Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part II

Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.

Washington, August 17, 1864.

Sir: A Mrs. Verner, who claims British protection, has written to me from Montreal, Canada, a letter relative to her only son, John Arthur, who appears to have run away from his home, at Montreal, in 1862, when only fourteen years old; to have then enlisted in the United States military service, and to be now in company K, 12th New York cavalry, stationed at Palmer, near Newbern, North Carolina.

Mrs. Verner informs me that Sir William Verner, her son’s great uncle, who is in England, and appears to be interesting himself to procure the youth’s discharge, has authorized her to say that any bounty money which her son has received will be duly repaid.

The certificate of baptism of John Arthur Verner, which has been transmitted to me by Mrs. Verner, is herewith enclosed. I beg that you will return it to me.

Mrs. Verner makes an urgent appeal to me to take steps to obtain her son’s discharge, and I beg to submit her appeal to the favorable consideration of the United States government.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

LYONS.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

Certificate of baptism.

John Arthur Cole, son of John and Charlotte Sherwood Verner, born June 30, 1848, baptized January 2, 1849, by me.

EDWARD DENRICHE.

The above certificate of the baptism of John Verner, son of John Willoughby Verner, nephew of Sir William Verner, Bart., was copied from the register of baptism of St. Peter’s church, Breckville, this 31st of May, 1864, by me.

F. R. TANE, Pastor of Breckville, Canada West.

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I, Alonzo Byington Dana, mayor of the town of Breckville, in the county of Leeds, province of Canada, do certify that I am well acquainted with the Rev. F. R. Tane, above named, and that he is the incumbent or rector of St. Peter’s church in Breckville aforesaid, and that the foregoing certificate was this day acknowledged before me by the said F. R. Tane, that he did write and sign the said foregoing certificate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the corporate seal of the said town of Breckville to be affixed hereto this 7th day of June, A. D. 1864.

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A. B. DANA, Mayor.