Office of the Historian

Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.

Washington, April 29, 1863.

Sir: I have the honor to ask you to give serious attention to the enclosed extracts from a despatch which I have received from her Majesty’s consul at New Orleans.

It appears from them that a British steamship, the Antona, was brought into New Orleans as a prize, on or before the 30th January last. That no judicial proceedings have been taken in the case; but that, nevertheless, the cargo has been discharged and ordered to be sold, and the ship been taken for the naval service of the United States

It appears, moreover, that the master, Mr. George Grindle, has been kept as a prisoner, ever since the capture of his ship.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

LYONS.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.

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Extract of despatch from Mr. Consul Coppell to Lord Lyons, dated New Orleans, April 6, 1863.

I have the honor to inform your lordship, that on January 30, last, I received a letter from Captain George Grindle, master of the British steamship Antona, brought into this port as a prize, having been captured in the gulf after a chase of some ten hours, by one of the Mobile blockading squadron, requesting me to visit him, he being detained as a prisoner of war on the United States ship Pensacola, lying in the Mississippi.

In compliance with the request I proceeded to the Pensacola, saw Commodore Morris, in command, and obtained his permission to see Captain Grindle.

This interview was on January 31; since then the cargo of the Antona has been discharged, the vessel has been altered, guns placed on her, and is now cruising in the service of the United States. The cargo is advertised to be sold at auction next week, by order of Admiral Farragut; Captain Grindle is still detained a prisoner; and yet the vessel has not been adjudicated, or even libelled, for the admiralty court has not yet been organized here.

I beg to inform your lordship that when these facts came to my knowledge, I again saw Commodore Morris, senior naval officer here in Admiral Farragut’s absence, who seems much perplexed in the matter, and could only tell me that he had orders to detain Captain Grindle as a prisoner on the Pensacola.