Clarey to Thomas Tupper, December 19, 1863

Commander Clarey, U. S. N. to Mr. Tupper.

Sir: I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 18th instant, and hasten to answer so much of it as relates to the “forcible entry on board a British schooner in a British port, and a man therein made prisoner,” &c., by informing his honor the administrator of the government that my first communication alluded to in your note was written and enclosed before yours was received. Also, that at the time of my personal interview with his honor the administrator the facts connected with the schooner were unknown to me also to the vice-consul for the United States.

I beg to enclose you a copy of the correspondence between Lord Lyons and the Secretary of State at Washington, William H. Seward, and of which I presume his honor the administrator of the governnment is fully apprized, and by me received this day, which perhaps may alter the determination of his honor the administrator of the government respecting the steamer Chesapeake. I have, &c.,