Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part I

Mr. F. W. Seward to Lord Lyons.

Department of State, Washington, March 14, 1863.

My Lord: With reference to your note of the 7th instant, relative to the report that Rear-Admiral Wilkes had publicly threatened to capture a British mail packet, bound for a British port, on the sole ground of her carrying to that port officers or other passengers belonging to the so-called Confederate States, and to the reply of this department, I now have the honor to enclose, for your information, the copy of a letter which the Secretary of the Navy addressed to Acting Rear-Admiral Wilkes on the subject, under date of the 12th of this month.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your lordship the assurance of my high consideration.

F. W. SEWARD, Assistant Secretary.

Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward.

Navy Department, March 12, 1863.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, covering a copy of a note dated the 7th instant, addressed to you by Lord Lyons, relative to a report that Acting Rear-Admiral Wilkes had publicly threatened to capture a British mail packet, bound for a British port, on the sole ground of her carrying to that port officers, or other passengers, belonging to the so-called Confederate States, and to enclose herewith a copy of a letter I have this day written to Rear-Admiral Wilkes on the subject.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.

Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State.

Mr. Welles to Rear-Admiral Wilkes.

Navy Department, March 12, 1863.

Sir: I transmit herewith a copy of a letter, dated the 9th instant, received from the Secretary of State, covering a copy of a note dated the 7th instant, addressed to him by Lord Lyons, in reference to a report that you had publicly threatened to capture a British mail packet, bound for a British port, on the sole ground of her carrying to that port officers, or other passengers, belonging to the so-called Confederate States.

The department trusts that there has been some misapprehension on this subject; or that if you have made, at any time, the public declaration ascribed to you, you will take no steps towards carrying it out, or which would lead to an unpleasant discussion between the government of the United States and that of Great Britain.

I am, respectfully, &c.,

GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.

Acting Rear-Admiral Charles Wilkes, Comd’g West India Squadron, Havana, Cuba.