Right Hon. Lord Lyons to William H. Seward, January 6, 1864

Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.

Sir: In several previous communications, and particularly in a note which I had the honor to address to you on the 30th October last, I have stated the very grave objections entertained by her Majesty’s government to the system of exacting bonds from merchants shipping goods from the United States to the Bahamas islands. It is, therefore, unnecessary that I should attempt to express the regret with which I have learned that this system of exacting bonds has now been extended to shipments to other British colonial ports, and especially to shipments to Newfoundland.

I beg you to consider very seriously the extract from a despatch from her Majesty’s consul at New York, which, with the accompanying papers, I do myself the honor to enclose; and I ask your particular attention to the statements it contains respecting the peculiarly onerous character of the bonds which are exacted, and respecting the especial hardship of imposing restrictions of this nature on the export of provisions to Newfoundland.

The matter appears to me to be very urgent, as well as very important, and I deem it therefore to be my duty earnestly to recommend it to the immediate consideration of the government of the United States.

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