I transmit to Congress a copy of an instruction from Prince Gortchakoff to Mr. De Stoeckl, the minister of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia accredited to this Government, and of a note of the Secretary of State to the latter, relative to the adjustment of the question between the United States and Great Britain growing out of the removal of certain of our citizens from the British mail steamer _Trent_ by order of the commander of the United States war steamer _San Jacinto_. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _February 26, 1862_. _To the Senate and House of Representatives_: In transmitting to Congress the accompanying copy of two letters, bearing date the 14th of February, 1861, from His Majesty the Major King of Siam to the President of the United States, and of the President's answer thereto, I submit for their consideration the question as to the proper place of deposit of the gifts received with the royal letters referred to. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _February 27, 1862_. _To the Senate of the United States_: Lieutenant-General Scott has advised me that while he would cheerfully accept a commission as additional minister to Mexico, with a view to promote the interests of the United States and of peace, yet his infirmities are such that he could not be able to reach the capital of that country by any existing mode of travel, and he therefore deems it his duty to decline the important mission I had proposed for him. For this reason I withdraw the nomination in this respect heretofore submitted to the Senate. It is hardly necessary to add that the nomination was made without any knowledge of it on his part. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _March 3, 1862_. _To the Senate and House of Representatives_: I transmit to Congress a copy of a dispatch to the Secretary of State from the minister resident of the United States at Lisbon, concerning recent measures which have been adopted by the Government of Portugal intended to encourage the growth and to enlarge the area of the culture of cotton in its African possessions. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _March 3, 1862_. _To the Senate and House of Representatives_: I transmit to Congress a translation of an instruction to the minister of His Majesty the King of Italy accredited to this Government, and a copy of a note to that minister from the Secretary of State, relating to the settlement of the question arising out of the capture and detention of certain citizens of the United States, passengers on board the British steamer _Trent_, by order of Captain Wilkes, of the United States Navy. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _March 3, 1862_. _To the Senate of the United States_: