Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
March 24, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you a copy
of a letter which I have received from Mr. Cory, the master of a British
steam vessel named the Don, and an extract from a letter which I have
reeeived from Mr. Femes, chief officer of the same vessel.
I am informed that the Don was captured at sea on the 4th of this month,
on suspicion of an intention to break the blockade; that Mr. Cory and
Mr. Ferries (and probably the seamen also) were examined before the
prize commissioners and discharged; and that thereupon, instead of being
set at liberty, they were sent as prisoners to Fort Warren.
The letters of Mr. Cory and Mr. Ferries seem to leave no doubt that they
are themselves British subjects, and the presumption is that the three
seamen are British subjects also.
I am, therefore, obliged again to remind you that I am positively
instructed by her Majesty’s government to press in the strongest manner
upon the attention of the government of the United States the rule, that
neutrals found on board neutral vessels captured for breach of blockade
are not in the category of prisoners of war; that the authority of the
belligerent over them extends only to the detention of the witnesses
necessary to establish the case, and that it is the duty of the
belligerent to afford every reasonable facility for their early
release.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
[Page 567]
Mr. Cory to Lord Lyons.
Fort Warren, Boston
Harbor,
March 14, 1864.
My Lord: I am an Englishman, and was born
in Homsen, East Riding, Yorkshire, on the 21st of December, 1832. My
father was the Rev. Charles Cory, vicar of Skipsin and Broome, East
Riding, Yorkshire. I was captured in the British steamer Don, by the
United States steamer Pequot, on the 4th instant, about fifty miles
from Wilmington, North Carolina. I joined my ship in London,
England, as chief officer, July 20, 1863, and on the 20th of
February, 1864, became her commander. All my officers, and nearly
the whole of my crew, are British subjects. I have never been in the
service of either of the belligerents, and have no interest
whatsoever in any way.
My lord, as a subject of her Britannic Majesty, I claim your
lordship’s protection for myself, officers, and crew, and beg leave
to ask your lordship, on receipt of this, what course to pursue to
obtain the much cherished and esteemed boon to all Englishmen,
“liberty.”
I have, &c,
Lord Lyons, &c.,
&c., &c.
Mr. Ferries to Lord Lyons.
Fort Warren, Boston
Harbor,
March 12,1864.
My Lord: As a subject of her Britannic
Majesty I entreat your lordship’s protection in my present
position.
I was chief officer of the British steamer Don, commanded by Captain
Cory, owned by British subjects, and sailing under the flag of
England.
The Don cleared from Nassau, New Providence, on the 28th February
last, and was made a prize on suspicion of being a blockade runner,
by the United States steamer-of-war Pequot, on the 4th of this
month, the nearest land being distant from forty-five to fifty
miles.
No resistance was offered to the prize-masters by myself or any other
of the officers or the crew, nor had we other than English colors on
board.
The commander of the Don and myself, with three of the crew, were
brought to Boston, and we were to-day forwarded to this post as
prisoners.
Allow me to add, my lord, that I was born in Scotland, in October,
1839, of Scottish parents, my father being the Rev. P. Ferries, of
Edenkillie parish, New Brunswick. I have never held any position in
either army or navy of the northern or southern States of America,
and I have never been in any port of the American continent south of
New York.
Under these circumstances, my lord, I beg for your lordship’s most
favorable/ and speedy consideration of my case.
I have, &c,
JAMES SMITH FERRIES, Late Chief Officer
Steamer Don.
Lord Lyons, &c.,
&c., &c.
