William L. Dayton to Drouyn de l’Huys, August 29, 1864

Dayton to M. Drouyn de l’Huys

Monsieur le Ministre: I regret to be under the necessity of again troubling your excellency as to the ships now or recently being built at Nantes and Bordeaux for the so-called confederates of the south. I do so to prevent, if possible, any difficulty springing up between France and the United States.

Your excellency has in possession evidence that four clipper ships and two iron-clads were contracted for by these parties, and have been in the course of construction at these two ports. As respects two of these vessels, the Yeddo and Osacca, they have been disposed of, it would seem, to a power neutral as respects the United States; but your excellency has given me no assurance that the two other clipper ships at Nantes, and the iron-clad at Bordeaux, or either of them, have been disposed of in like manner. These vessels, so far as I have knowledge, are yet the property of the confederates, and one or more are about to go to sea. They will, under these circumstances, be subject to capture by our cruisers. In the hope of preventing any unpleasant questions between our governments, I beg your excellency will state, in reply, if you have knowledge of any change of ownership in either of the vessels above referred to.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,