William L. Dayton to Craven , U. S. Steamship Niagara, July 27, 1864

Mr. Dayton to Captain Craven

Sir: I have received a memorandum or “note verbale,” as he calls it, from M. Drouyn de l’Huys, the French minister of foreign affairs, calling my attention to the fact, that on the 6th of this month the Niagara appeared off the port of Cherbourg, and although you did not enter that port or intend to do so, you took a pilot and afterwards sent him with an officer to the Sacramento, which was regularly in harbor. That this pilot-boat shortly returned on board the Niagara, bringing the captain of the Sacramento and Mr. Liais, our vice-consul, who, after remaining on board some time, left. Upon leaving they were saluted by the Niagara with seven cannon, without any salute having been fired to the French flag. He says this was done while in French waters between Fort Chaougnac and the fort at the end of the breakwater. M. Drouyn de l’Huys informs me that a recurrence of these incidents will risk compromising the good relations they are anxious to entertain with the federal officers, and the government of the Emperor, if it was not sure (assuré) they would not occur again, might be led to forbid entrance into their harbors to vessels which would act as the Niagara has done,

He complains that such irregularities have occurred before, &c., &c.

I give you thus the body of his complaint. I am satisfied that you have not wilfully been wanting in any courtesy due from you as a naval officer, or been guilty of any international disrespect towards the French flag. But it is important that our relations with France be kept on the best footing possible, and I should wish to know what view you take of this complaint, and what answer you make to it, before I myself see or write to the minister of foreign affairs on the subject.

With much respect, yours truly,