Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth Congress

Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward

Washington, December 31, 1864.

Sir: With reference to my note of the 12th of December, and to previous correspondence on the subject of an alleged military organization in Canada of fugitives from the United States, I have now the honor to transmit to you copies of a note, and of its enclosure, which I have received from the governor general of Canada on this subject.

You will observe that upon the strictest inquiry no traces of such an organization could be discovered.

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

J.HUME BURNLEY.

Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. McDonald to Mr. Godley

Department of Attorney General for Upper Canada, Quebec, December 24, 1864.

Sir: With reference to your letter of the 6th instant, transmitting a copy of a despatch from Lord Lyons, with its enclosure, and of the reply of his excellency the governor general, relative to the organization and drilling in county of Prince Edward of fugitives from the United States, I have the honor to inform you, for the information of his excellency the governor general, that immediately on receipt of your letter a telegraphic despatch was transmitted by me to the county Crown attorney of the county of Prince Edward, desiring his immediate attention to the matter.

I have further to state that that officer immediately proceeded to make inquiries into the allegations made, and that he has since reported that though such inquiries were made in different quarters he can discover no traces of any such organization, and that he feels confident that the county of Prince Edward is free from any such illegal combinations, and that others with whom he has communicated on the subject concur in that opinion.

I have, &c.

I. A. Mcdonald.

D. Godley, Esq.

Viscount Monck to Mr. Burnley

Government House, Quebec, December 26, 1864.

Sir: With reference to your despatch of November 30, on the subject of an alleged military organization in Canada of fugitives from the United States, I have the honor to transmit to you, for the information of the government of the United States, a copy of a letter from Mr. Attorney General McDonald, in which he states the steps that were taken for investigating the matter. You will observe that upon the strictest inquiry no traces of such an organization could be discovered.

I am, &c.,

MONCK.

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