Office of the Historian

Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.

Washington, August 24, 1864.

Sir: On the 17th instant I had the honor to bring to your notice the case of John Arthur Verner, who appears to have run away from his home at Montreal when only 14 years old, and to have enlisted in the United States army.

I have now the honor, in pursuance of instructions which I have received from her Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, to transmit to you copies of memoranda communicated to Earl Russell by Sir William Verner, the great uncle of the young man, and to recommend the case to early and favorable consideration.

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

LYONS.

Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.

Sir William Verner to Mr. Layard.

86 Eaton Square, August 1, 1864.

In consequence of Mr. Layard’s kind offer of forwarding a letter to Lord Lyons, Sir William Verner takes the liberty to trouble him with the enclosed. Sir William Verner has made his statement as plain as possible, and adhered strictly to the facts. However, should Mr. Layard consider any thing further necessary, Sir William Verner will be much obliged for any suggestion he may offer.

Sir William Verner to Lord Lyons.

86 Eaton Square, August 1, 1864.

The following statement is submitted to Lord Lyons by Sir William Verner Bart., M. P., on behalf of a young man the son of his nephew, who holds a small situation under the crown at Port Oolburne.

The person to whose case Sir William Verner is anxious to direct Lord Lyons’s attention has recently become a private soldier in the K company, New York cavalry, [Page 695] Fort Andrew. He enlisted the beginning of the present year without the knowledge or consent of his parents, and was then only 16 years old. Sir William Verner has reason to believe he took this step in expectation of serving his family with the bounty he received.

Sir William Verner’s object in troubling Lord Lyons upon the subject is to request his lordship’s assistance, should it become necessary towards obtaining the young man’s discharge. Sir William Verner has written to his mother, to forward the certificates of age and any others which may be necessary towards procuring his discharge. The money which may be requisite for this purpose Sir William Verner will have placed in the hands of the American minister in London, or in any other manner pointed out by Lord Lyons.

From the circumstances here set forth, the extreme youth of the boy, and the respectability of his connexions, Lord Lyons can well understand why Sir William Verner should be desirous to release him from his present disgraceful position.

The intention he was supposed to have had in view was defeated owing to his having been robbed of all his money on his way to join the regiment.

Sir William Verner to Earl Russell.

Treasury, August 5, 1864.

Sir William Verner has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter by direction of Earl Russell, for which he begs to return his best thanks. Sir William Verner loses no time in correcting the deficiency his lordship points out, and the statement to Lord Lyons respecting the name of the young man on behalf of whom he calls his lordship’s attention. He is the son of Sir William Verner’s nephew, John W. Verner, who fills a small situation at Port Colburne, under the government. The name of the young man is John A. 0. Verner, and by that name he enlisted. Sir William Verner takes the liberty of enclosing a letter from his nephew at Port Colburne, which will explain how he is situated.

Sir William Verner has already instructed the boy’s mother, Mrs. C. L. Verner, at present residing at Montreal, to forward to Lord Lyons the certificate of his age, and any other documents which may be necessary towards expediting his discharge. In the last letter from the young man to his mother, dated in April, he desires him (her) to direct to John A. C. Verner, company K, New York cavalry, Port Anderson. He mentions that one of their men had been carried off by the guerillas, and they expected the others would share the same fate.

Sir William Verner will write again to the mother to forward the certificates, &c.

86 Eaton Square.