Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Her Majesty’s government hare had under their consideration the note which you did me the honor to address to me, on the 6th April last, respecting the case of the Scylla, a vessel which was decoyed by the United States authorities into American waters, in order that they might seize her as a prize. Her Majesty’s government have felt much surprise and sorrow that this treacherous proceeding should not have been immediately repudiated by the government of the United States, and that there should have been any delay whatever in the restoration of the vessel, and they have directed me not to conceal these feelings from you.
In your note you mentioned that it was understood that the Scylla had been sent to New Orleans, so that the legality of her voyage and her national character might be judicially ascertained.
It appears, in fact, that the Scylla arrived at New Orleans on the 20th April last, but it seems that up to the 7th of the present month no judicial proceedings had taken place. The acting British consul applied, in the early part of the month of May, to Commodore Palmer, the senior naval officer at New Orleans, but was informed by him that he had no intelligence on the subject. The consul next addressed himself to the district attorney, who replied that he knew nothing of the seizure of the Scylla, and that she had not been libelled. The acting consul next had recourse to the military authority, but was equally unsuccessful in obtaining any information. Finally, on the 7th July, the district attorney appears to have stated, to a consul employed by the acting consul, that he knew nothing of the Scylla beyond the fact that she was at New Orleans, and had (as he understood) been sent there as military booty; and the district attorney appears to have added that, in the want of a formal report to him, he could not act.
I am informed that it appears from the certificate of registery of the Scylla that she was built in Prince Edward’s island in 1862, and that it appears from an indorsement thereon, dated 13th September, 1863, that her registered owner was Edward Mesnard, merchant of London, county of Middlesex.
Thus the papers of the Scylla would seem to show on the face of them that she is a British vessel, owned by a British merchant; and I am bound to regard her as such, unless proof to the contrary is produced. I have accordingly, in pursuance of the instructions of her “Majesty government, made known to you their sentiments concerning the mode in which the capture of this vessel was effected; and I have further to ask you to acquaint me, for the information of her Majesty’s government, with the intentions of the government of the United States with regard to the disposal of her.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.