William L. Dayton to William H. Seward, February 19, 1864

[296] *Mr. Dayton, United States minister, to Mr. Seward, Secretary of State.

Sir. * * * * * * *

M. Drouyn de Lhuys says that he believes the iron-clads at Bordeaux are sold to a neutral, but I received information from Mr. Wood, our minister at Copenhagen, that the minister of foreign affairs of Denmark says he does not know, nor has he ever heard, of any negotiation for the purchase or building for that country of any ships in France, M. Drouyn de Lhuys tells me, and I do not doubt but that he has given notice to Mr. Arman (the builder of the ironclads, and the contractor for the four other ships building for the confederates) that France must be relieved from all trouble in reference to any of them, and Arman has promised him that France shall be. He says that the four other vessels are building for commerce, and that he can and will sell them to neutral parties. In the mean time, I can and will keep a sharp eye to the entire proceeding.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,