Cunard to E. M. Archibald, February 8, 1864

Mr. Cunara to Mr. Archibald.

Sir: I have just been informed at the custom-house that, in future, bonds will be required from the master or owner of the vessel in which shipments may be made to Nassau, instead of from the owners or shippers of the goods, as heretofore; that a bond will have to be given by the master for the whole value of the cargo, with two responsible sureties, who must justify for double the amount of the bond.

Power, it is said, is given to the collector of customs to demand this by statute passed May 20, 1862, chapter 81. The bond which will be required contains this clause: “Now, if said goods, wares, and merchandise shall not be delivered as aforesaid, and shall not be transported to any place under insurrectionary control, and shall not, in any way, be used to give aid and comfort to the insurgents, with or by the consent, permission, or connivance of the owners, shippers, or consignees thereof, then this obligation to be void; otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.”

You will at once see that this is tantamount to enacting that no shipments shall be made, for the future, from ports of the United States to Nassau, because no master or owner could enter into such an impossible stipulation.

I beg to request that you will be good enough to bring this subject under the notice of Lord Lyons, so as to ascertain whether the United States government can, under the treaties of trade between the United States and Great Britain, prohibit all trade between certain British ports, or demand from the masters of British ships bonds the stipulations of which is beyond their power to comply with.

I have, &c.,