Mr. F. W. Seward to Mr. Burnley
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 3d instant, in regard to the detention at New York of Ernest W. Pratt, late the first officer, and Robert Green, the chief steward of the steamship City of Richmond, which cleared from the port of London on the 3d of January last, and near Belle Isle transferred to the insurgent iron-clad vessel Stonewall, alias Olinde, alias Stoerkodder, between sixty and seventy men, a number of cases said to have contained small-arms, and one hundred and fifty barrels of gunpowder. In reply, I have the honor to inform you that the matter has been referred to the Secretary of War for investigation and report, and I have written to the consul of the United States at Nassau, whose despatches heretofore received furnish no information in regard to the indorsements said to have been made by him in the discharge papers of Pratt and Green.
When replies shall have been received to these letters, the claims of the men to be released from custody will be taken into consideration.
I have the honor to be, with high regard, sir, your obedient servant,
J. Hume Burnley, Esq., &c., &c., &c.