Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part I

No. 31.

Lord Lyons to Earl Russell.—(Received March 17.)

Washington, March 4, 1864.

My Lord: With reference to my despatch of the 29th ultimo, I have the honor to inclose a copy of a note from Mr. Seward acknowledging with satisfaction the receipt of the note dated the 29th ultimo, in which I informed him that her Majesty’s government accepted the apology offered by the government of the United States for the violation of British territory committed by its officers in the case of the Chesapeake.

I have, &c.,

LYONS.

[Enclosure in No. 31.]

Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.

Department of State, Washington, March 2, 1864.

My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge with satisfaction the receipt of your note of the 29th ultimo, in which, referring to my notes to you of the 18th of December last and of the 9th of January of this year, respecting the case of the Chesapeake, you inform me that her Majesty’s government, in view of the readiness evinced by the government of the United States to make all proper and suitable reparation for the acts of its officers and of the apology made for the violation of her Majesty’s territory, accept that apology in the same spirit in which it has been offered.

I have, &c.,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.