Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Her Majesty’s government, having had under their consideration the note which you did Mr. Stuart the honor to address him, on the 30th of September last, relative to the capture of the British steamer Orion by the United States cruiser Quaker City, have directed me to state to you that they are of opinion that the Orion was, in the first instance, seized without any color of justification. From the seizer’s statement, it appears that the cargo on board the Orion was innocent, her destination neutral, her ownerdship British. The seizer says that the Orion “had on board an assorted cargo, doubtless intended for rebel uses.” Upon this plea every vessel that swims the ocean, and does not belong to the United States, may be captured. The seizer does not seem to have been aware, nor to have been subsequently apprized by the authorities of his country, that a suspicion in the mind of the captor, unsupported by any evidence on board the ship, does not, according to international law, justify seizure. It is said, indeed, that, after the seizure, the master of the Orion, when on board the captor’s ship, made confessions as to a previous voyage of the captured vessel, affecting her character; but her Majesty’s government can find nothing which would take off the illegality of her capture even if the alleged confessions, made under such circumstances, were worthy of credit.
Her Majesty’s government have, consequently, directed me to make known to you the forgoing representations.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Hon. W. H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.