and no letter ever passed through my hands, while the Greek and
Russian consuls, unwatched, kept up a regular postal service. Our
minister at Constantinople, who, in the beginning, had been in the
closest personal relations with his English colleague, the just and
humane Lord Lyons, replaced at this juncture by Sir Henry Elliott,
finding that nothing was to be expected from England, joined forces
with General Ignatieff, and thenceforward my action was directed by
the Russian embassy.

In communicating the news of the affair of Arkadi to our government,
I had fully explained my actual position and my proposed action on
behalf of the insurgents, and begged that a man-of-war might be sent
to convey from the island the refugee families who were dying of cold
and hunger in the mountains, or being murdered in the plains. In reply
I received the following dispatch (December 25, 1866):--

W.J. STILLMAN, ESQ., U.S. Consul, Canea:--

_Sir_,--Your dispatch No. 32, with regard to the Cretan
insurrection and the attitude you have assumed in the matter, has
been received.

Your action and proposed course of conduct, as set forth in said
dispatch, are approved. Mr. Morris, our minister resident at
Constantinople, will be informed of the particulars set forth
in your dispatch, and of the approval of your proceedings.
Rear-Admiral Goldsborough has been instructed to send a
ship-of-war to your port. I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

W.H. SEWARD.