In the absence of the Earl of Derby to Wickham Hoffman, May 5, 1876

Lord Derby to Mr. Hoffman.

Sir: The note which I had the honor to address to you under yesterday’s date contained the answer of Her Majesty’s government to the letter which, by direction of your Government, you addressed to me on the 20th instant. Since my note was prepared I have received from yon a copy of the dispatch from Mr. Fish, dated the 31st of March, on which your letter was founded.

This dispatch has been communicated to Her Majesty’s secretary of state for the home department, who has requested me to call your attention to the passage in Mr. Fish’s dispatch in which, alluding to Lawrence’s case, he says that “although not arraigned on any other indictment than for the forgery for which he was extradited, the British home office has raised the question that he may be possibly tried upon other charges and for other crimes.”

The home secretary wishes to observe upon this, that no question was raised by him until he was satisfied that Lawrence had been indicted, although not yet arraigned, for the offense of smuggling, and that Mr. Fish had signified to Sir E. Thornton that the United States Government claimed the right to try him for other offenses than that for which he was surrendered.

Information to this effect was received from Her Majesty’s minister at Washington on the 28th of November.

I have, &c.,