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, June 8, 1863.

My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 6th instant, in which, under the instructions of your government, you remonstrate against the exercise of the power conferred by the act of the last session of Congress, authorizing the taking of captured vessels, before adjudication, for the use of the government of the United States, at a valuation, and to inform you that it will be taken into consideration. At present it may not be improper to say that it is believed no case of the kind is now actually pending, and that the subject is already under the examination of the Attorney General.

I have the honor to be, with high consideration, your lordship’s obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.