Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I duly received the note which you did me the honor to address me on the 8th of last month, respecting the case of the Labuan, and I did not fail to forward a copy of it to her Majesty’s government.
In a despatch written on the 9th of last month, and therefore, of course, some time before the copy of your note could have reached London, her Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs has directed me to remind you of the assurance you authorized me some months ago to convey to him, that you bore the case of the Labuan constantly in mind, with the desire and intention of bringing it to a satisfactory conclusion before the close of the session of Congress, and her Majesty’s secretary of state has instructed me to inquire, under special orders from her Majesty’s government, what progress has been made towards a settlement of it.
I shall be much obliged by any further information which you may enable me to transmit to her Majesty’s government in answer to this inquiry.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.