Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of yesterday, in which, under the instructions of your government, you call the attention of the government of the United States to the circumstance of the capture of the British vessel Saxon by the United States ship Yanderbilt, at Angra Pequena, on the coast of Africa, and, moreover, request it either to direct the immediate release of the Saxon, with proper compensation to the owners, or at least to explain the grounds on which the seizure and detention are supposed to be justified.
In reply, I have the honor to state that I have made application to the Secretary of the Navy for information as to the facts and grounds of the capture, and shall have the honor of addressing you again on the subject when his reply reaches me.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, your lordship’s obedient servant
Right Hon. Lorn Lyons, &c., &c., &c.