Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: I have the honor to inform your lordship that in a despatch of the 14th instant, addressed to this department by the United States consul at St. John, New Brunswick, he states that satisfactory evidence had been furnished to him that one Major William Hollins, late of the insurgent service, is organizing in the vicinity of St. John a force with which to commit depredations on the Maine frontier; that there is reason to believe that the notorious James McDonald, and a person by the name of Jones, are concerned in this movement; that it is said to be the design of Hollins to make an effort to march a small force through the northern States to Kentucky; that he affirms that he is authorized by the so-called confederate authorities to burn and destroy, and to show no quarter; that on the night of the 13th instant a small party left St. John, fully armed and prepared for some desperate enterprise, who represent that they are to be joined somewhere in the State of Maine by other men with whom they are in league.
I will thank your lordship to call the attention of his excellency the governor of New Brunswick to these statements, in order that the proper officers may be put upon their guard, with a view to prevent any violation of the neutrality of her Majesty’s territory which may be contemplated.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, my lord, your obedient servant,
Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.