Mr. Benjamin to Mr. De Leon, December 13, 1862

Mr. Benjamin to Mr. De Leon.

Sir: I avail myself of an unexpected
opportunity to acknowledge receipt of your Nos. 1 and 2. They have been
read with lively interest, and you will not fail to keep the department
fully advised of your conclusions as to the probable action of European
powers as fast as their views are developed, either through the press or
other agencies.

The president has been so fully occupied with military matters that it
has been scarcely possible for me to confer with him at length on the
matters suggested by you, and he has just departed very suddenly for a
tour in the southwest, where his presence was greatly needed to restore
affairs and to impart renewed energy and activity to our military
operations.

On his return I will take measures to forward you additional means to
enable you to extend the field of your operations, and to embrace, if
possible, the press of central Europe in your campaign. Austria and
Prussia, as well as the smaller Germanic powers, seem to require
intelligence of the true condition of our affairs and of the nature of
our struggle, and it is to be hoped you may find means to act with
efficiency in moulding public opinion in those countries.

When I send you a remittance, on the return of the president, (at the end
of this month,) I will give you my views more at large.

The bearer of this goes in part to complete arrangements for more prompt
communication, and I hope that for the future my despatches will reach
Europe more regularly and promptly.

Your obedient servant,