SEWARD, Acting Secretary to Right Hon. Lord Lyons, February 6, 1862

Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.

My Lord: With reference to the permission given to the foreign representatives to correspond with their consuls in the ports of the insurgent States by means of vessels-of-war entering their ports, I have to remark that circumstances have come to the knowledge of this department which render it advisable that this permission shall hereafter be restricted to correspondence of the consuls of those powers only who, by the regulations of their respective governments, are not allowed to engage in commerce. I will consequently thank you to request the commander of any British vessel who may visit the ports adverted to to abstain from carrying letters for consuls who may be engaged in trade.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your lordship the expression of my high consideration.