Right Hon. Lord Lyons to William H. Seward, December 29, 1862

Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.

Sir: I have the honor to lay before you copies of a despatch, and of a report enclosed in it, which I have received from Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, commander-in-chief of her Majesty’s naval forces in the North American and West India station.

The admiral informs me that it has been represented to him that the commanders of the vessels-of-war of the United States, in the neighborhood of the Bahama islands, have disregarded the regulations of her Majesty’s government, with regard to the use of belligerents of British waters, and he suggests that the attention of the naval officers should be called by their own government to these regulations.

Intelligence has also been communicated to the admiral, from which it would seem that there is reason to fear that in one instance, at least, a United States’ cruiser has even exercised belligerent rights within the Queen’s dominions. You will see that, if the statements in the enclosed papers be correct, a schooner, the Elias Reed, has been captured within her Majesty’s territorial jurisdiction.

The regulations of her Majesty’s government with regard to the use of British waters by belligerents are well known to you. They were published in the official London Gazette of the 31st of January last, and the attention of the United States minister in London was specially called to them by her Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs in a note dated the 25th of last March. I am confident that the government of the United States will be anxious to check all transgressions of them by its naval officers.

Nor do I doubt that, if the facts in the case of the Elias Reed be such as they are represented to be, the government of the United States will be prompt to offer ample satisfaction to her Majesty’s government for the violation of British territory, as well as to make due compensation for any private losses which may have been caused by the unlawful capture.

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