Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
April 4, 1863.
Sir: With reference to the note which you did
me the honor to address to me on the 24th of February last, I deem it
right to submit to you an authenticated copy of an affidavit made by Mr.
J. M. Vernon, in which he declares on oath that he is a native of
England, and that he has never been naturalized in the United States,
nor in any way exercised the peculiar privileges of an American
citizen.
Mr. Vernon demands that an immediate investigation of his case may be
made either at New York or Washington, and that he may be confronted
with his accusers; or if this be not granted, that he may be at once set
at liberty.
He begs that he may at all events be removed without delay from Fort
Lafayette, as his lungs are suffering from the atmosphere of that
place.
I venture to ask you to return to me the authenticated copy of the
affidavit.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
[Untitled]
John Macalister Vernon, at present a prisoner in Fort Lafayette,
maketh oath and saith that he is a native of Liverpool, England, and
is now of the age of thirty-seven years; that he first came to the
United States about twenty-three years ago; that he came to New
York; that he returned to England, and about eighteen months after
he first came to America he went to New Orleans, and has been
resident there and in the State of Mississippi for about seventeen
years, having, during that period of time, been as many as fifteen
times in Great Britain, having in some years crossed over twice;
that he carried on business as a merchant and agent; that he married
in Georgia a native of that
[Page 546]
State, who is now dead. And this deponent solemnly swears that he
has never been naturalized in this or any other country; that he has
never declared his intention of becoming naturalized, and never at
any time entertained the intention of becoming naturalized, and
never has voted at elections, or in any manner exercised the
peculiar privileges of an American citizen; that he has never served
in the naval or military service of the United States, or of the
Confederate States. And this deponent further saith, that from the
7th of July, 1858, until April, 1860, he was in Europe; that in 1860
he remained only four months in the United States, and left again
for Europe about August, 1860; that he returned to Memphis, in
Tennessee, where his wife was then resident, and remained in the
southern States looking after his property and business interests
until the eighteenth of January, 1863, when he was picked up at sea,
having been a passenger in the Huntress from Charleston to Nassau,
which vessel was burnt about thirty-five miles from Charleston.
And this deponent further saith that he has taken no part in the
insurrection in the southern States, except that, as a merchant, he
has sold supplies of various kinds to the government of the
Confederate States, having had contracts with that government for
such supplies.
Sworn before me, at Fort
Lafayette, the 27th day of March, A. D.
1863.
E. M. ARCHIBALD.
British
Consulate, New
York, March 30,
1863.
I certify the foregoing to be a
true copy of the original affidavit remaining in my possession.
[SEAL.]
E. M. ARCHIBALD, Her Britannic Majesty’s
Consul.
