Wm. H. Seward to Right Hon. Lord Lyons, February 23, 1863

Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.

My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note dated the 12th instant, accompanied by the petition and protest of Captain Blakeney, of the schooner Elias Reed, and of the proceedings of the prize court at Key West concerning that vessel, all of which papers will be submitted to the Secretary of the Navy, who has not yet received Commander Collins’s supplementary report. Your lordship is doubtless aware that the laws of the United States provide for appeal from the decisions of the prize courts in such cases. Under the circumstances it is not perceived that this case is one in which the executive branch of the government ought to interpose, instead of leaving the parties to appeal to the superior tribunal.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, my lord, your very obedient servant,