William L. Dayton to William H. Seward, September 30, 1864

Mr. Dayton, United States minister, to Mr. Seivard, Secretary of State.

Sir: I saw M. Drouyn de Lhuys on yesterday. He received me in a very cordial manner, but said, smilingly, that I wrote him a sharp dispatch; in allusion to that I had sent him the day before, inclosed to you in No. 542.

[306] I said no, but I had answered temperately a sharp dispatch he had sent to me from the minister of marine; and I added that that dispatch had surprised me very much, as there was certainly nothing in my letter, to which this dispatch from the minister of marine purports to be an answer, to justify it. M. Drouyn de Lhuys then said they certainly intended to watch those vessels at Bordeaux and Nantes as *closely as possible; and he thought that this letter from the minister of marine, stating that these vessels should not be delivered to the confederates, put the matter in the best possible shape for me.

I told him I thought so too, and was satisfied, and had so informed the commanders of the Niagara and Sacramento. * * *

I am, sir, &c.,