PINCKNEY WALKER, Her Majesty’s Acting Consul to Woodford , United States Army, March 3, 1865

Mr. Walker to Colonel Woodford

Sir: I have the honor to make an inquiry of you in reference to a statement made to me to-day by John Fitzgerald, one of her Britannic Majesty’s subjects;

This person informs me that being a mariner, and depending for subsistence upon his labor on the water, he made an application for a license to fish and gather oysters; that he made known the fact of his being one of her Britannic Majesty’s subjects, but was, nevertheless, informed that such license could not be granted to him, unless he subscribed an oath of allegiance to the government of the United States. If this is so, the principle adopted, if generally carried out, will preclude every British subject from practicing his calling.

To expect British subjects to be so regardless of their duty to her Majesty as to take an oath of allegiance to a foreign government is not reasonable, although during the necessity for martial law to expect the granting of privileges to those whose perfect amity may not have been tested may also be regarded as wanting the force of reason; while, again, the refusal of such privileges will undoubtedly bring upon her Majesty’s subjects much distress and suffering.

Therefore it is that with much regret I beg to inquire of you whether an option may not be allowed to her Majesty’s subjects to return to her Majesty’s dominions by the vessels which will be constantly leaving this port? And what may be the regulations, if any, that you may think proper to adopt on the subject.

I beg to add that those of her Majesty’s subjects on whose behalf I have the honor to ad dress you are those who had their residence in this section of the country anterior to the establishment of the blockade, and who have been prevented by it from removing.

I have, &c.,