CO885-(10-11) — Page 498

772.

No. 386.

(CANADA.)

LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.

Lincoln's Inn, January 15, 1866. MY LORD,

WE are honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Hammond's letter of the 11th instant, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us, together with the previous papers, a letter from the Colonial Office and its enclo- sures respecting the case of the "Georgiana," a vessel which has been claimed by the United States Government from the Government of Canada, as having belonged to the Government of the so-called Confederate States; and to request that we would take the same into our consideration and favour your Lordship, at our early convenience, with our opinion thereupon.

In obedience to your Lordship's commands, we have taken these papers into con- sideration, and have the honour to

Report

That the "Georgiana" cannot at present be given up by the Government of Canada. Litigation, involving the question of title to her ownership, is now pending before the civil tribunals of Canada. The Government of the United States has itself obtained an injunction from the Canadian Court of Chancery against the alleged owner. The issue of this suit certainly, and probably also the hearing of the rule in the Canadian Court of Queen's Bench, must be waited for, before any decision of the Executive can' be taken in this matter.

In the meantime, it is to be observed, that the claim of the United States Government to this vessel, on the ground that she helonged to the late Confederate Government, carries with it the admission of a previous state of public war, and confirms some of the observations which we had the honour to offer to your Lordship in our last report on the case of the "Shenandoah:"

The Earl of Clarendon, K.G.,

&c.

&c.

We have, &c.

(Signed)

ROUNDELL PALMER.

R. P. COLLIER.

ROBERT PHILLIMORE.

o 16278.-471.

25.-5/86.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

C.O. 88511 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON