Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
November 15, 1864.
My Dear Sir: With reference to my private
letter to you of the 13th instant, respecting the release of the
Georgiana, I think it useful for you to possess copies of the inquiries
made about her by the collector of customs at Port Colborne, and of a
telegraphic circular sent by the Canadian finance department to the
various collectors of customs at the different ports on the lakes, with
respect to ships of a suspicious character.
Believe me to be, my dear sir, your very faithful, humble servant,
For LORD LYONS,
J. HUME BURNLEY.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
[Telegraphic circular.]
Collector of Customs at :
Give particular attention to vessels clearing from your port; if any
circumstances indicate intention to violate neutrality laws, refuse
clearance and detain vessel, immediately reporting to this
department and to the attorney general.
Finance
Department,
Quebec, November 8, 1864.
By telegraph from collector at Port
Colborne to honorable A. T.
Galt.
Propeller Georgiana entered inwards from Port Stanley on 29th of
October, discharged cargo and reported inwards for Buffalo on 1st of
November; returned here on 3d; captain came to the office and stated
he had been to Buffalo for repairs; had a clearance for this port
without cargo; was going to Sarnia, but wanted wood; wished to know
if it was necessary to have a clearance from here to Sarnia, having
a clearance to a British port; did not grant another; weather
stormy; remained until Saturday, when weather moderated; left at six
thirty
[Page 777]
p. m.; on
inquiring of harbor-master, he informed me she took sixty or seventy
cords wood, as stated, for ballast; he stated they informed him on
board she was going to Chicago; nothing connected with her
suspicious unless taking the quantity of wood and going to one port,
when reporting here she was going to another, might be so construed;
did not come to the office after taking wood on board; Mr. Gordon,
from whom the wood was purchased, has stated she only took thirty
cords.
