William L. Dayton to M. Drouyn de l’Huys, June 4, 1864

Mr. Dayton to M. Drouyn de l’Huys

Monsieur le Ministre: After recent assurances from your excellency that the iron-clads at Bordeaux had certainly been sold to a neutral government, and that the clipper-ships at that port and at Nantes should not be delivered to the confederates, I have given them little or no further attention; but our consul at Bordeaux, having reported to me on yesterday that the Yeddo will steam out to sea on Monday or Tuesday next, (6th or 7th instant,) although the work on her is not finished, I have thought it advisable to apprise your excellency of the fact. I had not supposed it possible, from what I had understood from other sources, that this vessel could get to sea at so early a day.

I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your excellency the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be, your very obedient servant,