Right Hon. Lord Lyons to W. H. Seward, February 7, 1863

Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.

My Dear Sir: With reference to our official correspondence relative to supplies of arms to the Indians on the frontier, I send you an extract from a private letter from Lord Monck which will perhaps interest you.

Believe me to be, my dear sir, your faithful servant,

Lord Monck to Lord Lyons.

I received your telegram last night, and will send a copy by this day’s post of your despatch and Mr. Seward’s letter to the governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company, but the means of communicating with him, particularly at this time of year, are so precarious that I am afraid it will be a long time before my letter can reach him.

I had yesterday a conversation with a gentleman, a member of the Canadian Parliament, who is well acquainted with Fort Garry and the surrounding country, and his opinion is that it is highly improbable that any supplies of arms or ammunition could be procured there by the Indians. The difficulties of transport are so great that no more is generally brought there than suffices for the ordinary wants of the people who inhabit the country, and he tells me that at this season of the year Fort Garry can be approached only through Minnesota; so that I hope Mr. Seward’s fears will not be realized. You are quite welcome to mention this information to Mr. Seward if you think it worth communicating to him.