Viscount Monck to Mr. Burnley. GOVERNMENT HOUSE, Quebec, December 17, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 11th instant, and its enclosures, relative to the movements of the steamer Georgiana, and to other proceedings reported to be on foot in Canada hostile to the United States. I have to request that you will inform Mr. Seward that the Canadian government is fully alive to the importance of preventing the formation of any plans hostile to the United States on British soil, and has taken stringent measures to that end, both of a civil and military character. I have, &c., &c., J. HUME BURNLEY, Esq., &c., &c., &c. MONCK. [Communicated by the British Legation.] Lord Russell to Mr. Burnley. FOREIGN OFFICE, December 24, 1864. SIR: Her Majesty's government have had under their consideration, in common with the proper law advisers of the Crown, Lord Lyons's despatches of the 25th and 29th ultimo, together with a further representation from Messrs. Lawrence, of which I enclose a copy for your information, respecting the case of the Night Hawk. Her Majesty's government fully approve of the manner in which Lord Lyons has treated this matter, in his lordship's note to Mr. Seward of the 26th ultimo. It does not appear to them that any ground whatever has been shown by Mr. Seward for ascribing to the Night Hawk the character of an enemy's ship; and having regard to the circumstance that she was destroyed by the boarding officer without so much as examining her papers, her Majesty's government consider that the proofs which have already been given of her British ownership are amply sufficient. The ship was indeed destroyed in the act of violating the blockade, and as she must necessarily have been condemned if brought in for adjudication, the mere act of her destruction may possibly not have involved any substantial injury to British interests; but the conduct of the boarding officer, and the subsequent imprisonment of the British crew, seems to be wholly without justification or excuse. The captor had no right to fire upon the unresisting crew, and the whole circumstances of the case, instead of affording any exceptional reasons (as Mr. Seward says) for applying to these unfortunate men a different treatment from that admitted to be the right of" the class of neutral subjects in neutral vessels engaged in violating the blockade," appear to her Majesty's government to give to the treatment actually inflicted upon the crew the character of an aggravated breach of international law. You will read this despatch to Mr. Seward, and give him a copy of it. I am, &c., J. HUME BURNLEY, Esq., &c., &c., &c. RUSSELL. Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward. [Memorandum.] Relative to the apprehended attempts of persons hostile to the United States from Canada, Viscount Monck informs me that he has taken measures for the prevention of such acts, by the establishment of a detective police force, under special stipendiary magistrates, along the border between Canada and the territory of the United States. Viscount Monck has also called out for permanent duty a strong force of the volunteer militia, who are to be stationed on the frontier line. These measures Viscount Monck hopes will effectually prevent any such attempts as those alluded to. BRITISH LEGATION, Washington, December 26, 1864. Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward. WASHINGTON, December 28, 1864. SIR: With reference to your note of the 20th of October, relative to the British steamer Mary, formerly the Alexandra ram, and her supposed connexion with the so-called confederate government, I have the honor to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch, and of its enclosures, from the governor of New Providence, stating that he has ordered the seizure of the steamer Mary, for violation of the 7th clause of the foreign enlistment act. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. J. HUME BURNLEY. Governor Rawson to Mr. Burnley. GOVERNMENT HOUSE, Nassau, December 15, 1864. SIR: I take the earliest opportunity of informing you that on the 13th instant the British steamer Mary, formerly the Alexandra ram, was seized in this port by my orders, for a vioation of the 7th clause of the foreign enlistment act. Before my arrival here on the 9th instant, the United States consul had called the attention of this government to the existence of guns and munitions of war on board of this vessel, which had lately reached this harbor. A search was made, and nothing was found but a 12-pounder gun, and a case supposed to contain shell. Upon this, the lieutenant governor, acting upon the advice of the attorney general, informed the consul that there was not sufficient ground for detaining the vessel, after this gun and case were landed, which their agents professed their willingness to do. The consul had at first supposed this search to have been a seizure, and he was much disappointed at this last communication, and protested urgently against it. The attorney general saw him personally, and was not satisfied with the proofs offered, and finally he was informed that the government could not proceed upon conflicting communications made to him by persons who could not be produced in court to support a prosecution. This was the state of the case when I arrived. I mention what occurred with the consul, in order that you may be cognizant of it, in the event of the American government adverting to it in any communication which it may make to you. Upon examining the correspondence, and making inquiry of the officer who searched the vessel, I found that there were suspicious facts bearing upon the case which did not appear in the papers, and that certain packages which were shipped at Bermuda had not been opened, nor were their contents known. I therefore directed that they should be landed and opened. The result is shown in enclosure No. 1, which, among other things, proved the continued connexion of the Mary with the Mr. Hamilton, an officer of the Confederate States, whose name was brought forward by the attorney general on the occasion of the trial in England, as one of the proofs against the parties who owned the Alexandra. Upon the discovery of this further evidence, and receiving the opinion of the attorney general, I ordered the vessel to be seized, and she is now in charge of the customs, moored opposite the ordnance wharf for protection. The attorney general will commence legal proceedings without delay, and I have received a letter from the United States consul thanking me for my proceedings in this case. I am, &c,. &c. J. HUME BURNLEY, Esq., &c., &c., &c. RAWSON A. RAWSON, Governor. Mr. Dumaresq to Governor Rawson. RECEIVER GENERAL'S OFFICE, SIR: I have the honor to report for your lordship's information that this morning, imme diately on the landing of the cargo ex. Mary, late Alexandra, I directed all the packages to be opened in my presence, and found the marks, numbers, and contents of each to be as follows: P. H. One cask containing scrubbing brushes, tin cans, &c. J. R.. Two cases containing iron hammock racks. J. R. 3. One case containing iron hammock racks and handles for screws of side lights. O. C. 1. One case containing a gun and carriage, with appurtenances complete, designed by Messrs. Fawcett, Preston & Co., of Liverpool, with flat iron tray or slide for the gear and body of carriage to traverse on. (This gun is the subject of a former report.) O. C. 2. One case containing shell. O. C. 3. One case of grape-shot. J. R. H. 3. One case containing six trap wheels, about six inches in diameter, apparently handles such as are used for working the screw of a gun. J. R. H.. Two cases of stationery. H. H. 2. One case containing confederate flags, brig, ship, and boat ensigns and pendants, log lines, bolts of canvas, &c. S. D. H. 2. One case of drugs, lint, &c. J. R. H. One case (partially examined) of private effects, consisting of military and naval books in relation to the confederate service, having the name of Hamilton on the fly leaves, forty-eight packages of tourniquets, one blank confederate commission, charts, a case of surgical instruments, &c., one bundle of hammocks-about sixty; also two small iron carronades and carriages, belonging to ship. With reference to the cases marked J. R. 1 to 3, I have respectfully to state that the hammock racks are all of a size, and that I have had one of them placed in the staples on the bulwarks of the Mary, which it exactly fits. It is my duty further to add, that since the date of my last report of the 7th instant, four new berths have been completed in the after hold, where the gun and carriage above referred to were found, and sixteen additional ones in the forecastle, so that, independent of the afterdeck berths for the officers of the ship, she has now thirty-two berths for seamen, besides the sixty hammocks. I have, &c., &c., Ais Excellency Governor RAWSON. J. A. DUMARESQ, Receiver General, Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward. WASHINGTON, December 28, 1864. SIR: With reference to your note of the 13th December, relative to the alleged manufacture of what is known as "Greek fire," for use in attempts to burn cities of the United States, I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a despatch which I have received from his excellency the governor general of Canada. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. J. HUME BURNLEY. Viscount Monck to Mr. Burnley. QUEBEC, December 20, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch and enclosures relative to the alleged manufacture at Windsor of "Greek fire," for use in attempts to burn cities in the United States. In reply, I have the honor to state that I will take immediate measures to have the truth of this allegation investigated, and should it prove well founded I will adopt such measures as may be within my power to defeat the objects of those engaged in the manufacture. I have, &c., &c., J. HUME BURNLEY, Esq., &c., &c., &e. MONCK. Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward. WASHINGTON, December 28, 1864. SIR: With reference to your note of the 14th instant, relating to suspicions entertained that two vessels in course of construction in Montreal are intended to be employed for purposes hostile to the United States, I have the honor to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch which I have received from the governor general of Canada, by which you will perceive that his excellency will cause an investigation to be made. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. J. HUME BURNLEY. Viscount Monck to Mr. Burnley. QUEBEC, December 22, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 15th instant, with its enclosures, respecting two vessels now building at Montreal, alleged to be for the naval service of the so-called Confederate States. In reply, I have the honor to state that I will cause the suspicious circumstances connected with these vessels to be strictly investigated, and will be guided in my actions by the facts which may be elicited. I may add, that there is no fear of any immediate danger from these vessels, as the navigation of the St. Lawrence is now closed for the season, and it is impossible that these vessels can leave Montreal for the next four or five months. I have, &c., &c., J. HUME BURNLEY, Esq., &c., &c., &c. MONCK. : Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward. WASHINGTON, December 28, 1864. SIR On receipt of your note of the 6th October, in which you requested me to invite the attention of the colonial authorities at Nassau to the alleged fact that vessels were being fitted out at Nassau, New Providence, with a view to operations against the commerce of the United States, I at once transmitted a copy of that note to the lieutenant governor of the Bahamas. I have now the honor to transmit to you a copy of a despatch which I have received from the administrator of the government at Nassau, by which it appears that no vessels are believed to have been fitted out at Nassau with a view to any such operations as those alluded to. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. J. HUME BURNLEY. Governor Nesbitt to Mr. Burnley. GOVERNMENT HOUSE, NASSAU, December 8, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, on the 3d instant, of your despatch dated Washington, the 8th of October last, with copy of a note of the 6th of that month, received by you from the Secretary of State of the United States, requesting you to invite the attention of the authorities of this colony to the proceedings of insurgent agents engaged in fitting out vessels at Nassau, New Providence, with a view to piratical operations against the commerce of the United States. I now forward to you the copy of a communication which, on the receipt of your despatch, I at once made to the receiver general of this colony, together with a copy of that officer's report, by which latter document you will perceive that the receiver general remarks that on the first arrival of several steamers reports were circulated without the slightest foundation as to their ultimate conversion or appropriation for warlike purposes, such, for instance, as the steamer Hope, referred to in Mr. Seward's note to you, and which steamer has since been captured off Wilmington, with a general cargo on board, by the blockading squadron of the United States, thus effectually disposing of the question of her having been fitted out here as a privateer. You will perceive in the postscript to my communication to the receiver general of the 3d instant, that I especially called his attention to the steamer Mary, late Alexandra, now in the port of Nassau, with the view of his reporting on the character of that vessel, and, as far as practicable, preventing any violation of her Majesty's proclamation of neutrality. In concert with the attorney general, I have had the case of the Mary, late Alexandra, under consideration, and it forms the subject of correspondence at present between the United States consul of this port and myself, copies of which correspondence will be forwarded to the secretary of state for the colonies for the information of her Majesty's government. I have, &c., &c., J. HUME BURNLEY, Esq., &c., &c., &c. C. NESBITT. Mr. Seward to Mr. Burnley. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 28, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 13th instant, submitting for consideration a proposition to bring the vessel James Douglas to New York, in order that a settlement may be effected with the owners, and, in reply, to inform you that I have invited the attention of the Secretary of the Navy to the matter. Accept the assurances of my high consideration. J. HUME BURNLEY, Esq., &c., sx., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Seward to Mr. Burnley. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 29, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 22d instant, transmitting, in accordance with instructions received by you from her Majesty's government, copies of Sir Rutherford Alcock's despatches in regard to the events which have recently taken place in Japan. In reply, I have the honor to state that Mr. Pruyn, the United States minister in Japan, has been intrusted with discretion which will enable him to act in harmony with the treaty powers. I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. J. HUME BURNLEY, Esq., &c., &c., &c. Mr. Seward to Mr. Burnley. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 29, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge, with sincere gratification, the receipt of your note of the 24th, which is accompanied by a copy of a despatch of the 17th instant, addressed to you by his excellency the governor general of Canada, in |