Mr. Pruyn to Mr. Seward
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that affairs wear a most threatening aspect. The government seems to be determined in its efforts to close this port, and has announced to the British minister that it was essential to the preservation of peace. The same subject was forced on the French minister in his first visit to the Gorogio, which was simply one of ceremony, and language used even more threatening.
The ministers of the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Netherlands, have had several conferences of late and are in perfect accord. We propose to unite in a letter to the government with a view to check its reactionary policy.
Her British Majesty’s ship Conqueror, with a battalion of marines, is daily expected, and the balance of the 20th regiment is also en route for this place. On their arrival the British will have a force of 1,500 men here, exclusive of the marines and sailors of their powerful squadron of fourteen ships. There is in addition a French force of about one hundred bayonets, beside the corvette Duplex and two Dutch corvettes.
I have written to Captains Price and McDougal, as I learn the Alabama is again at Capetown, asking their presence here if consistent with their orders; and I also think it proper to say, that I most sincerely hope that the position of affairs at home will permit the President to despatch a strong re-enforcement to the squadron in the China seas.
I have thus far abstained from any such request because of the home demands, and also because I thought ships could be safely dispensed with here; but I think I should be remiss in duty if I failed to ask for them now.
I hope my fears will prove groundless, but all my colleagues concur in the opinion that it would be unsafe to rely too much on the continuance of peace, though we shall all labor to maintain it.
There can be no doubt that the withdrawal of the ships now here would be the signal for an instantaneous outbreak, and it would appear fair that the United States should participate in protecting our common rights and interests.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.