DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 12, 1861.

Lieutenant Colonel MARTIN BURKE, Fort Lafayette, N. Y.

SIR: I herewith inclose a letter* from John M. Brewer addressed to his brother which you will please return to its author and tell him it is disloyal and cannot be sent; but if he desires to send the same order in a saitable letter this Department will cheerfully forward it.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

F. W. SEWARD,

Assistant Secretary.

FORT LAFAYETTE, N. Y., October 12, 1861.

Honorable W. H. SEWARD.

SIR: I am a State prisoner at this place; the charge against me I know not other than a member of the Legislature of Maryland. I have considered myself a Union man, for the rights of my State in the Union and not out of it. I therefore ask your favorable consideration that I may return to my home.

Respectfully, yours,

WM. E. SALMON.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 15, 1861.

Major General JOHN A. DIX, Baltimore, Md.

GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit to you herewith a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Burke with its inclosure received at this Department relative to a prisoner named Quinlan confined at Fort Lafayette. Shall I release him on his taking the oath of allegiance and on parole not to go into Maryland or any insurrectionary State until permission is granted by me? Please remit to me with your answer this inlcosure.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

[Inclosure.]

HEADQUARTERS,
Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor, October 13, 1861.

Colonel E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General.

SIR: Inclosed you will receive a letter from L. G. Quinlan a prisoner in Fort Lafayette.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

MARTIN BURKE,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

[Sub-inclosure.]

FORT LARAYETTE, N. Y., Octobere 10, 1861.

His Excellency A. LINCOLN,

President of the United States.

SIR: I have the held in confinement for four weeks under the supposition that as a member of the Legislature of Maryland, being a delegate from Baltimore County, I intended to vote for an ordinance to

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* Not found.

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