Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
March 19, 1863.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you a copy
of a despatch which I received from the governor general of Canada, and
to lay before you, in original, certain affidavits which accompanied
it.
These papers appear to establish the fact that a serious violation of
British territory was committed by a party of United States soldiers who
crossed the frontier, armed and in uniform, entered a house in the
township of Wolf Island, in Canada, and thence forcibly carried off a
man named Ebenezer Tyler.
I do not doubt that, if the statements made in the enclosed documents be
not disproved, the government of the United States will at once set
Tyler at liberty, and offer to her Majesty’s government due satisfaction
for the violation of her Majesty’s territory.
I beg you to be so good as to send the affidavits back to me.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
[Page 525]
The Governor General of Canada to
Lord Lyons.
My Lord: I have the honor to inform your
lordship that a report has been made to me, that on the 8th of
January last four men, dressed in the uniforms of the United States
army, entered the house of Otis Fuller Balcomb, situated in the
township of Wolf Island, in the county of Frontenac, Canada West,
and forcibly carried off from thence a man named Ebenezer Tyler.
I am further informed that Tyler was seen some days afterwards
confined in prison as a deserter at Watertown, in the State of New
York, and that he then stated that the persons who had siezed him
were Captain John A. Haddock, Enos, Graham, and Neville, all
belonging to the United States army.
I herewith transmit to your lordship affidavits which seem to
establish these facts; and I have to request that you will bring the
subject to the notice of the United States authorities, in order
that if, after due investigation, the statements made in the
enclosed documents be ascertained to be true, Tyler may be released,
and proper steps may be taken to prevent similar violations of
British territory in future.
I have, &c.,
