Mr. Motley to Mr. Seward.

No. 179.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 179, of date April 30, in answer to my No. 160, concerning the impending war in Germany.

I do not propose to write a despatch to-day, having nothing new to communicate on this most important subject.

Military preparations are going on in this empire with as much zeal as ever. There is a slight improvement on the exchange, and a comparative lull in the public excitement, but I regret to say that I find few public or private indications here of faith in a pacific or satisfactory result from the conferences or conversations about to be held in Paris.

I sincerely hope, however, that the eminent personages about to assemble in that capital may devise some means of substituting a just and permanent peace for the impending war. How that is to be done I confess my inability at present to perceive.

I have the honor to remain, sir, your obedient servant,

J. LOTHROP MOTLEY.

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.