more than refer our conversation to the minister, but he presumed that what was permitted to be done in her behalf would be restricted within the narrowest limits dictated by the rule in such cases. I have this day sent out a note to the minister, informing him that I had learned that the Florida had come into Brest, not for repairs of machinery only, but for coal, which had been denied to her at Bermuda, from which port she had come. The fact is, that as she is a good sailing vessel, and has crossed the Atlantic, as I believe, principally, by that means, neither coal nor machinery is necessary to her safety, although a great convenience, doubtless, in enabling her to prey upon our commerce. It may well be doubted whether the rule which limits aid in such cases, to what is called for by necessity and humanity, applies at all to her case. I should add that I have telegraphed to Cherbourg, Lisbon, Cadiz, and Gib. raltar, in the hope of finding the frigate Macedonia, or some other of our shipsof-war, within reach, but I can find none. The Constellation, a sailing ship, is somewhere in the Mediterranean. I am, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. WM. L. DAYTON. P. S.-Enclosed is a copy of the note sent by me this day to the department of foreign affairs. No. 338.] Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward. PARIS, August 27, 1863. SIR: I have recently had interviews with Mr. Drouyn de l'Huys in reference to the two iron-clad vessels now being built at Birkenhead, near Liverpool, by the Messrs. Laird for the rebels of the south, as was believed. Our consul at Liverpool was induced to think that by virtue of a sham sale to a Frenchman named Bravay they were about to get out the vessels, or one of them, as French property, and under the French flag, to be handed over, when clear of British jurisdiction, to the confederates, their true owners. Lord Palmerston said, too, in the House of Commons, that he was informed that the French government, ⚫through its consul at Liverpool, claimed one of these iron-clads. I at once appealed to Mr. Drouyn de l'Huys to prevent what I believed intended a fraudulent use of the French flag. He promised me to attend to the subject promptly. But he said he knew Mr. Bravay, and was aware of the fact that the Pacha of Egypt, with whom Bravay had much to do, had authorized him or his company to buy ships for him, the Pacha, either in France or England. In a subsequent interview Mr. Drouyn de l'Huys told me he had made all necessary inquiries, and that neither the Emperor, the minister of marine, the minister of finance, nor the French consul at Liverpool knew anything of any claim to such vessel or vessels on the part of the French government; and that a statement to that effect by Lord Palmerston, as reported in the London Times, must have been made on erroneous information. I then endeavored to impress on Mr. Drouyn de l'Huys the great importance of preventing the sailing of these vessels, as French vessels, from a British port, by any neglect of the French consul there, or any fraudulent contrivance or management on the part of French citizens. He said if I would supply him with papers or evidence indicating the real ownership and purpose of these iron-clads, he would have some grounds to act upon, and would see that the French consul at Liverpool was properly on his guard. I therefore had full copies made of the letter of our consul at Liverpool, and all the affidavits he had supplied to the British government on this subject, and enclosed them to the department of foreign affairs here. Last night I received from Mr. Drouyn de l'Huys a letter in reply, a translation of which is herewith enclosed. If the statements by Mr. Bravay, referred to in the letter, be true, that he has bought these iron-clads for the Pacha of Egypt, and they are delivered, we will have made an important escape, not from the iron-clads only, but from what is, in my judgment, still more important, from further questions with England on this point for the present. The French government has in this matter acted openly, and will, so far as can be now seen. SIR: I have received, with its accompaniments, the letter which you did me the honor to write to me of the date of the 22d of this month on the subject of two iron-clad vessels which are being constructed at Birkenhead, near Liverpool. Since the interview, which you are pleased to recall to me, a French merchant, M. Bravay, has addressed himself to my department, to make known to me that these vessels had been purchased through his agency on the account of the Pacha of Egypt. He claimed at the same time the support of the embassy of his Majesty in England in order to be able to send them to Alexandria. I have answered that the ships in question having a foreign destination, the French agents had no authority to intervene in this circumstance with the British administration, and that it belonged only to the Egyptian government to make to the English authorities the justifications necessary to authorize the going out of these ships. I have written in the same sense to the embassy of the Emperor at London, as well as to the consul of his Majesty at Liverpool. Accept the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant, SIR: The steamer Florida, for the want of a clear bill of health, was at first, as I am informed, put in quarantine at Brest. Our vice-consul at that port now telegraphs me that the quarantine was raised last evening and her twenty-four passengers landed. These passengers were the persons taken from the last ship which this piratical craft had burned. The ship burned was the Anglo Saxon, of New York, Captain John M. Cavarly; loaded with coal; bound from Liverpool to New York; sailed August 17; burned on the 21st, about twenty-five miles southeast of Cork. This is the account given by the captain, if I understand the telegraphic despatch aright. Our vice-consul is, of course, looking after the wants of the seamen who have been landed. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM L. DAYTON His Excellency WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton. No. 390.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 31, 1863. SIR: I have received your three despatches, namely, No. 329, under date of July 30; No. 332, of August 4, and No. 333, of August 5. Under the uniform aspect of our domestic affairs, the matters presented by these papers may safely pass unnoticed. You will perceive that the course of events in Mexico is giving rise to much speculation, as well in this country as in Europe, and this speculation takes a direction which may well deserve the consideration of the Emperor's government, for it indicates a disposition in some quarters to produce alienation between this country and France. This government has said nothing upon the subject, except what is contained in a previous communication made by me to yourself, and it lends no materials or encouragement to the debate to which I have referred. I have told you in a previous despatch that the interests of the United States in Texas are not overlooked. I have now to add that preparations have been made, which, as I trust, will be effectual in establishing the national authority in that State. SIR: I herewith enclose an extract from a despatch of the 26th of July last, addressed to this department by James R. Partridge, esq., minister resident of the United States to Salvador, with regard to his proceedings in relation to British and French interests there. You will embrace an early opportunity to make these proceedings known to the French government, and, at the same time, state to it that they have been approved by the government of the United States. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM L. DAYTON, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 340.] Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward. PARIS, September 1, 1863. SIR Lest our vice-consul at Brest may have neglected to send you a copy of the sworn statement of Captain Cavarly and others of the ship Anglo Saxon, of New York, lately burned at sea by the Florida, I herewith send you the copy of such statement, sent by the vice-consul to this legation. am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM L. DAYTON. His Excellency WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Sr., Sr., &c. Statement of John M. Cavarly, master of the ship Anglo Saxon, of New York, captured and burned by the privateer Florida. BREST, August 25, 1863. On this 25th day of August, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty-three, before me, J. M. Kenos, vice-consul of the United States of America for Brest, personally appeared John M. Cavarly, late master of the American ship called the Anglo Saxon, of New York, and declared as follows: We sailed from Liverpool on Monday morning, August 17, 1863, bound to New York. We had strong gales from the west to NW. till Wednesday morning, when we took the mid at N. NW. Passed Tuskan light-house on Wednesday night. Thursday, light winds from the NW. all day; ship standing to the W. SW. Friday morning, August 21, at 5, the second officer came to my room and said there was a steamer near us coming towards the ship. I went on deck at once. The ship lay becalmed; her courses were hauled up. The steamer came under our stern, hailed the ship, and asked where from and where bound. He then sent a boat on board the ship; told me to take my papers and go on board the steamer. I went on board the steamer; the captain took my papers and looked at them; he then said: Your ship is a prize to the confederate steamer Florida, Captain Maffitt. He told me to take my clothing-my ship's company the same-and come on board the Florida at once. I then asked him to bond the ship. His reply was, my cargo was a contraband of war; he should burn the ship. They took all the provisions, sails, cordage, canvas, &c., they wanted from the ship, besides my two chronometers, barometer, all my charts, sextant octant, in fact, all the nautical instruments belonging to the ship, besides some spars, and many other things. They did not allow any of my crew or officers to take their trunks or chests. When my ship's company were on board, all but myself and my officers and cook were put in irons. I had a channel pilot on board when the ship was captured. We both judged the ship to be twenty-five miles from Queenstown. At noon on Friday, August 21, after they had taken all they wished from the Anglo Saxon, they set my ship on fire, and fired two broadsides of shot and shell at her. The Florida then steered to the SW.; spoke two vessels the same afternoon; both were British, and refused to take their prisoners. On Sunday morning saw the land, which was Ushant. In the afternoon anchored in the harbor; were quarantined till Mouday afternoon, when we were landed in Brest. The American consul took charge of myself, officers, and crew. And together with the said master also came Arthur Snow, chief officer; W. Parmer, second mate; B. Balls, third mate; John Brown, carpenter; George Brown, seaman, of and belonging to the said ship, all of whom, being by me duly sworn, did severally, voluntarily, freely, and solemnly declare that the above statement is according to the truth. In testimony whereof, they have hereunto subscribed their names; and I, the said vice-consul, have granted to the said master this public instrument under my hand and the seal of this vice-consulate to serve and avail him and all others whom it doth or may concern as need and occasion may require. [L. S.] KENOS, United States Vice-Consul. B. BALLS. JOHN BROWN. GEORGE BROWN. I, the undersigned vice-consul of the United States, do hereby certify that the foregoing copy is true and faithful. SIR: I have supposed it might be of interest to you, or to the Navy Department, to learn something in detail as to the present conduct and future prospects of the rebel steamer Florida, now in the roadstead at Brest. I had, some days since, an application for aid in behalf of a French shipper, who had a heavy and just claim for damages against this vessel, and which claim, he was advised by his counsel, could be enforced against her in law. This claim, properly prepared, could detain her in port, as alleged, for some six months at least. To become better informed upon this question, and other matters as to the ship, I requested Mr. Bigelow, our consul here, to go with the claimant to Brest. This he immediately did. I am not yet able to say whether any legal claim can be enforced, or whether the vessel can be detained to answer for it. Our vice-consul at Brest, a most intelligent gentleman, doubts if it can be done; but, in the mean time, I learn through a letter from him, and another from Mr. Bigelow, that the Florida is yet in the roadstead, awaiting permission to be taken into a government dock or basin for repairs. The mere commercial accommodations at Brest are, it seems, not sufficient for her purpose. In the mean time it is supposed that the French are consulting with the British authorities with a view to a joint action or understanding as to what the two governments should do in such cases. Captain Maffitt, of the Florida, says he came into a French port for repairs instead of an English one, because. by the rule adopted by England, he was excluded from entering another of her ports for three months after he had left Bermuda, which time had not yet expired. He represents the copper on the bottom of his ship as badly torn by her striking against a rock, or some obstacle, in making his escape from Mobile. He wishes to copper her bottom, re-calk her, repair her machinery, and get coal. Our vice-consul at Brest thinks it very important that she be taken into the basin or dock-yard for repairs, which he thinks, from their necessary character and extent, will detain her at least four or five months. It is ascertained that her shaft is so badly sprung, or at least out of line, that it has raised her deck. Early and extensive repairs are, it is said, indispensable; and Captain Maffitt says the machinery of her engine is of such a nature as to make it necessary to send to England for workmen, the French artisans not understanding it. He complains that Brest "is a dreadful slow place;" says "they promised to have the dock ready for his ship some days ago, and that it is not ready yet." The men were getting ready to land her powder on Monday or Tuesday last, and knocking out the heads of some casks to put it in. The Florida consumed the last of her coal in coming to Brest. By the way, the Anglo Saxon, which she burned in the channel, was loaded with coal; and Captain Maffitt told Captain Cavarly (when he asked the privilege of bonding his vessel) that coal was contraband of war, and he would burn her as quick as if she were loaded with gunpowder. But it is not to be doubted that the Florida will claim the right to coal anew in the French port. I am informed that the crew of this vessel are of all nations, but mostly English and Irish; not more than two Americans in the whole, and they both Boston boys taken off a prize. Mr. Maflitt, having been long on the coast survey, says he is as well acquainted with the ports and |