ELY, United States Consul to The Commandant of the Land Forces of his Majesty the Emperor of the French in Acapulco, October 1, 1864

Mr. Ely to the French Commandant

Sir: I am informed, officially, that it was by your order that the United States mail, addressed under seal to the United States consul at Acapulco, was seized on the 30th day of September, A. D. 1864, the seal broken, and the contents removed beyond my reach.

As the land and naval forces of his Majesty the Emperor of the French here have no post roads or post routes, and as they perform no established postal service, and as the seizure of the United States mail was not done under cover of military surveillance, but by a civil officer of the French government, acting under your orders; and, more especially, as this mail service is performed by the United States of America, and the mails being forwarded to their legally constituted agent here, it becomes my duty to protest, in the name of my government and in this solemn manner, against the seizure, and against all and every person or persons whom it doth or may concern.

Given under my hand and the seal of this consulate the day and year above written.[l. s.]