Right Hon. Lord Lyons to William H. Seward, August 17, 1864

Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.

Sir: Complaints having been made to her Majesty’s consulate at New York that several British subjects had been illegally enlisted into the United States naval service, and were on board the receiving-ship North Carolina, the acting consul sent recently one of his clerks with a written request to Admiral Paulding for permission to have access to these men, but the permission was refused.

As it is naturally of importance that the acting consul, before bringing these matters before the legation, should be enabled to elicit all the facts bearing upon them, I shall feel obliged if permission could be granted to him to visit, either in person or by deputy, the receiving-ship whenever the nature of the case may require it.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,