Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress

Mr. Seward to Sir F. Bruce.

Department of State, Washington, January 7, 1867.

Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of a despatch of the 3d instant from our vice-consul general at Montreal relative to the result of the recent Fenian trials at Sweetsburg. I should be glad to know whether we may assume that the capital convictions referred to will be suspended as other similar cases have been.

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

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Hon. Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Drummond to Mr. Seward

No. 12.]

U. S. Consulate General, B.N. A. P., Montreal, January 3, 1867.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the trials at Sweetsburg of the prisoners recently held in the jail of this city, on a charge of complicity in the Fenian invasion of this province, in June last, terminated on the 28th ultimo with the following results:

Madden, Smith, and Crowley have been sentenced to be hung on the 15th proximo; Holmes to be imprisoned for two months for larceny, and Crawford for three months for receiving stolen goods. The remaining eleven have been discharged.

Mr. Devlin, the counsel for the prisoners, with whom I have had an interview since the close of the trial, appears to entertain no doubt of his success in appeal in the cases of those capitally condemned.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. G. B. DRUMMOND, United States Vice-consul General, B. N. A. P.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.