E. M. Archibald to Lyons , G. C. B, February 26, 1864

Mr. Archibald to Lord Lyons.

My Lord: I have the honor to transmit to your lordship herewith a copy of a letter received by me several days after its date, from one of the men lately belonging to the crew of the Banshee, reporting that several British subjects who were captured on board the schooner Sylvanus, of Nassau, on the 2d of January last, are detained as prisoners at Fort Lafayette. This morning, Captain Steele, of the Banshee, informed me that the late master of the Sylvanus, Captain Haggin, and eight of his crew, all British subjects, are still imprisoned at Fort Lafayette; that Captain Haggin since he was sent to Fort Lafayette, has twice or thrice written letters to me, calling my attention to his case and that of his crew. Captain Steele confirms the statement of the men having arrived at the fort manacled, in which condition they were brought from Philadelphia; Captain Haggin’s wrists being injured by the handcuffs, which were too small for him.

I beg leave to report to your lordship that I have received no letter whatever from Captain Haggin, or any of his crew; and take the opportunity to call your lordship’s attention to the delay in the transmission of letters addressed to me by prisoners at Fort Lafayette, which I have often had occasion to notice.

The Sylvanus, which was laden with salt, was captured and destroyed by the United States blockading force on 2d of January last, at Doboy’s inlet, in Georgia. Neither the master nor any of the crew, as it is reported to me, have been examined before a prize commissioner; nor has any investigation whatever, so far as I can learn, taken place with regard to the capture of the vessel or the imprisonment of the crew.

Mr. Vice-Consul Edwards will to-morrow visit the master and crew at Fort Lafayette, and ascertain more satisfactorily their nationality. In the mean time I deem it right to lose no further time in bringing their case to your lordship’s notice. I have, &c, &c, &c,