Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.
Department of State, Washington,
February 19, 1864.
My Lord: Recurring to your note of the 9th
instant, which relates to the capture of the British vessel Saxon by the
United States ship Vanderbilt, at Angra Pequena, on the coast of Africa,
and in which you inform me that her Majesty’s government have commanded
you to request the government of the United States either to direct the
immediate release of the Saxon, with proper compensation to the owners,
or at least to explain the grounds on which her seizure and detention
are supposed to be justified. I have the honor to enclose, in reply, a
copy of a letter of the 15th instant, from the Secretary of the Navy,
from which it appears that Commander C. H. Baldwin, commanding the
Vanderbilt, reports that he seized the Saxon for having on board a
portion of the cargo of the American bark Conrad, which vessel had been
captured by the piratical steamer Alabama, and that the Saxon is now in
the hands of the district court for the southern district of New York
for adjudication.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, my lord, your
obedient
Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward.
Navy
Department,
February 15, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, enclosing a copy of a
note addressed to you by Lord Lyons relative to the capture by the
United States steamer Vanderbilt, at Angra Pequena, of the British
bark Saxon, and requesting to be furnished with any information
possessed by this department as to the facts and grounds of the
capture.
From a report of Commander C; H. Baldwin, commanding the Vanderbilt,
it appears that he seized the bark Saxon at Angra Pequena, on the
30th of October, 1863, for having on board about one hundred and
sixty bales of wool and goat-skins, which were a part of the cargo
of the American bark Conrad, which vessel had been captured by the
piratical steamer Alabama a short time previous, and had landed her
cargo at Angra Pequena, and had been converted into a piratical
cruiser (the Tuscaloosa.)
The Saxon was sent in charge of a prize crew to New York, and is now
in the hands of the district court there.
Very respectfully, &c,
GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c.,
&c.
