Mr. Seward to Mr. Burnley
Sir: Information, which is believed to be reliable, has reached this department to the effect that a plan has been formed for the piratical seizure of American steamships plying between various ports on the Pacific coast of this continent; that it is proposed to effect this nefarious design by means of small but swift iron steamers armed with one gun; that they will be concealed in some of [Page 51] the many small bays and inlets abounding on the coast from the Gulf of Fonseca to San José, in Costa Rica; that two of these vessels are now on the way, or have arrived at St. Thomas from England in pieces; that they will be put together at St. Thomas or at Georgetown, Demerara, run down the coast, around Cape Horn, with the ostensible intention of plying around the Chincha islands; that the officers and prize crew will sail from New York to Havana, reporting there to Mr. Charles Helm, thence to St. Thomas, where a person named Andrews manages affairs, or did formerly. At a concerted time they will proceed to the Pacific shore of Costa Rica to meet the vessels and enter upon their piratical career. I will thank you to inform her Majesty’s government of these proceedings, and to notify the authorities of Demerara and of other British colonies in that quarter of these projected violations of British neutrality, in order that prompt measures may be adopted for their prevention.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient servant.
J. Hume Burnley, Esq., &c., &c., &c.