Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
May 27, 1864.
Sir: It is with very great regret that I have
to call your attention to a fresh instance of the enforcement of the
restrictions on the trade between New York and her Majesty’s colonial
possessions, against which it has been so often my duty to protest, in
the name of her Majesty’s government.
The enclosed copy of a letter addressed to her Majesty’s consul at New
York by Messieurs Henry de Cordova and Company, merchants of that place,
will show you that they have been called upon to give upon shipments to
Jamaica bonds of a nature so stringent that they represent that, if such
bonds are as a general rule to be exacted, the trade with that island
must cease altogether.
Waiving for the moment the discussion of the general question of the
exaction of bonds on shipments to British colonies, I will recommend the
case of Messieurs de Cordova and Company to special and immediate
attention, and express my hope that they will be relieved from the
grievance of which they so justly complain.
Her Majesty’s consul at New York assures me that Messieurs Cordova and
Company are highly respectable merchants, well known in the community,
and that reliance may safely be placed on their good faith in the
shipment of goods for the legitimate trade of Jamaica.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
Messrs. H. de Cordova & Co.
to Mr. Archibald.
61 Broad Street, New
York,
May 26, 1864.
Sir: On the 16th instant, through Messrs.
Brett, Son & Co., brokers, we chartered the British brig Leonard
Berry for a voyage hence to Kingston, Jamaica, and back to New York,
which we loaded with breadstuffs and provisions and cleared at the
custom-house, so far as we were concerned, on the 23d instant. The
vessel cleared on the same day, but was, on the 24th instant,
detained, the captain being required to furnish bonds to the
government that the cargo was not intended for the insurrectionary
States, etc., etc., etc.
This is the first instance that has come to our knowledge of vessels
to Jamaica being required to furnish such bonds; and if it is to be
the rule, the nature of the bonds is of such a stringent character
that the trade with the island must alto gether cease.
[Page 618]
As we do the bulk of the business, and have certainly for some years
past shipped fully one-half of the exports of breadstuffs and
provisions to the island, which we do altogether on commission and
on British account, it would be impossible on our part to comply
with the treasury requirements about these bonds, which necessitate
the finding of two sureties, each possessed of real estate to double
the amount of the shipment. This shipment per Leonard Berry amounts
to over $25,000, so that we need $100,000 of security to release the
cargo. We are loading and about to charter for the same port the
British brig D. R. Dewolfe and the Bremen brig Tabaco, and the value
of these cargoes in addition will be fully $40,000, so that a
further security to the extent of $160,000 would be needed in case
the custom-house requires them to be bonded, as would seem to be
their purpose.
While perfectly willing to comply with all reasonable demands of the
United States, which, indeed, it is our duty as well as pleasure to
do, it is manifestly out of our power to provide such securities;
and the character of our house (which we could get indorsed by
numbers of respectable merchants) should be sufficient guarantee
that the trade we are and have been engaged in is a perfectly
legitimate one, beneficial to this country in every respect, while
it is absolutely necessary to the island of Jamaica, whose
population of 400,000 souls requires large supplies of American
provisions for its support. Our firm is composed of H. J. Henry and
Solomon de Cordova, British subjects, and Isaac Hendricks, a loyal
American citizen.
The property in question is all shipped on account of British
subjects, who have paid for the same by credits on London.
By representing this to her Britannic Majesty’s minister we trust you
will be able to obtain that relaxation of the rule in our case which
is necessary not only to the population of Jamaica, but to our own
ability to provide our families with support.
We have, &c.,
