Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: With reference to your note of the 1st instant, and the accompanying documents, relative to the brigantine Scylla and her cargo, seized at Brazos, Texas, by order of Major General Herron, commanding the United States forces in that quarter, I have the honor to state that that vessel is understood to have been, in fact, owned by C. W. Adams, a native of this country, and a member of a mercantile house doing business in Texas. Adams reports that she was chartered by him; but neither he nor any other person has produced or shown any evidence that the Scylla belongs to British owners, or ever pretended to give the names or residence of the alleged British owners. Some time since this department received information, that Adams was engaged in shipment of cargoes from Europe and elsewhere for the purpose of being illegally introduced into Texas, and that those cargoes consisted in part, at least, of munitions of war. The information thus received was made known to the general in command in that region, who was directed to be on the watch for Adams, to arrest him, and to seize any vessel which might be employed by him in the business referred to. The proceedings of General Herron with reference to the brigantine Scylla, to Adams, and to W. Y. Loud, who is an American citizen, and who was a supercargo in the employ of Adams, undoubtedly were occasioned [Page 577] by the orders thus given. Adams and Loud were making their complaints to the British vice-consul at Matamoras; they applied to this government, as Americans, for such redress or lenity as it might think proper to afford to them. So far as relates to the vessel in question, it is understood that she has been sent to New Orleans, so that the legality of her voyage and her national character may be judicially ascertained. Measures have also been adopted for the purpose of further verifying the information which led to the proceedings in question. If it shall ultimately appear that the Scylla was in point of fact a British vessel, and that there was no probable cause for the seizure, or that her seizure was unlawfully or improperly effected, such amends will be made to any British subjects who may have been aggrieved as the circumstances may call for.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, your lordship’s obedient servant,
Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.