William H. Seward to Wm. Stuart, September 6, 1862

Mr. Seward to Mr. Stuart.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 2d instant, in which you state that you have been instructed to inform me, with reference to the observations contained in my note to you of the 23d of July last, in the case of the Will-o’-the-Wisp, relative to the inconvenience sustained by neutrals engaged in honest trade with Matamoras, that when Great Britain was at war with Russia her Majesty’s government did not enforce the blockade of a port near to the Russian frontier in order not to interrupt neutral commerce.

I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your obedient servant,