Mr. Seward to Mr. Motley

No. 186.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 15th instant, No. 174. In that paper I find the following paragraphs:

“As I have already been informed, officially, but confidentially, that the departure of the volunteers for Mexico has been prevented, (information which I immediately conveyed to you in my above-mentioned No. 173,) this delay has nothing in it surprising.

“I think that you may consider it certain, as a matter of fact, that no soldiers will sail from Austria to Mexico.”

Your No. 173, referred to in the first paragraph, has not yet reached this department. The paragraphs extracted, however, are sufficient to satisfy the [Page 847] President that our wishes in regard to the Mexican question are receiving just consideration by the imperial royal government.

If it shall seem to you to be expedient, you will say this to Count Mensdorff, and at the same time express to him our earnest and sincere wishes to remain always in peace and cordial friendship with Austria.

In compliance with your request, I send herewith, for your information, a copy of so much of the correspondence with France concerning Mexico as has not heretofore been furnished you.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

J. Lothrop Motley, Esq., &c., &c., Vienna.