Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your lordship’s. note of the 17th, which is a reply to the communication that I had the honor to address to you on the 12th of November last upon the subject of the statements of the seamen of the Sunbeam.
On re-examining the decision of this government, which was announced on that occasion, with a sincere wish to conform it, if possible, to the desires of her Britannic Majesty’s government, I have been unable to discover that it was erroneous, in view of all the facts and circumstances belonging to the case as it was then stated. But it would be doing injustice to this government were I not to advise you that it does not acquiesce in the construction which is given to my former communication in the following portion of your note, namely: “You then, as it appears to her Majesty’s government, take up, in substance, the position that, provided no violence be used, it is perfectly competent to the United States government to induce her Majesty’s subjects to act as belligerents, contrary to the laws of Great Britain, and in direct opposition to the principle of international law contended for by the United States minister at her Majesty’s court in the case of the Alabama.” I cannot doubt that Earl Russell, if he shall think the matter of sufficient importance to recur to the correspondence, will discover that my former note has been unintentionally misconceived by him in this particular.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your lordship the assurance of my high consideration.
Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.