The Minister for Foreign Affairs, (By authority,) THILE to Joseph A. Wright, October 19, 1866

Baron Thile to Mr. Wright.

Sir: After the reception of your note of last month concerning the forcible arrest of the two seamen, Charles Berger and Charles Müller, from the American steamer Baltic, the undersigned called the immediate attention of the minister of marine to the affair.

From information received from the commander of the royal squadron, it appears that the affair did not occur as supposed in said note, but in the following manner:

During the first part of the month of July last the said Charles Müller, already engaged as an assistant engineer on the Baltic, a Prussian landwehrmann, still subject to the military laws, presented himself to the commander of the royal fleet to be received in the Prussian marine, and at the same time informed the commander that Charles Berger, a fireman on the Baltic, who also was still subject the the military laws, desired also to take service in the Prussian marine, but could not leave the steamer.

The commander ad interim of the port went on board of the Baltic to learn about Charles Berger, and he (Berger) was immediately released; the captain of the said steamer not objecting, but, on the contrary, found it all right.

According to this no force was resorted to, nor has any principle of international law been violated.

The undersigned doubts not but that this communication will be perfectly satisfactory, and place the affair, which has been misrepresented by the public papers, in its true light.

The undersigned takes this occasion to renew, &c., &c.