Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your lordships note of 23d instant, which is accompanied by a copy of a despatch which was addressed to you on the 21st instant by her Majesty’s consul residing at New York.
There is no information in this department concerning the prisoners said to have been taken on board the steam-vessels “Antoniquos,” or “Antonica,” and [Page 506] “Dare,” or even of the capture of these vessels, and, of course, I am now unable to answer whether the prisoners are natives or foreigners, neutrals or enemies I shall lose no time in calling upon the Secretary of the Navy for the facts in the case.
In regard to the extract from a New York Herald, which the consul has communicated to you, I have the honor to say that, on inquiry, I learn that the statement contained in the extract is entirely unofficial and unauthorized.
On the subject to which it refers it is proper for me to remark, that her Majestys government have already been informed that this government has lately learned that a hostile expedition against the United States had been organized in the province of Canada, and was defeated only through the good offices of her Majesty’s authorities residing there. I may add that we have now information that a similar expedition is again being attempted, to be organized at Windsor, in Upper Canada, and that the provincial authorities there have called out a military force to observe that movement. Her Majesty’s government were also duly informed, in December last, that certain persons had made their way from her Majesty’s provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to New York; that they having embarked at that port in disguise as passengers on board the steamer Chesapeake, rose upon her officers, assassinated the engineer, and carried the vessel into British colonial waters, and, with the aid of a pilot and other accomplices there, carried the vessel to Halifax, selling out her freight at nominal prices as she passed along the cost. Her Majesty’s government were also informed that on the arrival of the Chesapeake at Halifax, a mob arose at that place, and rescued the pirates from pursuit, and set them at liberty to pursue their course of crime and aggression; and that the governor of Nova Scotia declined even to give up the stolen vessel to her lawful owners, on the requisition of the United States. Her Majesty’s government have also been informed that enemies of the United States, in New York, had shipped one thousand rifles at New York for their confederates in Halifax, by collusion with parties residing there, in Liverpool, and in Richmond. Her Majesty’s government has also been informed that parties in Richmond, Liverpool, New York, and Halifax, had matured a plan, and were ready, about the 25th of December last, to proceed on board of two other steamers sailing from New York, and to seize them on the high seas, to carry them into British waters, there to be armed against the United States. Her Majesty’s government have been further informed that these conspirators against their peace and dignity have a combination of agents in her Majesty’s principal colonial ports in this hemisphere, as well as in Great Britain, to organize naval war against the United States from British ports, and even from the city of New York, as a base of operations, under the shield of British neutrality. Her Majesty’s government have been further informed that the insurgents at Richmond, besides the ships-of-war so long engaged in piracy, already have several war transports belonging, in whole or in part, to themselves, built or bought in British ports, and freighted by belligerent insurgents, but navigated in whole or in part by British subjects, under insurgent pay, and carrying supplies to the insurgent forces, under the British flag, upon the false pretence of neutral traders engaged in simple violations of the blockade. Her Majesty’s government have been further informed that many of the persons engaged in the aggressions and crimes I have mentioned had been once or more captured as blockade runners, and on a hasty examination discharged by this government on the false plea that they were lawful and peaceful subjects of neutral or friendly powers, although they were actually belligerent enemies of the United States. Her Majesty’s government have been further informed that, In the belief of this government, these aggressions beginning within and returning to British jurisdiction, and even in the city of New York, carried on under the shield of British neutrality, if allowed to continue, must bring on border collisions and war between her Majesty’s colonies and the United States. This government has represented [Page 507] this conclusion to her Majesty’s government, together with the facts from which it was deduced, and it has asked that government to take such measures as their wisdom should suggest to avert the evil I have indicated. This government determined to leave no effort omitted on its own part, has instituted temporary military searches and seizures of suspected persons in the city of New York. It is a part of this temporary system, that persons captured in entering the insurgent lines with munitions and supplies, under whatever flag, shall not be at once discharged, as heretofore, upon a superficial examination on the ground of their claim to neutrality, but shall be detained in military custody until a full and thorough investigation of their cases can be made, whereby it can be ascertained whether, in fact, they are neutral aliens, or are belligerent enemies of the United States. This investigation will be promptly ordered and made in every case, and neutral blockade runners, when their claim is thus ascertained, be released, while the belligerent enemies found among them will be detained.
The President has learned with much satisfaction, by late advices, that her Majesty’s government, acting, as is supposed, upon the representations which I have recited, have directed prosecutions to be instituted against the offenders described in British ports, and also that the authorities in Canada are exercising new and proper vigilance to prevent aggressions from the northern shores of the lakes; he has reason also to hope that the judicial authorities in Nova Scotia are manifesting a proper conviction of duty in the premises. It is hoped that, by the measures resorted to by this government, with so gratifying a concurrence of her Majesty’s authorities, the dangers which I have indicated will be speedily passed, and this government will then be left at liberty to relax the rigorous searches and examinations which are now necessarily enforced. In the mean time I hardly need say that they will be conducted in such a manner as to subject lawful and peaceful persons to as little inconvenience as possible.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, your lordship’s obedient servant.
Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.