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Date: 1864-04-13
By: Lord Lyons
Citation: Despatch from Lord Lyons to Lieutenant Governor George Dundas (13 April 1864) in Journal of the Legislative Council of the Province of New Brunswick (1865).
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Washington, 13th April, 1864.

SIR,—I had yesterday the honor to receive Your Excellency’s Despatch of the 2nd instant, respecting the Bonds exacted by the United States Customs authorities on shipments from this country to Prince Edward Island. I have submitted to the Secretary of State of the United States a copy of Your Excellency’s Despatch, and also a copy of a Memorial addressed to the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, by the Chamber of Commerce of Saint John. I have sent with these papers a note to the Secretary of State, stating that, waiving for the moment all discussion on the general principle involved in the exaction of the Bonds which Merchants are now in many instances compelled to give on shipments from the United States to British Colonies, I cannot but hope that the statements made in the papers will convince the United States authorities, that while the exaction of such Bonds is particularly injurious to the Provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, it may certainly in the case of these two Provinces be safely dispensed with.

I have been for more than a year in Correspondence with Her Majesty’s Government, and the Government of the United States, on the subject of these restrictions on trade. Every endeavour has been made by Her Majesty’s Government, and by me, acting under their orders, to induce the United States authorities to refrain from imposing them, but hitherto, I regret to say, with very little success.
I am not confident that my representation in the cases of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick will be of any use, but I have thought it desirable to make an effort to obtain at once a relaxation in favor of those Provinces, without prejudice to the discussion of the general question.

I have, &c. (Signed) LYONS.