voted; one of the "liberal" members, M. Goblet, intimating, in reply to re marks of M. Kerryn de Lettenhove in favor of the Mexican empire, that it was not then the occasion to discuss that subject; that they would vote the appropriation asked for, and reserve the expression of their opinion upon the character of the intervention in Mexico. To an inquiry by one of the members why a full mission was provided for to Mexico and not to the United States and Brazil, the minister of foreign affairs replied that they but returned the courtesy which had been made to them. As an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary had been accredited to them by the Emperor of Mexico, they proposed responding by the sending of one of the same grade to that country. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant, H. S. SANFORD.

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.

PORTUGAL.

No. 117.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Harvey.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, June 8, 1863.

SIR: Your despatch of May 5, No. 225, has been received. The success of the internal improvement system which the Portuguese government has adopted is justly a subject of felicitation. I entertain no doubt that the complete development of it will greatly increase the strength and enhance the prosperity of Portugal. For a nation to be without iron roads in these times is to be in the world, but not of it.

SIR: Your despatch of the 29th ultimo, No. 237, has been received and has been submitted for perusal to the Secretary of the Navy.

Your proceedings in relation to the movements of the rebel cruiser Georgia are approved.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

SIR: Your despatch, No. 238, of the 4th instant has been received and will be submitted for perusal to the Secretary of the Navy.

Your vigilance in watching the movements of rebel cruisers, and your exertions to prevent their depredations upon our commerce, are cordially commended. I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

JAMES E. HARVEY, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Lisbon.

No. 124.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Harvey.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, December 19, 1863.

SIR: Your despatch, No. 239, bearing date of November 11, and relating to Captain Winslow, of the United States steamer Kearsarge, has been received and a copy sent to the Secretary of the Navy.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

JAMES E. HARVEY, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Lisbon.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Harvey.

No. 128.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, February 24, 1864.

SIR: Your despatch of January 24, No. 253, has been received, and I have taken great pleasure in making known to the Secretary of the Navy the proceedings which you have related by way of showing the good understanding which exists between the American and British naval officers in your vicinity. I shall in like manner make known to her Majesty's government your appreciation of the liberality and friendship of Mr. Magennis, the British minister at Lisbon.

Your despatches of January 15, No. 250, January 20, No. 251, January 22, No. 252, January 25, No. 254, January 27, No, 255, January 30, No. 256, and February 1, No. 257, have been received.

From these papers I learn that about the 14th of January last you received information, deemed reliable, that the British brig Aggression, laden with military supplies, was on her way to a rendezvous at the Azores, there to meet and transfer these supplies to piratical cruisers which are engaged in devastating the commerce of the United States on the high seas. That you represented this fact to the Duke de Soule, who thereupon promptly procured from his Majesty, the King of Portugal, the necessary directions, and caused them to be conveyed at once to the magistracy and other officers of his Majesty in the Azores, enjoining them to prevent and defeat the iniquitous design of the pirates. I learn, further, that the Portuguese government not only caused duplicates of those directions to be placed in the hands of the commander of the United States shipof-war St. Louis, to be conveyed by him to their destination, but that the government also despatched a public armed vessel to intercept the pirates and prevent the intended violation of the neutrality of Portugal in her island possessions. I learn, further, that you gave instructions to the commander of the St. Louis to proceed to the Azores, and also gave to our consuls there the advice and directions which the exigency apprehended seemed to render necessary. These facts have been submitted to the President, and I have now the

pleasure of making known to you his approval and commendation of all that you have thus done. I am especially directed to sanction the terms in which you have expressed to the Duke de Soule your convictions of the satisfaction with which his proceedings would be regarded by the President.

You are well aware that the government and people of the United States have never ceased to regard the concession made by the European powers to the insurgents of a belligerent maritime character as a proceeding not less unfriendly and invidious than it was exceptional and unwarranted by the treaties existing between this country and those powers.

It has, as we believe, protracted what was merely ephemeral sedition, and invested it with the severe features of a deadly civil war. Although we think that we have shown to the world sufficient proofs that the attempted revolution is not only causeless, but criminal, and also that we have the ability to suppress it and save the integrity of the country, yet the maritime powers still adhere pertinaciously to the attitude they originally assumed, and thus persevere in derogating us from our position as a sovereign power to one of mere equality with citizens standing in armed rebellion against the government. The remembrance of this injustice may be expected to survive the contest itself, and to modify for a long time the sentiments of the United States towards the maritime powers. Every state must see that, if the United States survive this crisis, all the maritime powers must at some period, sooner or later, recede from the attitude of which we complain. It is equally manifest that some one of the states must take the lead in the path of reconsideration, and that the states which earliest return to their former relations with us will be esteemed hereafter as

more just and generous than those who shall defer that return until a period when even their hostility would be harmless.

It is a matter of history that the United States have faithfully cherished through more than three-fourths of a century the memory of the favor and friendship they received from France, Spain, and Holland in the struggle which separated them from Great Britain. This insurrection is to them a trial quite as severe as that revolutionary contest was. It may well be expected that they will cherish the recollection of any just and generous conduct towards them on the part of foreign nations as faithfully and as gratefully as they have heretofore remembered the friendship of their first allies. Would such relations be worthless to Portugal? Has she anything to fear in now laying the foundation for them? If she should say that she is a small power, and her proceedings, whatever they may be, are unimportant, you may answer that the state which is first to correct the error which has been committed to our injury will by that very procedure increase its moral influence and importance in the family of nations, provided that it assume that stand before we shall by our own efforts, without foreign favor, have regained our accustomed and rightful position in the council of nations.

I am,
sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

JAMES E. HARVEY, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Lisbon.

No. 131.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Harvey.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, March 22, 1864.

SIR: Your despatches-No. 260, of the 20th ultimo, and No. 261, of the 22d ultimc-have been received. The latter has been referred for perusal to the Secretary of the Navy.

The promptness and energy manifested by the authorities at the Azores in carrying out the instructions of the home government concerning rebel cruisers which may seek to rendezvous at those islands is very satisfactory, and your own activity and vigilance in connexion with these matters is highly appreciated. I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

JAMES E. HARVEY, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Lisbon.

No. 132.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Harvey.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, March 28, 1864.

SIR: Your despatch No. 262, of the 28th of February, has been received, and has been read with much interest. The course of events subsequent to its date serves to confirm the correctness of the political intelligence which you have communicated.

SIR: Your despatch No. 264, of the 10th of March, relative to the presence of the rebel cruiser Florida at Funchal, and her departure thence on the 29th of last month, has been received. The course of proceeding which you propose to adopt with regard to this matter is approved.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

SIR: Your despatches Nos. 269, 270, 271, 272, and 273, dated respectively the 7th, 12th, 15th, 26th, and 30th of April, have been received.

The reasons you have presented in your No. 269 for not agitating at the present time the subject of a reconsideration of the policy adopted by the Portuguese government in regard to our civil strife are deemed satisfactory, and your course is consequently approved.

The attention of the Secretary of the Navy has been called to the complaints and suggestions contained in your Nos. 270 and 271.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,