I have the honor to enclose the copies transmitted to me in the original Dutch. I see the instructions to ministers forbid the application of the contingent fund to pay translators, and I infer from this that the department prefers original documents. These papers warn the Dutch people against privateering, as an unlawful proceeding which may be deemed piracy, and they forbid the use of the ports of the Netherlands to privateers under any flag. They refer also to the fact of the adhesion of Holland to the declaration of the congress of Paris, in respect to maritime rights, made in 1856. It will likewise be observed that the Dutch government abstains from following the British example in excluding prizes brought in by ships of war. # I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant, In obedience to the King's orders the ministers for foreign affairs, of justice, and of the marine, present to the knowledge of all it may concern, that to guard against probable difficulties during the doubtful complications in the United States of North America, no privateers under any flag soever, or provided with any commission or letters of marque, or their prizes, shall be admitted into our havens or seaports, unless in case of marine disaster, and that requisite orders be issued that under any circumstances such privateers and their prizes be required to go again to sea as speedily as possible. AT THE HAGUE. The ministers above named. [Translation.] The minister for foreign affairs and the minister of justice, by the King's authority, warn, by these presents, all inhabitants of the kingdom, that during the existing disturbances in the United States of America they in nowise take part in privateering, Because the Netherlands government has acceded to the declaration upon maritime rights set forth by the Paris conference of 1856, whereby, among other matters, privateering is abolished, and no recognition of commissions got for letters of marque permitted. Also that commissions and letters of marque in conflict with the aforesaid prohibition, which may issue to inhabitants of the Netherlands, cannot have a lawful effect in behalf of the King's subjects, or of any abroad who are in subjection to the laws of the kingdom. Those who, under such circumstances, engage in or lend their aid in privateering to other people, will be considered as pirates, and prosecuted according to law in the Netherlands, and subjected to the punishment provided for the commission of such offences. THE HAGUE. The ministers above named. [Translation.] The minister for foreign affairs, apprised by a communication from the minister of marine that the King has authorized the naval force in the West Indies to be seasonably strengthened by his Majesty's steam frigate Zealand, and the screw propellers Dyambi and Vesuvius, for the purpose of giving protection to the trade and navigation of the Netherlands during the contest which seems to be in existence in the United States of North America, wherever it may be desired, therefore esteems it to be his duty to direct the attention of ship-masters, consignees, and freighters, to the peril to which their insurance against loss will be exposed by any violation of the obligations imposed on neutral powers to respect actual blockades, and not to carry contraband of war, or despatches of belligerents. In these cases they will be subject to all the resulting losses that may follow, without the benefit of any protection or intervention on the part of his Majesty's government. Of which take notice. The minister above named THE HAGUE, June, 1861. No. 13.] PORTUGAL. Mr. Harvey to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Lisbon, August 25, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith the copy of a note from the foreign office, covering the copy of a proclamation in regard to privateers and their prizes, (Nos. 1 and 2,) in the form finally adopted by the council of state. This decree was published in the official paper (Diario de Lisboa) on the 23d instant, a copy of which has already been transmitted to the department. By referring to my dispatch No. 8, it will be seen that the preamble of the proclamation has been modified, so as to escape the logical inconsistencies which I then pointed out, in the hope of inducing the omission of certain phrases, which would have rendered it more acceptable. I have the best reason to know that the council of ministers, or cabinet, were not only well disposed to adopt my proposed amendment, but that they submitted the proclamation with the revision, When this fact became known to me, I urged, with every influence and persuasion at my command, an immediate decision, so as to insure the promulgation before any interrupting cause or accident could intervene. But the King went away for a short time, and a council of state, to which the proposed action of the council of ministers on important questions is presented for examination, could not be convened. In the meantime intelligence from the United States of an eventful character affected opinion here, and gave increased weight to the objections which had been urged by the British minister and others against the form of proclamation which I had requested. A council of state was summoned upon the return of the King, and the result of their deliberations is to be found in the documents inclosed in this dispatch. While I should have been greatly gratified had my amendment been accepted, I have the satisfaction to know that it did not fail from any want of zeal, energy, or effort on my part, and that the proclamation as it now stands is mainly predicated upon your policy, in execution of the principle of the treaty of Paris, and is not open to the objections urged against those issued by England, France, or Spain. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, JAMES E. HARVEY. Secretary of State. Count d'Avila to Mr. Harvey. [Translation.] No. 1.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, [Translation.] No. 2.] MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. It being proper, in view of the circumstances at present existing in regard to the United States of America, to carry into effect the principles established in the declaration of Paris of April 16, 1856, made by the representatives of the powers that signed the treaty of peace of the 30th of March of that year, to which declaration my government acceded, and likewise, for the same reason, to adopt other measures which I deem opportune, I have been pleased, after hearing the council of state, to decree as follows: ARTICLE 1. In all the ports and waters of this kingdom, as well on the continent and in the adjacent islands as in the ultramarine provinces, Portuguese subjects and foreigners aro prohibited from fitting out vessels destined for privateering. ARTICLE 2. In the same ports and waters referred to in the preceding article is, in like manner, prohibited the entrance of privateers and of the prizes made by privateers, or by armed vessels. The cases of overruling necessity, (força maior,) in which, according to the law of nations, hospitality is indispensable, are excepted from this regulation, without permission, however, being allowed, in any manner, for the sale of any objects proceeding from prizes. The ministers and secretaries of state in all the departments will thus understand, and cause it to be executed. I have received this moment a copy of the National Zeitung, containing the dispatch of Baron Schleinitz to Baron Gerolt; and also an order from the minister of commerce, addressed to Prussian subjects engaged in trade and commerce. This is not what I had expected. I was anticipating a proclamation from the King more full and distinct. This will doubtless have the desired effect, as it will be published in all the German journals, and coming from Prussia will be duly respected by the German States and Free Cities. Their sympathy and spirit is with the United States government. Mr. Judd is expected on the 27th instant. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, JOSEPH A. WRIGHT. Secretary of State. [Translation.] On the same subject the minister of commerce issued the notification annexed to the mercantile classes in the Baltic ports: It is my duty to make known to you that during the continuance of the conflict which has broken out among the North American States the mercantile classes must abstain from all enterprises which are forbidden by the general principles of international law, and especially by the ordinance of the 12th of June, 1856, which has relation to the declaration of the 12th of April, 1856, upon the principles of maritime law. Moreover, I will not omit to make it especially noticeable by you that the royal government will not permit to its shipping or its subjects, which may mix up in these conflicts by taking letters of marque, sharing in privateering enterprises, carrying merchandise contraband of war, or forwarding dispatches, to have the benefit of its protection against any losses which may befall them through such transactions. The equipment of privateers in the ports of this country is forbidden by the laws of the land, as is known to the mercantile community. No. 18.] RUSSIA. Mr. Appleton to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, St. Petersburg, May 22, (June 3,) 1861. SIR: I have the honor to inclose copies, which I have received unofficially, of two orders of the Russian government which have been recently issued for the guidance of ⚫ its officers in respect to the flags and ships of the Confederate States. It will be seen that they conform to what was said to me on this subject by Prince Gortchacow in the conversation which I reported to the department in my No. 16. I ought to add that every American ship which has yet appeared at Cronstadt has shown the American flag and claimed the American character. In one case from a southern port the papers were not quite regular, but the irregularity was overlooked. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. JOHN APPLETON. [Translation.] To the commander-in-chief of the port of Cronstadt: His imperial highness the general admiral, foreseeing the possibility of ships belonging to the southern States of the American Union, which have seceded from the United States of North America, arriving at our ports during the present navigation, has directed me to inform your excellency, for your guidance, that, according to the opinion of the minister of foreign affairs, the flag of men-of-war belonging to the seceded States must not be saluted. That there may be no obstacle in the way of commerce, merchant vessels of the seceded States are to be treated according to the rules acted on by us with regard to Italian merchant vessels sailing under the Italian flag; i. e., according to the treaties that are at present in force, (commercial treaty concluded between America and us December 6-18, 1832.) Should the crews of vessels belonging to the seceded States not wish to acknowledge the authority of the consuls appointed by the federal government of Washington, then, in case of dispute, they must abide by the decision of our local authorities, in the same manner as foreigners whose governments have no representatives in our empire. General Major GREIG, Director of the Chancellery of the Ministry of Marine. [Translation.] CIRCULAR ADDRESSED TO THE CUSTOM-HOUSES IN THE WHITE, BALTIC, BLACK, AND AZOFF SEAS. By order of the minister of finance, the department of foreign trade prescribes: In case any merchant vessels arrive in our ports belonging to the southern States of the American Union, the same not acknowledging the authority of the government of the United States of America, the said vessels are to be treated and received as hitherto, according to the treaty of 1832, should even their ships' papers not be in order, which may occur in consequence of the present political condition of the United States of America. General Lieutenant PASHKOFF, Director of the Department of Foreign Trade. SORNIN, Chief of Section, &c. No. 7.] SPAIN. Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to inclose the royal decree, published by the official gazette this morning, with its translation. The minister of state has to-day, whilst acknowledging that its provisions are in great part taken from the French decree, drawn my attention to the fact that he has avoided the use of the expression belligerents as far as possible, or any other which could be considered as prejudging the question of right in any manner. He also drew my attention to the fact that, though the decree proclaims neutrality, it expressly prohibits any supplies to be furnished to privateers in the Spanish ports, whilst vessels of war may be provided and equipped with all they need; and this provision tells exclusively against the party issuing letters of marque. The preamble also is less objectionable than some other documents which have seen the light in Europe. With the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, HORATIO J. PERRY. Secretary of State. [Translation.] MINISTRY OF STATE-ROYAL DECREE. Taking into consideration the relations which exist between Spain and the United States of America, and the desirability that the reciprocal sentiments of good intelligence should not be changed by reason of the grave events which have taken place in that republic, I have resolved to maintain the most strict neutrality in the contest begun between the federal States of the Union and the States confederated at the south; and in order to avoid the damage which might come to my subjects and to navigation, and to commerce, from the want of clear provisions to which to adjust their conduct, in consonance with my council of ministers, I do decree the following: ARTICLE 1. It is forbidden in all the ports of the monarchy to arm, provide, or equip any privateer vessel, whatever may be the flag she displays. ART. 2. It is forbidden in like manner to] the owners, masters, or captains of merchant vessels to accept letters of marque, or contribute in any way whatsoever to the armament or equipment of vessels of war or privateers. ART. 3. It is forbidden to vessels of war or privateers with their prizes to enter or to remain for more than twenty-four hours in the ports of the monarchy, except in case of stress of weather. Whenever this last shall occur, the authorities will keep watch over the vessel and oblige her to get out to sea the soonest possible without permitting her to take in any stores except the purely necessary for the moment, but in no case arms nor supplies for war. ART. 4. Articles proceeding from prizes shall not be sold in the ports of the monarchy. ART. 5. The transportation under the Spanish flag of all articles of commerce is guaranteed, except when they are directed to blockaded ports. The transportation of effects of war is forbidden, as well as the carrying of papers or communications for belligerents. Transgressors shall be responsible for their acts, and shall have no right to the protection of my government. ART. 6. It is forbidden to all Spaniards to enlist in the belligerent armies or take service on board of vessels of war or privateers. ART. 7. My subjects will abstain from every act which, in violation of the laws of the kingdom, can be considered as contrary to neutrality. ART. 8. Those who violate the foregoing provisions shall have no right to the protection of my government, shall suffer the consequences of the measures which the belligerents may dictate, and shall be punished according to the laws of Spain. Palace, on the seventeenth of June, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one. SIGNED WITH THE ROYAL HAND. SATURNINO CALDERON COLLANTES. The minister of state, Mr. Savage to Mr. Seward. No. 56.] CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SIR: Having learned, on the 30th ultimo, as I might say accidentally, that a vessel had come, several days before, into the port of Matanzas under the flag of the so-called Confederate States, and, notwithstanding the efforts of our consul there to prevent it, had been admitted by the authorities to entry, and to discharge her cargo, which course had been approved of by the superior authority of the island, I addressed the same day a letter to Mr. Martin, calling upon him for information on the subject. No reply having been received on the 2d instant to my letter, I wrote again, and yesterday morning |