Right Hon. Lord Lyons to William H. Seward, January 2, 1864

Lord Lyons to Mr Seward.

Sir: In pursuance of instructions which I have received from her Majesty’s government, I do myself the honor to submit to you the enclosed papers relative to the capture of a British schooner, the Don Jose, by the United States cruiser Juniata.

In a letter, dated the 15th July last, of which a copy is included among these papers, the district attorney of the United States at Key West stated, that, on a thorough examination of the ship’s papers, and the depositions of the witnesses examined, he was unable to find any facts which warranted the detention of the Don Jose, and he accordingly declared that he had no objection to her going to sea. To her Majesty’s government, by whom the case has been carefully examined, the seizure of this vessel appears to have been one of a very unjustifiable character, and to have been wholly unwarranted either by the papers, the cargo, or any of the circumstances.

Her Majesty’s government trust, therefore, that the government of the United States will have no difficulty in admitting that proper compensation is due to the parties injured by the seizure of the Don José.

The amount of the compensation would of course be a matter to be settled afterwards.

I subjoin a list of the papers which accompany this note, and I beg you to be so good as to send them back to me.

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