Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
October 23, 1861.
Sir: Having received information that a bag of
despatches addressed by her Majesty’s acting consul at Richmond, in
Virginia, to her Majesty’s consul at New York had been taken from a
gentleman of the name of Crosse, at Baltimore, and sent to General Dix,
I directed Mr. Bernal, her Majesty’s consul at the latter place, to make
inquiries of the general on the subject. You will perceive by the
enclosed copy of a despatch from Mr. Bernal that the general referred
him to you. I therefore do myself the honor to ask you to be so kind as
to favor me with such information as it seems proper that I should
receive with regard to the seizure of the despatches in question.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your most obedient,
humble servant,
Mr. Bernal to
Lord Lyons.
British
Consulate,
Baltimore,
October 22, 1861.
My Lord: In pursuance of the instructions
in your lordship’s despatch of the 19th (received this morning)
having reference to the reported seizure of a bag of despatches, I
proceeded to Fort McHenry, where I had an interview with General
Dix. I asked him to be good enough to inform me if it
[Page 175]
was true that on or about
the 16th instant a bag of despatches, addressed to her Majesty’s
consul in New York by her Majesty’s acting consul at Richmond, was
taken away from Mr. Thomas Crosse, a British subject, by the provost
marshal in this city, and sent to him. General Dix replied very
briefly that he must decline giving-me any information, and referred
me to Mr. Seward. In order that there should be no mistake, I
repeated my question, and received the same answer.
I have, &c.,
