JULES TREILHARD, First Secretary of the Legation to [Here follows General Butler’s order and Collector Dennison’s certificate, both in English.], October 6, 1862

Viscount Treilhard to Mr. Seward.

Sir: The manager of the consulate of France at New Orleans has just informed me of three affairs which interest Frenchmen in that city, and which I hasten to commend to the kind attention of the government of the United States.

The first, as appears from the documents herewith annexed, under the number 1, is in relation to various lots of sugar belonging to Messrs. Richard Aldigé & Co., and to Messrs. Goodchaux.

The sugars were deposited in the warehouses of the custom-house of New Orleans at the period of the occupation of that city by the federal troops, and the collector of customs refused to give them up for consumption without an order from the Secretary of the Treasury. At the same time Mr. Dennison, as he has assured our counsel, wrote to Washington in behalf of the interested parties, but, up to the present time, has received no answer in this regard. I therefore step forward to solicit that the necessary orders may be transmitted to New Orleans to have the goods, which have been temporarily sequestered, restored to their owners. Longer delay would lead to the deterioration of the sugars, and would deprive the parties concerned of the legitimate profits which they are enabled to realize at this time.

The second affair relates to two lots of printing paper, belonging to Mr. Charles Harispe, which Major General Butler caused to be seized in the warehouses of the custom-house to supply the wants of the newspaper, the Delta. I annex hereto, under the number 2, a copy of Mr. Harispe’s letter, and I can only submit to your judgment the arbitrary proceeding of which this Frenchman has been the victim, entreating a prompt decision on this matter.

Finally, the third affair of which I have spoken to you, sir, is connected with a series of more than arbitrary acts, which are represented to have been committed, by orders of federal authorities, on a plantation belonging to French citizens. I have the honor to send you herewith, under the number 3, the copy of a letter which, on this occasion, was addressed to our agent at New Orleans by Mr. Paul Vidal, in his own behalf, and in behalf of Messrs. G. Levois and L. C. Chauvin, French subjects. To that letter is annexed a statement of losses which have been sustained.

I embrace this opportunity, sir, to renew to you the assurances of my high consideration.

For the minister: