have always endeavored to follow in protecting in an equal way, and without consideration of creed, all those who, either by inclination or for the fulfilment of a duty, sojourn in the country submitted to my administration.

I am profoundly sensible of the friendly manner in which you express your sentiments both to myself and to my government, and I pray you, honorable sir and friend, to accept with this offering of my thanks my sincere wishes for the success, perpetuity, and integrity of the American Union, which, I hope, under your able presidency, will soon see an end of the trials with which the Almighty has been pleased to afflict it.

MONSIEUR LE CONSUL GÉNÉRAL: In addition to my private letter in reply to your communication of the 19th of October last, respecting the foreign vessels which may present themselves in the neighborhood of Alexandria under an unrecognized flag, I have the honor to inform you that the order of his highness the viceroy is that the captain of the port of this city shall notify them to remain outside of the said port until he can receive instructions from the local government on the subject; that whether they conform to that injunction or enter the harbor notwithstanding such notice, official information shall be taken from each of the consulates general residing in Egypt, and that if the nationality of these vessels be not owned by either one of them they shall be excluded from the port, in accordance with the rules in force.

Be pleased to accept, monsieur le consul général, the assurances of my high consideration.

Monsieur WM. L. THAYER,

TOULFIKAE PACHA, The Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Consul General of the United States of America, Alexandria.

Mr. Thayer to Mr. Seward.

No. 17.]

UNITED STATES CONSULATE GENBRAL,
Alexandria, March 13, 1862.

SIR: The agitation so adverse to American shipping, caused by the presence of the privateer Sumter in these waters, has sensibly diminished, owing to the arrival of federal men-of-war off Gibraltar. The recognition by European powers of the efficiency of our blockade, coupled with the late brilliant successes of our army at home, has also been most auspicious.

Public opinion here, which was somewhat unfavorably affected by the prolongation of our domestic struggle, has taken a better turn. This desirable result is enhanced by the publication of the State Department's correspondence with foreign powers, which has dissipated many prevalent errors as to the nature and pretensions of our government, and as to the purpose and ability of our nation to maintain its integrity. The enlightenment of mankind on this subject

will not be the smallest compensation for the evils which the insurrection has brought upon us. Many intelligent and influential Europeans are constantly passing through or sojourning here, and Egypt, therefore, affords excellent opportunities to obtain the average sense of the civilized world on our affairs. Apprehensions of privateers having to some extent subsided, all but two of the American ships freighted here have cleared. Cotton, in consequence of expected peace in the United States, has fallen, and is now quoted at $15 the

cantar.

The Prince of Wales, who arrived about three weeks ago, is in Upper Egypt. He was received with hospitalities by the government at Cairo, the prince making the first call at the palace of the viceroy.

An invitation to the viceroy to be present at the Great Industrial Exhibition at London, in May, has been accepted, and his highness has contributed to the exhibition from the agricultural and manufacturing products of Egypt.

A new railway, the carriages to be drawn by horses, is in process of construction from Alexandria to Ramleh, a sea-side resort some five miles from here. Thence it will, perhaps, be extended to Rosetta. Both in its charter and in common parlance it is known by the name of "The American Railway." It is the first of its kind attempted in Africa.

The American missionaries are putting in order the very large and handsome building (referred to in my despatch No. 12) which has been granted to them in fee simple by the viceroy. It fronts the Esbekich, or public square of Cairo, the most eligible part of the city. It comprises not less than twenty-five spacious rooms, three of them measuring forty-five feet by sixteen cach, and the estimated value of the property is not far from $50,000.

I mention this as an event which strongly testifies to the respect felt for the American name by the government of Egypt. The first motive of the gift was a suggestion made by this consulate general to the viceroy, that American missionaries had not shared in the bounty so generously accorded by his highness to the religious missionaries of Europe. There is no ground for such a remark

now.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. WM. H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

WM. S. THAYER.

No. 11.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Thayer.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, April 8, 1862.

SIR: Your despatch of March 13 (No. 17) has been received. The President is highly gratified with the information it brings concerning the liberality exercised by his highness the Pacha to American citizens and American missionaries.

The sensible relief of our merchants and seamen from their recent apprehensions of danger to our shipping in the Mediterranean comes home to us as a new argument to re-enforce the determination of the government to maintain the integrity of the republic.

The progress of the Union forces continues to be eminently successful. I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

WM. S. THAYER, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Alexandria.

The President of the United States to the Viceroy of Egypt.

WASHINGTON, October 11, 1861.

GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND: I have received from Mr. Thayer, consul general of the United States at Alexandria, a full account of the liberal, enlightened, and energetic proceedings which, on his complaint, you have adopted in bringing to speedy and condign punishment the parties, subjects of your highness in Upper Egypt, who were concerned in an act of criminal persecution against Faris, an agent of certain Christian missionaries in Upper Egypt. I pray your highness to be assured that these proceedings, at once so prompt and so just, will be regarded as a new and unmistakable proof equally of your highness's friendship for the United States, and of the firmness, integrity, and wisdom with which the government of your highness is conducted. Wishing you great prosperity and success, I am your friend,

His Highness MOHAMMED SAID PACHA,

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Viceroy of Egypt and its Dependencies, &c., &c., &c.

MOROCCO.

Mr. De Long to Mr. Seward.

CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES,

Tangier, February 20, 1862.

SIR; I have the honor to inform you that two secessionists, commissioned by the captain of the pirate steamer Sumter, were landed here yesterday from a merchant French steamer, Ville de Malaga, proceeding from Gibraltar on their route to Cadiz, to purchase coal to supply the Sumter, which is still in the port of Gibraltar, uncoaled.

One of these men, I am informed, is a lieutenant of the Sumter; the other, Mr. Tunstall, who has been acting as United States consul at Cadiz, up to some time last summer, and was intending to return to the southern States on board of the Sumter.

Having received this information from what I considered reliable authority, I made application to the Moorish authorities for soldiers, and had them arrested at the beach, at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon of yesterday, as they were about to return to the steamer to proceed to Cadiz.

They are now confined in one of the rooms of the United States consulate, awaiting the arrival of the Tuscarora, which is expected to morrow, as I wish to place them in the charge of the commander, to be conveyed by him to the United States on his return

During the progress of these proceedings I overheard Tunstall calling his friend Myers, and in a note that he gave to one of the soldiers to be conveyed to a friend of his, at the English hotel, by the name of Harrison, a lieutenant in the English navy, which I objected to be delivered, he signed the initials "H. M." I then referred to the United States Navy Register for the year 1861, and found, in page 46, that a man by the name of Henry Myers was commissioned paymaster, with the rank of lieutenant, on the 21st day of June, 1854, and was a citizen of the State of Georgia at the time.

During a conversation I had with Tunstall he informed me that his comrade was a citizen of Georgia; consequently all these circumstances induced me to the belief that the aforementioned prisoner in question was the identical Henry Myers.

I had no way to confine them safely without putting them in irons, and even then I have to keep four soldiers guarding them day and night.

They applied for French protection, on the ground that they came to this place on board of a French steamer, but the French consul's reply was, that as soon as they left the steamer, and landed on Moorish territory, he had no right to protect them, nor to interfere in any way whatever.

They then claimed an interview with the British minister, Mr. Drummond Hay; but this gentleman called on me, and inquired if I was aware of my prisoners having requested an interview with him. I answered, no. I said to him, "Mr. Hay, I know you to be a gentleman, and if you desire to see the prisoners you can do so." He replied promptly that he did not. First, he said, he had no power to interfere; secondly, his government had given positive instructions to all their ministers and agents to observe strict neutrality.