Mr. Seward to Mr. Stuart.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 9th instant, which relates to the case of certain seamen captured on board of the British steamer the Sunbeam, in her attempt to violate the blockade.

Those seamen, in the protest which accompanies your note, say that while they were in this city friendless and penniless, every inducement was held out to them by Acting Master and Executive Officer Rogers, of the United States cruiser Georgia, to join the American navy or the military forces of the United States, which inducements they strenuously opposed, preferring rather protection and, if unavoidable, privations under the British flag.

Upon this statement you request me to cause instructions to be issued to prevent the exercise of any similar pressure upon British subjects who may be captured for any alleged intention to violate the blockade.

Having taken the President’s directions upon the subject, I have now to reply, that the case, as presented by the seamen, does not seem to me to warrant the complaint that a pressure of any kind was made upon the seamen of the Sunbeam. The term “every inducement” is, indeed, very vague. But it certainly does not comprehend duress, force, menace, intimidation, bribery, false hood, or even deceitful representations. The seamen are understood to have been freemen, without occupation except the unlawful and forbidden one which had just then failed them. They were needy, and it seems to me that they could well have complained of severity and harshness if, being disposed, they had been refused permission to enter into the service of the United States.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you, sir, the assurance of my high consideration.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Hon. William H. Stuart, &c., &c., &c.