Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.
Department of State,
Washington,
August 25, 1864.
My Lord: With reference to your note of the
17th instant, in which a wish is expressed that permission may be
granted to her Majesty’s consul to visit, either in person or by deputy,
the receiving-ship at New York, whenever the nature of the case may
require it, I have the honor to enclose, in reply, a copy of a letter of
the 23d instant from the Secretary of the Navy, and to be, with high
consideration, your lordship’s obedient servant,
Right Hon. Lord Lyons,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward.
Navy Department,
Washington,
August 23, 1864.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your
letter of the 18th instant, enclosing a copy of a note from Lord
Lyons, [August 17,] respecting the refusal of permission to a clerk
of the British consul at New York to visit persons supposed to be
British subjects, illegally detained on board the receiving-ship
North Carolina.
[Page 697]
The department would not, at any time, withhold permission from the
consul or his deputy to visit any designated person or persons, on
board the receiving-ship, for a stated and reasonable purpose; and,
most probably, the commandant at New York would, in a clear case,
assume the responsibility of granting such permission without
special authority from the department.
But if it be desired that the consul shall be at liberty, whenever,
in his opinion, “the nature of the case may require it,” to visit
the receiving-ship in person or by deputy, and examine persons on
board, the department is constrained to decline acceding to the
suggestion.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the
Navy.
Hon. William H. Seward,
&c., &c, &c.
