Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your lordship’s note of the first of March instant, in which you have communicated to me certain views which her Majesty’s government have taken of the cases of the Sir William Peel, the Science, and the Dashing Wave, but more especially of the case of the Sir William Peel.
With. a view to a fall consideration of the subject, I have asked and received from the Secretary of the Navy the papers affecting the subject which have been received in his department. Finding that these papers did not furnish me full information in regard to points specially raised in your note, I thought it proper to apply to your lordship for such further information as you might be able to give, and I have now to acknowledge your lordship’s courtesy in submitting to me a series of documents relating to the subject, upon which papers it is presumed that the proceedings of her Majesty’s government were founded.
After a careful examination of all these papers 1 find that, in order to enable me to reply to your lordship’s note with a due regard to the merits of the claim it presents, I need further information from the district attorney of the United States at New Orleans concerning the proceedings and present condition of the cause which has been instituted in the prize court there.
I have lost no time in calling for this necessary information to be furnished without delay. When it shall have been received I shall take the President’s directions upon the subject and give you the views of this government thereupon. Your lordship may assure her Majesty’s government that the subject will be promptly and fairly considered, with a desire to arrive at a just and satisfactory disposition of the case.
I have the honor to return to your lordship the documents belonging to your legation, which at my request were put into my hands, and to be, with the highest consideration, my lord, your obedient servant,
Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.