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

Mr. Seward to Mr. Burnley.

Department of State, Washington, September 16, 1864.

Sir: Referring to your note of the 4th instant, relative to a permission to enable her Majesty’s consul at New York to visit the receiving-ship at the Brooklyn navy yard, with a view to collect evidence in regard to the enlistment of British subjects, I have the honor to communicate for your information a copy of a letter of the 12th instant upon the subject, from the Secretary of the Navy.

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

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

J. Hume Burnley, Esq, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward.

Navy Department, September 12, 1864.

Sir: I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 8th instant, enclosing a copy of a note from J. Hume Burnley, esq.

Directions have been given by the department to the commandant of the navy yard at New York to permit the British consul or his deputy to interrogate any designated individual under his command who may claim to be a British subject and to be illegally detained.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,

GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.