SIR,—­I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I am closely blockaded in this port by the enemy’s steam sloop-of-war Iroquois, of twice my force.  This vessel, in defiance of the law of nations, and in contempt of the neutrality of this island, has boldly entered the harbour, and without coming to anchor is cruising backwards and forwards in a menacing attitude, not only within the marine league of the shore, but within less than a ship’s length of this vessel, which is moored not more than one hundred yards from the beach.  During the past night she several times approached me within fifty or a hundred yards.  I deem it my duty to acquaint your Excellency with these facts, and to invoke your authority for the preservation of my just rights within your waters.  I take the following principles, applicable to the present case, to be well settled by the law of nations:—­Firstly, that no act of hostility, proximate or remote, can be committed by any belligerent in neutral waters; secondly, that when a cruiser of one belligerent takes refuge within the waters of a neutral power, a cruiser of the opposite belligerent cannot follow her into those waters for purposes of hostility, proximate or remote.  It is not only unlawful for her to approach within the marine league, for the purpose of watch and menace, but it is equally unlawful for her to hover about the coast of the neutral, at any distance within plain view, for the same purposes.  All these are remote or prospective acts of war, and as such, offensive to the neutral power.  Thirdly, that when opposite belligerents meet by accident in a neutral port, if one of them departs therefrom, the other is bound to wait twenty-four hours before departing.  For the opposite belligerent to depart immediately in pursuit, is to avail herself of the neutral territory for the purpose of war.  She commits, by the very fact of sailing, a remote act of hostility which is offensive to the neutral state.

In view of the foregoing facts and principles, I respectfully request that your Excellency will cause the Iroquois to cease hovering about the coast of the island for the purpose of watching my movements; in other words, to withdraw herself out of plain sight.  Or if she prefers to come in, to anchor, to direct either that she shall depart twenty-four hours before me, or wait twenty-four hours after my departure, whichever she may prefer.  I shall be ready for sea in four or five days, as soon as my engineers make some necessary repairs to my machinery.

In conclusion, it is quite possible that the captain of the Iroquois may arrange some signals for giving him intelligence of my movements, with the United States consul at this port, and I have therefore to request that some officer may be charged with the prevention of any such act of hostility.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

(Signed) R. SEMMES.

   To His Excellency M. Maussion de Conde,
   Admiral and Governor of Martinique,