Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Her Majesty’s consul at Galveston has reported that he has received information from a source which he deems very trustworthy, that on or about the 20th of July last the United States forces, under the command of Colonel Fullerton or Major Montgomery, entered the town of Brookhaven, in Mississippi, and having seized upon the mail, opened and destroyed all the letters and documents contained therein, and among them a packet containing despatches addressed by the consul to me, to the care of her Majesty’s consul at Richmond. The consul adds, that it is stated that not only were the seals of this packet broken, but that the seals also of the despatches it contained were broken, and the despatches themselves torn and thrown into the streets.
I shall be much obliged if you will cause inquiry to be made respecting this matter, and communicate the result to me for the information of her Majetsy’s government.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most humble, obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.