Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth Congress

Mr. Wood to Mr. Seward

No. 191.]

Legation of the United States, Copenhagen, April 14, 1865.

Sir: I herewith enclose a translated copy of the minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Blumhe’s, reply to my note of the 3d instant, a copy of which I duly forwarded to you.

For obvious reasons I withheld communicating your despatch or circular, No. 106, until I had received the minister’s reply to that note, as I knew you could not have been aware of the activity of the rebels in these waters. I also enclose you a note addressed to the minister of foreign affairs of the 12th instant, enclosing a copy of Mr. Consul Dudley’s note to me. The Denmark is the same iron-clad I referred to in despatch No. 184, (20th February last,) built by Messrs. Thompson, on the Clyde, originally for the confederates. It seems the Danish government have employed (as Mr. Dudley informs me) the Messrs. Thompson, or an Englishman by the name of Watson, of Liverpool, to sell her. She is now lying in the harbor of Copenhagen. On the 8th instant—the King’s birthday—the diplomatic corps waited upon him. He took the occasion to thank me for the kind manner which I had conducted in the affair of the Staerkodder, Sphinx, or Stonewall. I think I have balked the rebels in enlisting men here, and I have advised Mr. McDonald, the vice-consul at Hamburg, who is on the lookout for them.

I remain, &c., your obedient servant,

BRADFORD R. WOOD, Minister Resident.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

[Translation.]

Mr. Blumhe to Mr. Wood

Copenhagen, April 8, 1865.

Sir: I hasten to inform you that in regard to the information you have been kind enough to furnish me by your letter of the 3d instant, I have taken some steps in order that any attempt in the direction of enrolling Danish subjects for the service of the so-called confederates shall be put down.

I ought to add that the existing laws inflict very severe punishments not only on the recruiting agents, but also on those allowing themselves to be enlisted.

Be pleased to accept, sir, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.

BLUMHE.

His Excellency Mr. Wood, Minister Resident.

Mr. Wood to Mr. Blumhe

Legation of the United States, April 12, 1865.

Sir: I have this morning received a letter from Mr. Dudley, the United States consul at Liverpool, (a copy of which I herewith enclose,) informing me of his apprehensions that the Denmark may be so sold as to pass into the hands of the so-called confederates, and which I have every reason to believe his Majesty’s government does not intend.

With renewed assurances of high consideration, I remain your excellency’s obedient servant.

B. R. WOOD, Minister Resident.

His Excellency Mr. Blumhe, Minister for Foreign Affairs.