Clarey to the provincial secretary, December 18, 1863

Commander Clarey, U. S. N., to the provincial secretary.

Sir: Upon closing my reply to your first communication of to-day by command of his honor the administrator of the government, I therein proposed the immediately delivering up the steamboat Chesapeake, and also the rendition to the proper authorities of certain persons who had been taken under circumstances mentioned.

Your second communication by command of his honor the administrator of the government I beg to acknowledge, in which you state “that information having been given that prisoners have been made of individuals in the harbor of Sambro, a Nova Scotian port, by men-of-war under your command, his honor cannot permit any vessel in the service of the United States government to leave this port until due investigation has been made into the allegation of this violation of international law.”

I beg to refer you to my first communication of to-day.

I shall be glad to learn, after the explanation given and the offered rendition of persons termed prisoners in your note, whether it is consistent with the friendly relations existing between the British and the United States governments that the ships-of-war of the United States having come into a port of a neutral power for a purpose previously explained, and now offering to render up to the proper authorities persons termed prisoners, should be detained, if the officers thereof should wish to depart to report themselves to their own government

I have, &c.,