Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Her Majesty’s government have had under their consideration the case of the British steamer Victor, which was captured by the United States cruiser Juniata, in the vicinity of the island of Cuba, in the month of May last. Her Majesty’s government have given particular attention to the note which you did me the honor to address me on the 18th July,* and to the copy which was annexed to it of a note addressed by you to my Spanish colleague on the 10th of the same month; and her Majesty’s government regard the promises made in those notes as fair and just, and do not doubt that they will be faithfully performed.
It is, however, my duty to state to you that her Majesty’s government look upon the case of the Victor as one of a most serious character.
The information which has reached her Majesty’s government would lead to the conclusion that the Juniata lay in wait for the Victor in a neutral harbor, and followed her thence with the intention of capturing her. It has, moreover, been represented to her Majesty’s government that the Victor was even captured within neutral jurisdiction, and that the crew were treated not only as prisoners of war, which was unjustifiable, but even as felons, which was still more unwarrantable.
Her Majesty’s government have accordingly instructed me to insist that the wrongs complained of shall be speedily investigated, and that if the truth of the complaints shall be established, prompt redress shall be given. And her Majesty’s government have directed me to declare, in the most distinct and positive manner, that subjects of the Queen are not, because they happen to be the crew of a vessel captured on suspicion of breaking a blockade, to be treated as prisoners of war, and that still less are they to be subjected to a confinement which injures their health, or to indignities which degrade their character.
The notes which you were so good as to write to me on the 1st of August last, and on the 9th instant,† were not before her Majesty’s government when they issued the instructions; in pursuance of which I have done myself the honor to submit to you the preceding observations. These additional notes and papers accompanying them will, without doubt, be carefully considered by her Majesty’s government. I deem it right, however, to lose no time in reminding you of the complaint made by the master, mate, and engineer of the Victor, that they were cruelly treated in Fort Taylor, at Key West, as I do not find any information on this very serious part of the case in your two last notes or their enclosures.
[Page 396]I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.