GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy to William H. Seward, December 31, 1864

Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward

Sir: I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 28th instant, enclosing a copy of a note from J. Hume Burnley, esquire, in relation to the schooner James Douglas.

The department has neither asserted any claims to the vessel in question, nor is aware that it has incurred any liability in relation to it. It came accidentally into the possession of officers of the navy, having been found abandoned at sea. The question of salvage is entirely between the individual salvors and the owner or owners. If the navy has had the use of the vessel, it has had the trouble and expense of taking care of it; but it declines to incur the expense of having the vessel towed to New York. It would be pleased, under the circumstances, to have the vessel taken off its hands as early as practicable, and can assume no responsibility for its safe-keeping.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,