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

Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.

Department of State, Washington, April 15, 1863.

My Lord: I have the honor to communicate a copy of a telegram of yesterday, addressed to me by the collector of the customs at San Francisco, California, relative to conspiracies of insurgents in the neighboring British colony of Van Couver’s island for fitting out privateers to sink and burn United States merchant vessels. It has occurred to me that you might deem this a sufficient occasion to communicate with the colonial authorities there on the subject.

I have the honor to be, my lord, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Right Hon. Lord Lyons.

[Telegram.]

San Francisco, April 14, 1863.

(Received at Washington April 15, 1863.)

Collector at Puget sound reports places for fitting out privateers at Victoria. Secessionists very active; and our officers much alarmed. Colonial authorities inform consul that they cannot interfere with the fitting out of privateers. Can anything be done to secure instructions from home government? I am trying to get commanding naval officer to send a steamer to the sound.

IRA P. RANKIN, Collector.

Hon. W. H. Seward.