Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have received the note of yesterday’s date, in which you do me the honor to invite me to suggest any modification which may occur to me as desirable in the charges on which it is proposed to bring Commander Hunter, of the Montgomery, to trial before a court-martial.
I beg you to accept my thanks for this invitation, and to be assured that I highly appreciate the motives which have led you to address it to me. I feel, however, that the proposed trial is a matter respecting which I am not at present in a position to take, either for my government or for myself, the responsibility of expressing an opinion.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, &c., &c.,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.