William L. Dayton to M. Drouyn de l’Huys, November 27, 1863

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Monsieur le Ministre: Herewith I enclose to your excellency the copy of an extract from a letter addressed to me by Mr. Davisson, United States consul at Marseilles, dated November 24, 1863, in reference to the construction of two of the vessels now being built for the confederates at that port. One of these vessels is advertised in the “Gironde,” of that city, to sail on the 28th of February, and the other on the 31st of March. The pretence that they are intended for the China seas is yet kept up in this advertisement, though the papers heretofore shown to your excellency (especially the letter of Mr. Arman) afford the clearest evidence that this pretence is a false one.

I enclose you, likewise, the copy of an extract of a letter from Captain Winslow, of the United States ship Kearsarge, in reference to the assistance and repairs made upon the confederate ship Florida, at Brest. To these two subjects I called the attention of your excellency on yesterday, when I likewise apprised you of the fact that they were recruiting a crew for that vessel in the ports of France, and that twenty-six men had already been enlisted in the ports of Havre and Nantes, prior to the 11th instant. They have not yet been received on board the Florida, though kept in pay by that vessel, and ready to be shipped when the complement is complete. The Florida is ready now to go to sea, and may do so at any day, unless prevented by the authority of this government.

I regret, likewise, to be under the necessity of enclosing to your excellency the copy of a letter received this morning from our consul at Calais. It would seem from this that another confederate steamer, the Rappahannock, has just arrived in that port, and is awaiting aid. The same protests which have been made in respect to the others, I beg to extend to her.

I am, sir, your very obedient servant,