Mr. F. W. Seward to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 25th instant, transmitting a copy of a despatch recently received by you from Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, on the subject of the note addressed to you by this department, on the 11th ultimo, respecting the shot fired across the bows of her Majesty’s ship Desperate, by the United States ship Memphis, in February of this year, and an extract from the instructions given by the vice-admiral to the officers in command of ships under his orders on the 25th of March last.
In reply, I have the honor to state that I have communicated a copy of your note and of its accompaniments to the Secretary of the Navy.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your lordship the assurance of my high consideration.
Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.