Office of the Historian

Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward.

Washington, September 9, 1864.

Sir: I have been requested by his excellency the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia to acquaint you with the enclosed orders in council, directing that [Page 703] vessels-of-war of the United States of America, or of the so-called Confederate States, entering or approaching the immediate vicinity of the harbor of Halifax, shall in future anchor in the usual man-of-war anchorage abreast of the navy yard.

I shall feel greatly obliged if you would be good enough to cause this order to be made generally known to all commanders of federal cruisers likely to visit that port.

It has been adopted solely with a view of carrying out in the most impartial manner the orders of her Majesty the Queen for the observance of a strict neutrality towards both belligerents, and I feel convinced that the federal authorities will be happy to afford every assistance towards effecting that object.

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

J. HUME BURNLEY.

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

Orders in Council.

Government House, August 29, 1864.

(Extract from minutes.)

Executive Council.

Present: His excellency Sir Richard Graves Macdonnell, C. B., lieutenant governor, &c., &c., &c.; the honorable Charles Tupper, provincial secretary; honorable W. A. Henry, attorney general; honorable James McNab, receiver general; honorable Isaac Le Vesconte, financial secretary; honorable S. Leonard Shannon.

It is ordered, That if any ship-of-war or privateer of the United States of America, or of the States calling themselves the Confederate States of America, shall come into the port of Halifax, or within the territorial jurisdiction of her Majesty in the vicinity of the said port, every such vessel-of-war or privateer aforesaid shall immediately come to anchor off the naval yard, unless prevented by stress of weather; and in the latter event, shall be required to anchor as aforesaid as soon as the weather will permit.

Pilots and all other officers of the port are commanded (on boarding or hailing any such ship or privateer) to communicate the foregoing order to the chief officer on duty of every ship-of-war or privateer aforesaid.

A true copy:

JAMES H. THORNE, Clerk Executive Council.