[Inclosure.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 28, 1861.

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

SIR: Let John G. Shaver, a prisoner confined in Fort Lafayette, be released, on engaging on his honor that he will neither enter any of the States in insurrection against the authority of the Government of the United States nor hold any correspondence whatever with persons residing in those States without permission from the Secretary of State; and also that he will not do anything hostile to the United States during the present insurrection. You will please make the stipulations part of the oath. I transmit this order to Robert Murray, esq., U. S. marshal, who has been instructed by this Department to cause a police examination to be made in some cases of the persons and baggage of prisoners discharged from custody to the end that no correspondence or other improper papers be conveyed by them to persons outside the fort.

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

F. W. SEWARD,

Assistant Secretary.

MONTREAL, October 28, 1861.

Honorable WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State:

Shaver sent from Detroit to Lafayette last week. Has supplied arms to the secessionists and ought not to be discharged.

J. R. GIDDINGS.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 29, 1861.

ROBERT MURRAY, Esq., U. S. Marshal, New York:

Do not release John G. Shaffer (or Shaver) till further orders.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 29, 1861.

JOSHUA R. GIDDINGS, U. S. Consul-General, Montreal.

SIR: Your telegram of the 28th instant relative to the case of J. G. Shaffer (or Shaver) has been received. In reply I have to request that as Shaver claims to be a British subject you will forward to me all the proofs in the case as soon as you conveniently can.

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

F. W. SEWARD,

Assistant Secretary.

FORT LAFAYETTE, October 29, 1861.

Right Honorable Lord LYONS, &c.

DEAR SIR: I was arrested at Detroit, Mich., by a deptuty U. S. marshal two weeks since. I am a Canadian and a loyal British subject, the grandson of a W. E. loyalist; have never lived out of Canada; am an agent of the Grand Trunk Railway Company; was arrested while in the discharge of my duties. As an officer of the company I have written full particulars to the British consul, New York City, but fear my letters have not been permitted to reach him. I was offered my dis-