Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.
Department of State, Washington, March 3, 1863.
My Lord: Referring to your memorandum of the
19th ultimo, relative to colored emigrants from the United States for
service in the British West Indian colonies, and to my reply, I now have
the honor to enclose to you the copy of a letter of yesterday, from the
Secretary of the Interior, on the subject, together with a copy of the
despatch to Mr. Adams, therein referred to.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, your lordship’s obedient
servant,
Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.
[Untitled]
Department of the Interior,
Washington, March 2, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I have read and considered
the memorandum of Lord Lyons, relative to the emigration of colored
persons,
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which was
transmited to this department by you on the 20th ultimo, and, in
reference thereto, to state that, upon the assumption that the
guarantees specified in your despatch to Mr. Adams, the American
minister at London, dated the 30th of September last, will be
secured to the emigrants by her Majesty’s government, I regard the
proposition with favor, and will cordially co-operate in carrying
out the proposed arrangement, if it shall be concluded by the
governments of her Majesty and the United States.
I am, sir, with much respect, your obedient servant,
J. P. USHER, Secretary of the
Interior.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
