No. 10.
[Extract.]
Lord Lyons to Earl
Russell.
Washington,
January 4, 1864.
I have the honor to transmit to your lordship copies of further
correspondence with Mr. Seward and with Major General Doyle and Mr.
Gordon, relative to the affair of the Chesapeake.
I waited upon Mr. Seward at the State Department the day before
yesterday, and told him that I had lost no time in conveying to your
lordship his assurances that the promises made in his note of the
18th ultimo would be punctually fulfilled. I said that I relied
implicitly on these assurances, and that therefore I would not
importune him by addressing a written remonstrance to him against
the proceedings of the United States officers in Nova Scotia,, nor
run the risk of embarrassing him by making at present any specific
demand on the subject. I would content myself for the moment with
placing in his hands papers which would complete his information. He
had, I observed, of course been furnished by the United States
officers with copies of their correspondence with the Nova Scotian
authorities. I would add copies of depositions which had been laid
before the administrators of the government with regard to the
proceedings of the United States naval officers, and copies of a
correspondence with the Mayor of Halifax respecting the escape of
Wade. These papers would, I said in conclusion, make him fully
acquainted with all that had occurred, and enable him to act without
delay upon the assurances given in his note.
Mr. Seward said that the course I proposed to take was very
considerate and judicious; that he should be glad to receive the
papers, and that he would promise me that they should be carefully
examined, and that measures should be taken which would be entirely
satisfactory to her Majesty’s government.
Upon this, I put into Mr. Seward’s hand copies of those enclosures in
Major General Doyle’s despatch to the Duke of Newcastle of the 23d
ultimo which were marked m, x, y, and aa.*
I send to-day to Major General Doyle copies of this despatch and of
my despatches of the 24th, 29th, and 31st ultimo.
[Page 494]
[Enclosure 1 in No.
10.]
Lieutenant Governor Gordon to
Lord Lyons.
Frederickton, New
Brunswick,
December 28,
1863.
My Lord: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your lordship’s despatch of the 17th
instant.
On the evening of the 22d instant I received your lordship’s
telegram informing me that the Secretary of State for the United
States had demanded the extradition in the usual form of the
parties therein named, and on the following morning I received a
similar communication, accompanied by an official requisition
from the United States consul at St. John.
I lost no time in directing the law officers of the crown in this
province to prepare the form of a warrant under the act 6 and 7
Vict., cap. 76, for the apprehension of the parties named.
Unfortunately, the attorney and solicitor general were both
absent from Frederickton, and some delay necessarily ensued in
consulting them. It was not till late on the evening of the 24th
that the warrant was prepared; as soon as it was signed, I sent
it down by express to St. John. Mr. Braine, however, (the only
one of the parties implicated who, so far as I am aware, was
known to be in this province,) is stated to have left St. John
that morning.
Every exertion will no doubt be made to insure his arrest under
the warrant just issued, should he remain in this province.
I have, &c.,
[Enclosure 2 in No. 10, Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward, January 4,
1864, published elsewhere in this volume.]
[Enclosure 3 in No.
10.]
Lord Lyons to Lieutenant Governor Gordon.
Washington,
January 4,
1864.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your excellency’s despatch of the 28th ultimo,
and to transmit to you a copy of a note in which I have informed
the Secretary of State of the United States that you have issued
a warrant for the arrest of the persons implicated in the affair
of the Chesapeake, whose extradition has been demanded by this
government.
I have, &c.,
[Enclosure 4 in No.
10.]
Lord Lyons to Major General Doyle.
Washington,
January 4,
1864.
Sir: I had on the 26th ultimo the honor
to receive your excellency’s despatch of the 23d ultimo,
enclosing a copy of a despatch which you had addressed on
[Page 495]
the same day to the
Duke of Newcastle with regard to the affair of the Chesapeake. I
beg your excellency to accept my best thanks for the full
information which you have been so good as to send me respecting
this affair.
The Secretary of State of the United States has repeatedly
promised me that the assurance given in his note of the 18th
ultimo shall be acted up to.
I have, &c.,
[Enclosure 5 in No.
10.]
Lord Lyons to Major General Doyle.
Washington,
January 4,
1864.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to
your excellency copies of four despatches which I have addressed
to Earl Russell, with regard to the affair of the
Chesapeake.*
These papers will make your excellency fully acquainted with the
communications which I have had on the subject with the United
States government since I had the honor to write to your
excellency on the 21st ultimo.
I have, &c.,
