DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 19, 1861.

General ANDREW PORTER, Provost-Marshal, Washington.

GENERAL: I will thank you to cause George W. Jones, late, U. S. minister to New Granada, who is understood to be now in this city, to be arrested and taken to Fort Lafayette, N. Y., in charge of a trust-worthy person.

I am, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 19, 1861.

JOHN A. KENNEDY, Superintendent of Police, New York:

George W. Jones, ex- U. S. Senator and ex-U. S. minister to Bogota, left here in the 5 o'clock train to-night. Arrest and convey him to Fort Lafayette.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

NEW YORK, December 20, 1861.

His Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN,

President of the United States, and his Cabinet:

I respectfully and earnestly ask permission to return to Washington City under my parole of honor to ascertain there why I have been arrested here, and to answer to whatever charges may have been preferred against me. On the 3rd or 4th of November I took and subscribed to the usual oath as bearer of Judge Barton's dispatches to support the Constitution of the United States.

I am, very respectfully, &c.,

GEO. W. JONES.

OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE,

New York, December 20, 1861.

Lieutenant Colonel MARTIN BURKE, Fort Hamilton.

SIR: I am directed by the Honorable Secretary of State to deliver ex-Senator George W. Jones, late minister to Bogota, into your custody for safe-keeping. You will please send me a receipt for his body per bearer.

Very truly, yours,

JOHN A. KENNEDY,

Superintendent.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 23, 1861.

JOHN A. KENNEDY, Esq.,

Superintendent of Police, New York.

SIR: Your letter of 21st instant* inclosing letters taken from George W. Jones at the time of his arrest has been received.

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

F. W. SEWARD,

Assistant Secretary.

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*Not found, but see extracts from Jones' correspondence preceding.

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