Mr. Seward to the Marquis de Montholon
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 13th ultimo, relative to the new law affecting the merchant service, published in France on the 16th of May last, a copy of which you are so good as to enclose.
With reference to your inquiry whether this government is disposed to accord the benefits of reciprocity of similar legislation, I have the honor to inform you that I have referred the matter to the honorable the Secretary of the Treasury, [Page 389] whose province it is to consider such questions, and I shall have the pleasure of recurring to the subject when I shall have received an expression of his views thereupon.
I beg that you will excuse the delay in this acknowledgment, which has been occasioned by the removal of the papers of the department, and that you will accept a renewed assurance of my highest consideration.
The Marquis de Montholon, &c., &c., &c.