Mr. Seward to Mr. Wood.
Sir:You are aware that this government has a contract with the owner of the line of steamers which plies between Bremen and New York for the carriage of the mails between these points. The service is of great importance to this government itself, and to the large interest concerned in trade and intercourse between the United States and Germany. During our late war with Mexico the English line of mail steamers to Vera Cruz was allowed to continue its trips unmolested. Though England was then a neutral, and, therefore, in a very [Page 343] different position from that of Germany in respect to Denmark, it would be accepted as a gratifying concession if the latter power could consider it not indispensable to her belligerent interests to put a stop to the trips of the steamers referred to, and that those trips may be continued, if not unreservedly, at least with privileges enough to enable them efficiently to discharge their postal obligations.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Bradford R. Wood, &c., &c., &c., Copenhagen.