Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward
Sir: The lords commissioners of the admiralty have received from Vice-Admiral Sir Augustus Kuper, commanding her Majesty’s naval forces in the eastern seas, an account of the successful operations lately undertaken by a combined squadron of English, French, Dutch, and United States vessels against the batteries erected by the Japanese prince of Nagato in the straits of Simono-Saki.
Sir A. Kuper reports that the most cordial good feeling prevailed throughout the operations between the officers and men of the allied forces, and he attributes, in great measure, to that good feeling the speedy and entire success with which the operations of the combined squadron were crowned.
It is with feelings of great pleasure that I am enabled to lay before you the enclosed copy of a letter which Sir A. Kuper addressed to Lieutenant Pearson, of the United States navy, expressing the sense which the British admiral entertains of the important services rendered on that occasion by the officers and men detached from the United States corvette Jamestown. And, in accordance with the wish of the admiralty, her Majesty’s government instructs me to request that the United States government will have the goodness to convey to Lieutenant Pearson the acknowledgment of the lords commissioners. for the ready co-operation which that gallant officer afforded to the British admiral during the whole of the operations in question.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.