William H. Seward to Right Hon. Lord Lyons, May 14, 1864

Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.

My Lord: Recurring to your note of the 30th ultimo, respecting the detention of Percival A. Bedwell and four others, taken on the steamer Don, and to your note of the 29th ultimo, relative to persons similarly situated at Fortress Monroe, I have the honor to enclose, for your lordship’s information, a copy of a letter of the 7th instant on the subject from the Navy Department, and to be, with high consideration, my lord, your obedient servant,

Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th instant, enclosing a copy of a note addressed to you on the 30th ultimo (accompanied by an affidavit) by Lord Lyons, relative to the cases of Bedwell and four others, who were captured on the blockade runner Don.

The department has directed further investigation into the cases of the prisoners referred to, as well as of others in the custody of the marshal at New York, who claim to be British subjects.

An examination is going on, under Major General Butler, of the blockade runners who were landed at Fort Monroe, and to whom Lord Lyons refers in his note of the 29th ultimo, communicated to me with your note of the 4th instant.

Very respectfully, &c.,