William H. Seward to J Hume Burnley, January 18, 1865

Mr. Seward to Mr. Burnley

Sir: Referring to your note of the 9th ultimo, requesting, at the instance of the owners of the Labuan, information concerning the progress made in the trial of the case, I have the honor to inform you, in reply, that in a letter of the 14th ultimo the United States district attorney states that he has made every effort to procure a speedy and final disposition of the whole matter by the court upon the testimony already on file, and that the attorneys representing the charterers of the Labuan, whose claim for damages is much larger than that of the owners of the vessel itself, have not co-operated with him to that end, and that the proceedings were delayed for their convenience.

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