Mr. Herbert to Mr. Bayard.
Sir: With reference to your note of yesterday’s date, asking for an early settlement of the Bridgewater case, I have the honor to inform you that I telegraphed to Her Majesty’s principal secretary of state [Page 468] for foreign affairs, in the sense of your above-mentioned note, and have received a reply stating that the owner of the Bridgewater, before presenting the claim, commenced an action at law which is still pending, and that the Canadian Government is unable to express an opinion on the claim until the settlement of the case in the law courts.
I have, etc.,