Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
August 11, 1864.
Sir: With reference to your notes of the 18th
and 20th of last month, and to my notes of the 19th and 20th of the same
month, I have the honor to transmit to you copies of two despatches from
the administrator of the government of New Brunswick with regard to the
rumors that a force was being
[Page 677]
organized in that province by enemies of the United States for the
purpose of committing depredations on the Maine frontier.
You will perceive that there appears to have been little foundation for
this rumor, and that the administrator suggests that the consul of the
United States in New Brunswick might be instructed in future to give the
provincial authorities any information of which he may become possessed
which may lead him to apprehend attempts on the part of the enemies of
the United States to violate the neutrality of her Majesty’s
territory.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. Cole to Lord Lyons.
Fredericton, N.
B., August
1,1864.
My Lord: The despatch which I had the honor
of addressing to your lordship on the 20th of July will have, in
some measure, anticipated the inquiries contained in your lordship’s
despatch of the 19th July which, I may mention, was not received by
me till the 28th ultimo.
I beg now to state that, so far as 1 have been able to ascertain, the
projected robbery of the Calais Bank must have given rise to the
reports made by the United States consul at St. John to his
government. Mr. Howard has not, up to this time, made any
communication whatever to the government of New Brunswick respecting
the evidence or information on which he based the very serious
report, the substance of which is quoted in Mr. Secretary Seward’s
letter to your lordship.
I have received from the chief of police at St. John some account of
the prisoners who were arrested during the attempted robbery of the
Calais Bank, and of their movements during their stay in the
province. I send your lordship some extracts from this document, in
order that it may be in your lordship’s power, should you think fit
to do so, to assure Mr. Seward that the movements of persons of that
description do not escape the surveillance of the local
authorities.
As your lordship is under the impression that the United States
consul would have communicated with this government on the matter in
question, I trust your lordship will take an opportunity of assuring
Mr. Seward that should instructions be given to that officer to
communicate to the local authorities any information of which he may
become possessed, similar to that which he reported to Mr. Seward,
the government of this province will cheerfully adopt all the
measures in its power to prevent the occurrence of acts which may
have any tendency to violate the neutrality of her Majesty’s
dominions, or to interfere with the cordial good feeling now happily
existing between those living on the frontiers of the two
countries.
I have, &c, &c, &c,
Mr. Cole to Lord Lyons.
Fredericton,
July 20,1864,
My Lord: With reference to your lordship’s
telegram, under date of the 19th instant, and my reply, sent off the
same evening, I have the honor to
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mention, that, as far as I have been enabled
to ascertain, the intended robbery of the Calais Bank by Major
Hollins, alias Collins, and two other
persons, who were arrested in the attempt, (owing to the bank people
being put on the alert by communication from St. John,) constitutes
the main foundation for reports of projected depredations.
Should the United States government be in possession of any
information leading to inference that any more wide-spread plan be
on foot, this government will cheerfully lend itself to such
preventive measures as may be deemed advisable.
I would further submit for your lordship’s consideration whether it
might not be of advantage that the government at Washington instruct
their representative in this province that, in case of urgency, he
might apprise this government of the reasons for any apprehension he
may be led to entertain.
I have,.&c., &c,
Lord Lyons, &c.,
&c., &c.
