CO885-(11-13) — Page 68

7348.

MY LORD,

No. 771.

(CANADA.)

LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.

We are honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Holland's

Temple, July 18, 1872. letter of the 16th instant, stating that with reference to the letter from the Colonial Office of the 16th instant and to previous letters respecting the abduction of Dr. Rufus Bratton from Canadian territory, he (Mr. Holland) was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us a copy of a Despatch which had been received through the Foreign Office from Sir E. Thornton, together with the extracts from the "Toronto Globe" of the 13th and 17th June referred to by him.

In obedience to your Lordship's commands we have the honour to

to us.

Report

That the report of the proceedings on the trial of Mr. Cornwall in some material respects differs from the depositions we have seen, or at least throws a great light on the transaction in relation to Dr. Bratton from that in which it has hitherto appeared While the exact facts of the case are, as it appears, not yet accurately ascer- tained, it is impossible to send definite instructions to Sir E. Thornton, and he must be left very much to the exercise of his own discretion as to whether he will or will not claim the delivery up of Dr. Bratton. The course to be taken by Her Majesty's Government must depend very much upon the extent to which any persons in the employment of the United States were implicated in the outrage which undoubtedly appears to have been perpetrated in relation to Dr. Bratton. If Dr. Bratton was carried off at the instigation of United States detectives, Her Majesty's Government would have a right to demand his delivery, and the personal presence of United States detectives at his carrying off would not be material.

But there are certain indications in the papers before us that the Canadians may have acted without such instigation, and if so very different considerations would arise.

The Right Hon. the Earl Kimberley,

We have, &c.

(Signed)

J. D. COLERIDGE. G. JESSEL.

&c.

&c.

p 16978-416.

25.-5/86,

&c.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TPLLC.O. 885

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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