Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams
Sir: It appears from a despatch of the 5th instant, from the vice-consul of the United States at Kingston, Jamaica, that Lieutenant John O. Braine, of Chesapeake and Roanoke notoriety, had arrived in that city. He came off the port of Kingston in the schooner St. Mary’s, which he and his party had seized at the mouth of the Patuxent river, in Chesapeake Bay, on the 1st of April last. Mr. John A. Camp, the vice-consul, states that he endeavored to procure the extradition of Braine, but met with no success; Braine leaving there on the 21st ultimo, on steamship St. Thomas, for Liverpool. Mr. Camp informs me that he notified the United States consul at Liverpool, by the same steamer, of Braine’s departure for that port, and gave him other information that would lead to the identification of Braine in that city. The schooner St. Mary’s was finally carried into the port of Amotto bay, on the north side of Jamaica, where she remains at last accounts. Mr. Camp states that he is in correspondence with the governor of the colony, with a view to having the vessel returned to its owner.
I have given you this information in order that you may make a representation of the case to the British government, and at the same time demand the restoration of the vessel to its owners. The most convenient way for effecting this would probably be for the British colonial authorities to place the St. Mary’s at the disposal of the United States vice-consul at Kingston. You will therefore suggest the adoption of that course.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.