Mr. Hale to Mr. Seward
Sir: The Ardeche, French frigate, which brought hither French soldiers for Cochin China, sailed out of the harbor on the 24th instant, having taken on board, according to all observations and reports, only the French soldiers who had previously arrived from Cochin China, and had been received on board the Sevres, as mentioned in my despatch No. 44.
The French soldiers brought by the Ardeche, of which the number is stated as one thousand and fifteen, were embarked at Suez on the 15th for their destination.
General de Marquez, accredited by Maximilian as Mexican envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Constantinople, arrived at Alexandria on the 22d instant, and proceeded to Cairo, in company with Mr. Guiseppe Gogheb, accredited in the same way as Mexican consul general here, and also in company with Mr. De Maya, the Spanish consul general, an old personal friend.
I have not previously mentioned that, on Mr. Gogheb’s hoisting his flag here, on the 2d instant, he sent to me, as well as to the other members of the consular corps, his circular intimating the day when he would be prepared to receive his colleagues. As I had met him previously in private circles, and also officially in his capacity as consul of Persia, (which commission he still retains,) I sent him a private note to intimate that I could not salute the flag or make him an official visit, but that I hoped to maintain friendly personal relations with him, and official relations with him in his capacity as consul of Persia.
Both Mr. Gogheb and Mr. Debhane, my Brazilian colleague, are natives of the East; they are estimable gentlemen, but naturally have little acquaintance with the governments whose commissions they held, or with the condition of political society upon the American continent.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.