Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward
Washington,
February 6, 1865.
Sir: With reference to your note of the 21st
December and to my reply of the 22d December,
relative to an alleged organization formed for seizing United States
ships in various parts, I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of a
despatch which I have received from the lieutenant governor of Nova
Scotia.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
&c., &c., &c.
[Page 65]
Lieutenant Governor MacDonnell to
Mr. Burnley
Government House, Halifax, N. S.,
January 24, 1865.
Sir: I have not hitherto acknowledged the
receipt of yours of the 22d ultimo, covering a communication from
the honorable William H. Seward, giving information, on the
authority of the United States consul here, of the existence of a
piratical organization of some two hundred persons for seizing
United States vessels on the Canadian lakes and elsewhere.
I have delayed acknowledging the above communication in the
expectation that I might receive further information to give on the
subject. I sent for the United States consul on receipt of your
despatch, and assured him of the hearty co-operation of this
government in every legal measure for the suppression of
conspiracies here of the above nature. I have since endeavored to
ascertain whether there are really any parties in this city leagued
together for such nefarious purposes as the consul has suggested,
and I have hitherto failed to discover any adequate grounds for such
a supposition.
You may, however, rely on my willing co-operation to discourage, and,
so far as the law will permit, to prevent this part of her Majesty’s
dominions being made a rallying place for persons whose attempts are
probably designed to place in jeopardy the friendly relations which
at present happily exist between her Majesty’s government and that
of the United States.
I have, &c.
B. G. MacDONNELL, Lieutenant Governor,
J. H. Burnley, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
