Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.
Department of State, Washington,
May 14, 1864.
My Lord: Recurring to your note of the 30th
ultimo, respecting the detention of Percival A. Bedwell and four others,
taken on the steamer Don, and to your note of the 29th ultimo, relative
to persons similarly situated at Fortress Monroe, I have the honor to
enclose, for your lordship’s information, a copy of a letter of the 7th
instant on the subject from the Navy Department, and to be, with high
consideration, my lord, your obedient servant,
Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward.
Navy
Department,
May 7, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 5th instant, enclosing a copy of a
note addressed to you on the 30th ultimo (accompanied by an
affidavit) by Lord Lyons, relative to the cases of Bedwell and four
others, who were captured on the blockade runner Don.
The department has directed further investigation into the cases of
the prisoners referred to, as well as of others in the custody of
the marshal at New York, who claim to be British subjects.
An examination is going on, under Major General Butler, of the
blockade runners who were landed at Fort Monroe, and to whom Lord
Lyons refers in his note of the 29th ultimo, communicated to me with
your note of the 4th instant.
Very respectfully, &c.,
GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the
Navy
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
