therefore, in effect to be left to time. Besides, if demolished, the position is such that a few weeks' labor would make it almost as formidable as ever. The King, as grand duke, intends to keep on foot, and stationed in the capital, about 2,000 men; the Prussians now occupying the fortress with 4,000. The question of the purchase of Luxembourg by France was doubtless raised to give the latter power a position, by receding from which it could demand its evacuation by Prussia. The populations on either side were excited, and misinterpreted the situation; both governments from the beginning having viewed with reasonable certainty the end as attained. In consequence of the display, and mutual concessions, the joining of the real issue will be deferred; the late excitement serving as a sedative. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 31st ultimo, No. 12. Since my last despatch on the subject the rinderpest has virtually disappeared from Holland. Still I would recommend that for many months to come the precautions against its introduction from this country be continued. The authorities have arrived at the conclusion that the only effectual mode to meet the pest is by prompt and unsparing slaughter of cattle in the vicinity where it makes its appearance. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, HUGH EWING. No. 19.] Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Mr. Ewing to Mr. Seward. UNITED STATES LEGATION, The Hague, September 20, 1867. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter of the 29th March, relative to diplomatic uniform, and will in future conform thereto. I take pleasure in announcing the complete evacuation by the Prussian troops of the duchy of Luxembourg; which will be henceforth under the exclusive sovereignty of its grand duke the King of Holland, subject to the conditions imposed by the late Congress of London, that it remain neutral territory, and exempt from sale or transfer. The Prussian government has called upon the grand duke to destroy the fortress; the importance of which, I learn from Count Bismarck, has greatly diminished since the introduction of long-range guns. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. No. 22.] Mr. Ewing to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter of the 5th September, enclosing copies of the President's proclamation of the 3d, and your despatch of the 25th ultimo, No. 17. During the summer sessions the chambers of the Netherlands confirmed a treaty with England arranging their boundaries on the coast of Guiana; an additional article to the treaty of extradition with Prussia of November, 1850, and, by the unanimous voice of both chambers, a treaty of commerce and navigation with Austria. A bill was passed authorizing the construction of bridges, and the completion of railroads in the direction of France. An appropriation was made for converting the small-arms into breech-loaders, in pursuance of which a contract was entered into with an English house, the Netherlands manufactures being pre-occupied. In relation to the colonies an act was passed reducing the amount of forced labor due by the people to their chiefs, and increasing the salary paid the latter. Another authorizing the governor general to grant uncultivated lands on ground rent in the East India islands, for the term of seventy-five years. In consequence of a failure on the part of the chambers to sustain his views on the question of leases in the islands, Mr. Frakranen, minister for the colonies, resigned and was succeeded by Mr. Hasselmann. A number of refugees from the late kingdom of Hanover sojourning at Arnheim, suspected by the Prussian government of harboring designs against that country, were ordered by the minister of justice of the Netherlands to disperse and locate in various places. This provoked criticism in the chambers, as it was thought an unuathorized concession to the wishes of Prussia. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. HUGH EWING. CHINA. No. 174.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Burlingame. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 13, 1866. SIR Congress having omitted to provide for an appropriation of the surplus of the Chinese indemnity fund, the last account of which accompanied your No. 111, written at Peking, without date, it is not deemed expedient longer to allow it to remain on deposit in the Oriental Bank of Hong-Kong. It is probable, therefore, that the department will soon draw on you for that surplus, which is deposited subject to your order. This despatch is written in advance of any such draft, in order that you may be prepared to cause the same to be honored. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. ANSON BURLINGAME, Esq., &c., &c., §x. Mr. Williams to Mr. Seward, No. 44.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to bring to your notice the case of the shipwrecked crew of the American schooner Surprise, the treatment which they received at the hands of the Corean and Chinese officials, and the kindness extended toward them by a French missionary who met them on their journey. I have condensed the principal facts of their history from the narrative of Captain M'Caslin. On the 24th of June the crew left the schooner in a sinking condition, and reached an island, whose few inhabitants supplied them with rice, but wished them to leave as soon as they had eaten it, which, however, a storm prevented their doing until the next day. Going on nearly 20 miles toward the northwest, they saw a village on the mainland, which they thought best to reach, if possi ble, in order to obtain food and rest. On approaching it from the beach, they were surrounded by about 200 natives, who would not allow them to move until an officer arrived and was ready to receive them. This was done in the open air, and by means of the Chinese cook they were able to make him understand their condition, after which they were comfortably provided for during two days. Another official then arrived who likewise interrogated them minutely, but would not let them leave the village, keeping the party under a guard of soldiers within a small enclosure. On the fourth day a third officer came from the capital, bringing with him a Chinese interpreter, who henceforth took charge of them, giving them abundance of good food, tobacco, and even medicines for the sick. After remaining in this village for 24 days, a special courier arrived from the capital to conduct the whole party to the Chinese frontier. The first day's journey of 14 miles on foot, over a rugged mountainous country, brought them to a large city, where they were courteously treated, furnished with suits of clothes, and well fed. From this place two days' riding brought them to the large frontier town where they were comfortably lodged until notice could be given to the Chinese, and another escort arrived on the tenth day. Meanwhile they were placed in a government building, under a guard, and each man furnished with a suit of clothes. Chickens, beef, corn and rice were served out to them, and on three occasions they were invited to dine with the authorities of the town, when each of them received a catty of tea and a fan. Two days' journey on horseback from this city, through a wild and uninhabited country, brought the party to a wall about 30 feet long and 20 feet high, in which was the gate that divides Corea from China; they stopped in a town near it that night, and the next morning went to a walled town about 10 miles off, where they were delivered to the Chinese authorities, and remained two days. Their food was insufficient, and of the poorest quality; and during the journey to Mukten, which city they reached after six days' hard travelling, they had only an allowance of millet and corn. The officer at Mukten would give them nothing, and the escort took them to an inn outside of the city, where a French missionary, hearing of their distress, sent for them; but the escort refused to let them go. However, Captain McCaslin and two others did go, and were kindly received and supplied with a good meal. The next day the authorities again declined to receive them, and they all went back to the inn to spend the night; but before going to bed all went on to the Père Gillie's house, who furnished them with a dinner. Next morning they were again brought before the city authorities, who gave them in charge to four people, one of whom furnished mats for sleeping, and the others took them to a kind of lock-up, where several hundred criminals were detained. The filthiness of the place was unendurable, and some of the men managed to rush about and get outside of the enclosure, from whence they all ran beyond the city gates, and reached Père Gillie's house only a few moments before the policemen came to carry them back. He refused to let them go, until a proper place for lodging was provided, and sufficient food. After two days, he went with them into the city to the authorities, and, according to Captain McCaslin's belief, it was entirely owing to his energetic remonstrances and intervention that the party were saved from death through starvation and exposure in Mukten by being immediately sent on to Niuchwang. They were furnished with mules the next day, and reached Yingtsz after seven days' journey, where they were delivered to the United States consul nearly two months after they were wrecked. On learning the particulars here narrated, I addressed a letter of thanks to the French charge d'affaires in this city, (enclosure A,) who has forwarded it to Mr. Gillie. I respectfully request, too, that if you deem it proper, a testimonial of some kind may be sent to him as a mark of approbation for his kind succor to our unfortunate countrymen. The danger they were afraid of in dying from neglect was not imaginary, for travellers visiting Mukten have come across Russian sailors in the streets, who had been living there a twelvemonth in great destitution, their existence being unknown to the Russian consuls. In my despatch of August Sth, (No. 37,) I referred to the hostile proceedings of the French naval commander against the Corean government. Before Admiral Rose had sent any vessels to that coast, another American schooner was wrecked, and the hull burned by the Coreans, as is their usual wont; but, according to the reports which have since come here from Chifu, they murdered all her company. This consisted of five foreigners, (three Americans and two British-one a passenger,) and 19 Manillamen, as sailors. I have not been able to learn more than that she had gone over on an experimental trading voyage. The Surprise had very little, if any, cargo on board. The reports concerning the fate of these men being doubtful and conflicting, I addressed a note (enclosure B) to the Chinese officers, which they promised to send off the next morning to Manchuria. If anybody from the General Sherman should be given to the authorities there, I hope they will receive better usage. I hear that the French have already effected a landing in Corea, but nothing more of importance has been learned of their movements. The force now there consists of six ships. I enclose a copy of the notification of blockade, (enclosure C,) and shall apprise the department of the operations that are made public. I suppose the expedition will result in throwing open to the western world the last country which now forbids intercourse with other lands, and whose rulers have jealously guarded their subjects from the least acquaintance with their fellow-men. It is full time that Corea was introduced into the family of nations. I have, the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, S. WELLS WILLIAMS. Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. [Mem. from Mr. Williams.] PEKING, October 29, 1866. Subsequent rumors indicate that the French are pressing on towards the capital of Corea, and that it has been attacked and captured, and the king has fled. There is very little doubt about the death of all the company on board the General Sherman. "The Coreans decapitated them all" is the brief account which has just been received. [Enclosure A.] Mr. Williams to Mr. Bellonet. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: It affords me very high gratification to be the medium of conveying to you the thanks of Captain McCaslin, as given in the enclosed narrative of the humane conduct of the Rev. Pere Gillie, who successfully assisted a company of ship wrecked American sailors belonging to the schooner Surprise, late under his command, in their journey across Manchuria to Niuchwang. The consciousness of having been the means of preserving the lives of these unfortunate mariners, as they state was the case, will be of itself a great satisfaction to Père Gillie; and I wish to add my own sincere thanks to him for his kindness to my countrymen in their trouble. Will you, sir, oblige me and them by conveying to him this expression of our united thanks, either through Bishop Mouilly or otherwise, as you deem proper, and I shall make known his noble conduct, so congruous to his sacred calling, to the President. I seize this occasion to renew the expression of the high consideration with which I am, sir, your obedient servant, S. WELLS WILLIAMS. HENRY D. BELLONET, Esq., French Chargé d'Affaires. [Enclosure B.] Mr. Williams to the Foreign Office. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, To the Foreign Office: A report has been received here from Chifu that an American schooner, the General Sherman, was wrecked last month on the coast of Corea, and burned by the natives; her officers and crew, 24 in all, being captured by them, but it is not certainly known whether they are still alive or not. It is the usage of the Corean government to deliver all such persons at the frontier of China to her officers, to be handed over to their respective consuls at Niuchwang In the month of June last a small American vessel was lost on Corea, and her crew were |