Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/462

 456 Southern Historical Society Fapers.

tent with the covert intimation that no ship-builder we might employ would be prevented from despatching the vessels to sea when they were completed. Personally, I fully agreed with Mr. Slidell, and on the general question I subsequently wrote to the Secretary of the Navy as follows:

" You may rely upon it that the purchase of men-of-war from any of the European navies is not practicable under existing circum- stances. The transaction would necessarily be managed through intermediaries, who, from the very nature of the negotiations, would be forced to sacrifice principle by prevaricating, and then all sorts of objectionable means would have to be used, even bribery, and after all we would only get cast-off vessels. I make these remarks as the result of experience, for I have had propositions from many per- sons, and I know wherein they are all wanting."

The construction of the corvettes at Bordeaux and Nantes, and the two ironclad vessels, progressed rapidly, and for some months there did not arise any question which suggested a doubt in regard to the purposes of the Imperial government in respect to their departure when completed. On the 23d of November, 1863, I reported that the armored vessels were quite three-fifths finished, and that the corvettes would probably be ready for sea within the contract time, but by that date affairs began to change in their aspect. The Ame- rican papers began to discuss the probable destination of the ships, and it was stated that Mr. Dayton, the United States Minister, had addressed a protest to the French government against their comple- tion, and it was even affirmed that he had been assured by the Minis- ter of Marine that none of the ships would be allowed to leave France. Commenting upon these uncomfortable rumors, in a subsequent des- patch (November 26th, 1863,) to the Secretary of the Navy, I wrote as follows :

" The extent to which the system of bribery and spying has been, and continues to be, practised by the agents of the United States in Europe, is scarcely credible. The servants of gentlemen, supposed to have Southern sympathies, are tampered with, confidential clerks, and even the messengers from telegraph offices, are bribed to betray their trust, and I have lately been informed that the English and French post-offices, hitherto considered immaculate, are now scarcely safe modes of communication. * * * *

" Mere suspicion is not, 1 regret to say, the basis of Mr. Dayton's protest. He has furnished the French government with copies of certain letters, alleged to have passed between the builders, which go