No. 139.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Harvey. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Your despatch of May 19 (278) has been received. While I agree with you that the means already taken by the royal government to stimulate the production of cotton within the Portuguese dominions are not such as are likely to be entirely successful, I think the policy itself is one which commends itself to general favor. It is very much desired that the world may never again be forced to depend on African slavery, especially African slavery in America, for the necessary staple of commerce. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. SIR: Your despatch No. 279, of the 24th ultimo, has been received. I have read the correspondence which accompanied it, and approve the course pursued by you in reference to the supplies which were furnished to the rebel cruiser Florida at Funchal in February last. SIR: Your despatches from No. 280 to 285, inclusive, have been received, and the political information which they communicate is interesting and instructive. Your prompt dissemination of the facts connected with the destruction of the Alabama was very proper, and I have no doubt it served a useful purpose. The subject of your No. 285 shall receive consideration. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. JAMES E. HARVEY, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Lisbon. No. 144.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Harvey. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 12, 1864. SIR: Your despatch of July 7, No. 286, has been received. I fully concur in your views in regard to the material and social benefits which Portugal is likely to secure through the extension of her system of railroads. She seems to be wisely improving the blessings of peace and internal tranquillity. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. JAMES E. HARVEY, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Lisbon. No. 146.] Mr. F. W. Seward to Mr. Harvey. Washington, August 30, 1864. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Your despatches Nos. 287, 288, and 289, the last dated July 28, have been received. The change effected by you in the practice of the provincial authorities at St. Paul de Loanda, concerning the registers of American ships during their stay in that port, removes what must have been a serious inconvenience to our commerce in that quarter, and you have the thanks of the department for your efforts in this behalf. Your observations relative to the proposed inter-continental telegraph to connect the eastern and western hemispheres, by the way of Behring's Straits, have been read with much interest. SIR: Your despatch of the 1st instant, No. 294, has been received, and I commend the promptness with which you used the means at your disposal for having a proper watch kept upon the movements of the suspicious steamer to which you refer as having been seen off the coast of Sicily. Your communication has been submitted for perusal to the Secretary of the Navy. I am, sir, your obedient servant, SIR: Your despatch of the 6th ultimo, No. 295, has been received. This government is without information from any other quarter relative to the proceedings at the Cape de Verde islands, to which you have called attention. It will, however, receive and consider any representations that may be made touching that affair. I am, sir, your obedient servant, SIR: Your despatch, No. 296, of the 14th ultimo has been received, and I have commended to the Secretary of the Navy your suggestion as to the im portance of ready communication between our ministers abroad and naval officers of the United States on foreign stations. SIR: Your despatch, No. 298, dated October 23, in relation to the suspicious steamer Laurel, has been received. It will be proper for you to announce to the Portuguese government that her waters have been used for the equipment of another pirate to commit depredations upon the commerce of the United States, and that this is the result of a toleration on the part of Portugal, which is practically, though not intentionally, hostile to this government, which must be expected hereafter to act as its own safety shall require. I am, sir, your obedient servant, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 118, covering a copy of a confidential despatch to our minister at Vienna in regard to the proceedings of the French government in Mexico. There can be no doubt of the prudence and propriety of your instruction that we should abstain from discussion of the important questions connected with the present situation of Mexico until a more appropriate time and opportunity shall be presented by events which are now fast taking shape and substance. In fact, the policy of our government in reference to the states of the American continent speaks so emphatically for itself, and is so generally known and understood in Europe, as to require little of either explanation or representation on the part of its diplomatic agents abroad. That policy is founded upon justice and right, and involves various obligations and duties. If foreign powers deliberately assail and violate it, they cannot be ignorant of the results which must sooner or later attend any such infraction. It is only natural that the people of the United States should feel a deep concern for the fate of Mexico, from immediate neighborhood, from the nature of her political institutions, and from the common destiny which may be regarded, in the not far future, as the hope and aspiration of both. An occasion may possibly happen when it will be proper for that feeling to be affirmed formally and distinctly, and we will be better prepared to exercise an effective influence at the opportune moment by a becoming reserve until it occurs. Intelligent and candid opinion will not misjudge us for avoiding unnecessary complications that might weaken our position, impair the value of our co-operation, and, perhaps, injure the rightful claim of Mexico to the sym18 c *** pathy and support of the friends of liberal institutions and constitutional government everywhere. Despotic rulers and the champions of absolutism have always regarded us with jealousy, disfavor, and distrust. Their instruments will be apt to pursue the work of misrepresentation until exhaustion succeeds to injustice. But if we continue wise in our conduct towards Mexico, experience may serve to correct some of these European errors, and to remove many delusions concerning the policy, purposes, and power of the United States. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, JAMES E. HARVEY. Secretary of State. No. 235.] Mr. Harvey to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF the United States, SIR: The baptism of the royal prince (who is now heir apparent to the throne) was celebrated yesterday with great state and ceremony, and under the most favoring circumstances. All business was suspended, and the streets through which the royal cortège passed were tastefully decorated, while the presence of nine ships-of-war of the Italian navy in the Tagus, ornamented with the flags of all nations, made an effective pageant on the water. Our own sloopof-war, the St. Louis, in compliance with my suggestion, united in the demonstration of respect and good feeling, and presented a fine appearance, which attracted general commendation. In the afternoon the Italian Prince Carignan (cousin of King Victor Emanuel) and Prince Amédée, (second son of the King,) who had been sent here on a special mission of congratulation, received the diplomatic body, and expressed to me a most friendly interest in our affairs. The day closed by a state dinner at the palace of the Ajuda, with one hundred and sixty covers, for the court, the diplomatic corps, the peers and deputies of the kingdom, and the municipal and other bodies. I took occasion to offer the President's felicitations on the birth of the Prince, in anticipation of the formal and customary communication, which were kindly and becomingly answered by the King. An account of the ceremonial from the official paper, with a translation, accompanies this despatch for the files of the department. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. JAMES E. HARVEY. LISBON, October 19, 1863. The christening of the heir apparent to the crown was solemnized to-day with the greatest pomp in the parish church of St. Justa. All the ceremonies of this solemn act were complied with, in conformity to the official programme published through the department of the interior. His most serene highness, the prince royal, received the following names: Charles, Ferdinand, Louis, Marie, Victor, Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Gonzaga, Xavier, Francis de Assiz, Joseph, Simon de Braganza-Savoy, Bourbon, SaxeCobourg-Gotha. The godfather of his royal highness was his Majesty the King, Don Ferdinand II; and godmother, her Imperial Highness the Princess Dona Maria Clothilde, Thereza Louisa, represented by her excellency the duchess of Terceira. The holy sacrament of baptism was administered by the most eminent cardinal the patriarch of Lisbon. The sumptuous temple wherein were celebrated these august ceremonies of the baptism and the Te Deum, was richly and tastefully ornamented with rich and elegant draperies and hangings. The church itself, so large and roomy, was completely thronged with all those who had been specially invited to the ceremony, the diplomatic corps, grandees of the realm, ministers of state, honorary and effective, and noblemen. The guard of honor in attendance on the royal cortege was composed of a brigade of cavalry; the cavalry of the municipal guard was in attendance on the new-born prince. All those places which had been illuminated on the occasion of the birth, again renewed, in a splendid manner, their lights and ornaments. The public rejoicings could not be exceeded. The Portuguese people, ever ready in giving sincere and loyal proofs of the love they bear to their liberal dynasty, renewed these proofs in an enthusiastic manner on this day. In the evening a vast concourse of people thronged all the streets. Don Pedro_square, in spite of its size, was so crowded as to render it difficult to move therein. Many popular private bands of music circulated through the streets, followed by throngs, who frequently cheered, with enthusiasm, these sacred objects of the happiness and love of the Portuguese nation. Up to the advanced hour of the night at which we are writing we are not aware of any occurrence to mar the general joy and good feeling. This is doubtless the greatest eulogy that can be passed on this people. Mr. Harvey to Mr. Seward. No. 236.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: The accompanying copy of a note from our consul at Funchal has just reached this legation. The United States sloop-of-war St. Louis is in port. and undergoing repairs, after a cruise of four months; but even if she were in a condition to put to sea immediately, it is hardly necessary to say that a sailing ship is not adapted to the service of pursuit, which is now required. In fact, except for the moral effect of exhibiting our national flag in foreign waters, the presence of this description of vessels is of no practical value whatever. The piratical cruisers which have infested the ocean during the last two years, destroying commerce and pillaging promiscuously, have been encouraged by the impunity with which their ravages have been perpetrated, and the knowledge of our imperfect means of defence, as well as our inability to inflict proper punishment for their criminal proceedings. It is quite probable the Georgia and others of that class of cruisers will now renew their hostile operations on this side of the Atlantic. I am quite ignorant of the condition of the United States steamship Kearsarge, which was recently at Brest for repairs, and which is the only public vessel within reach at all fitted for the exigency; nor am I informed of the orders under which her commander is acting; still I shall at once communicate to him the facts which have come to my knowledge. It is quite desirable that the commanders of all the ships-of-war that are sent to this and neighboring places for the protection of commerce should keep the |