Mexico is the question which seems to be discussed in the Belgian legislature.