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

Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.

Washington, April 22, 1864.

Sir: With reference to your note of the 16th January last, and to my answer of the 18th of the same month, I have the honor to inform you that the schooner J. L. Gerety has been made over to the commercial agent of the United States at Belize. I enclose a copy of a letter on the subject which has been addressed by that functionary to the administration of the government of the colony.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

LYONS.

Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. C. A. Leas to the officer administering the government of the colony.

United States Commercial Agency, Belize, February 12, 1864.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of yesterday, informing me that, in accordance with a decision of the government of Jamaica, the authorities of this place are advised to transfer the schooner Eureka to the agent of the United States at Belize, and requesting me to take such measures as may be deemed necesfary for the safe-keeping and final disposal of the said vessel.

In answer, I have the honor to inform your excellency that I accept, in the name of the government of the United States, the charge of the schooner Eureka, and, in accordance with the verbal permission given by your excellency yesterday, I have entered into an arrangement with Mr. Cunningham, the inspector of police, (unofficial on his part,) to continue a surveillance over the vessel as heretofore, and also the two men as guards or watchmen, the expense to be paid by the agency.

I beg also to request that the authorities will be pleased to furnish me with an account for expenses of guarding and watching the vessel to this date, and also of any outlays on the part of the colonial government in the effort to arrest the parties, Hogg and Brown.

And I beg, furthermore, to express to your excellency my high gratification and appreciation for the great energy, activity, and promptness on the part of the authorities of this place in the effort to bring to justice the parties who took forcible possession of the Eureka on the high seas, and also the trouble which has been taken to guard and protect the property after capture, as well as the discretionary power with which her Majesty’s government has been pleased to vest the governor of Jamaica, by virtue of which much time and expense have been saved in the final disposition of this case; and I feel convinced that the government of the United States will not fail to fully and amply enter into the same measure of appreciation and gratification.

C. A. LEAS, United States Commercial Agent.

The Officer administering the Government.