Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
December 16, 1863.
My dear Sir: I send you a copy of the telegram
which I have despatched to the administrator of the government of Nova
Scotia, in consequence of the note which I received from you this
morning respecting the affair of the Chesapeake, and the conversation
which I had with you on the subject afterwards.
I have despatched an identic telegram to the lieutenant governor of New
Brunswick.
Yours, faithfully,
Lord Lyons to Lieutenant Governor Gordon (and
Major General Doyle.)
[Telegraphic.]
Washington,
December 16, 1863.
The United States government informs me officially that it has
authentic intelligence that Braine and Parr, two men charged with
having committed piracy and murder on board the United States
steamer Chesapeake, have taken refuge in Nova Scotia or New
Brunswick; and it requests the British authorities to do anything
which can be legally done to detain the two men
[Page 403]
until formal affidavits can be
forwarded with a view to their extradition for trial. The Secretary
of State suggests that if it be alleged that the men were
belligerents, and that their acts were acts of lawful warfare, the
proper time for examining this plea will be when the propriety of
complying with an actual demand for extradition shall be under
consideration. I have answered that it is certain that your
excellency will act in exact conformity with the requirements of
municipal law and international law and comity.
