Drouyn de L’huys to M. Ministre of Marine, February 8, 1864

M. Drouyn de l’Huys to M. Ministre of Marine

Sir: I have received the letter which you did me the honor to write to me on the subject of the injuries which the vessel Rappahannock might cause to the federal commerce upon its departure from Calais. I have made it my duty, in consequence, to again call the attention of M. the minister of marine to the preparations of the confederate vessel, and I hasten to send you herewith a copy of his answer. It results from it, as you will be able to convince yourself, that the Rappahannock has not ceased to be the object of the most active surveillance, and the numerous visits made on board by M. the commissary of the maritime inscription of Calais have enabled him to state that this vessel has been able solely to procure itself what was wanting in respect to its seaworthiness, but that it has received no object with a view to an armament of war. The government of the Emperor could not then be rendered responsible for the acts of aggression to which the Rappahannock might afterwards devote itself against the federal vessels, but which it would be powerless in its actual state to commit against them on quitting our waters. If any doubts still remain as to the conditions upon which this vessel left the shores of England and took refuge at Calais, an inquiry which is now being prosecuted by the direction of M. the minister of the marine will furnish in this respect the desirable explanations. I will have the honor to inform you of the result as soon as it shall be known to me.

Accept the assurance of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant,