Mr. Moran to Mr.
Seward
Legation of the United States,
London,
August 25, 1865.
Sir: For the information of the department I
have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the Morning Post of the
21st, containing a letter dated the 19th instant, from J. M. Mason,
respecting the pirate Sea King, alias the
Shenandoah.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
BENJAMIN MORAN, Secretary of
Legation.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[From the
London Morning Post of August 21,
1865.]
[Untitled]
To the editor of the Morning Post:
Sir: Late intelligence from the United
States of the recent capture of American ships in the Pacific by the
Confederate States ship Shenandoah in that sea leads me to address
you this note.
As soon as it was known in Europe that the war in the United States
was ended, by the final surrender of all the confederate forces in
the field, immediate measures were taken by the proper authorities
here to arrest the cruise of that ship by orders issued to her
commander, directing that on their receipt he should immediately
cease all hostilities and bring his ship to the nearest convenient
port, to have her there forthwith disarmed and her crew discharged;
and those orders were sent through channels most likely to insure
their speedy and certain delivery to every point in those distant
seas where the Shenandoah would necessarily touch, and with which
she would be in communication. It is to be presumed, therefore, that
her hostile cruise has long since ended.
In the condition of the confederate government at the termination of
the war, the duty of doing this promptly was fully recognized by its
representatives in Europe.
By giving this a place in your columns you will much oblige your very
obedient servant,
J. M. MASON, 24 Upper Seymour street,
Portman Square, August 19.
