302                          FOREIGN     RELATIONS.

to Hong-Kong; when this was done, the Hong-Kong authorities addressed our
consul
there, and he telegraphed to me that the case against Jackson was prima facie
a good
one. I responded that I would consider a request for his delivery. I next
received a
letter from the colonial secretary, a copy of which and my answer I inclose.
At a'
still later moment, I received a telegram from Hong-Kong saying that the
prosecution
had been abandoned, and I accordingly released the man.
   I shall be glad to know whether the course I have taken in this matter
meets your
approval.
  The procedure under the provision of our extradition stipulations with
Great Britain
is simple and direct, and I doubt whether we can do better than follow it
out in each
case.
      I have, &c.,
                                                         GEORGE F. SEWARD.

                                [Inclosure 2 in No. 54.]
                             Mr. Austin to Mr. Seward.
                                              COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
                                                        IHong-Kong, June
5, 1874.
  SIR: I am instructed by his excellency Governor Sir Arthur Kennedy to make
requisition for the delivery'up to justice of Walter Jackson, who is charged
with the
crimes of piracy and of assault with intent to commit murder within the jurisdiction
of Great Britain, namely, on the high seas, on board the British bark Satsuma,
on or
about the '29th of January, 1874. A warrant for the apprehension of the said
Walter
Jackson to answer the above charge of piracy has been issued from the magistracy
of
this colony, upon sworn information laid before a magistrate,
      I have, &c.,
                                                          J. GARDNER AUSTIN.

                                 [Inclosure 3 in No. 54.]
                             Mr. Seward to Mr. Austin.
                                       UNITED STATES CONSULATE-GENERAL,
                                                          Shanghai, June
11, 1874.
  SIR: I have had the honor to receive a letter from you dated the 4th instant,
in
which you state that you are instructed by Governor Kennedy to make requisition
for
the delivery up to justice of Walter Jackson, who is charged with the crimes
of piracy
and of assault with intent to commit murder within the jurisdiction of Great
Britain,
namely, on the high seas, on board A British vessel, and that a warrant for
the appre-
hension of Jackson to answer the charge of piracy has been issued from the
magistracy
of the colony upon sworn information before the magistrate.
  I hold under arrest the person referred to, and will detain him until the
government
of Hong-Kong has had reasonable opportunity to submit to me the evidence-upon
which this requisition is made.
  I desire to point out that I am umder no obligation to deliver Jackson
excepting hii
accordance with the provisions for the extradition of criminals as settled
by treaty
between our governments.
  At the same time, if, asI may judge from the informality of the demand
made upon
me, it is the opinion of the colonial authorities that a simpler and more
rapid procedure
than that indicated in the treaty referred to is reciprocally desirable,
I shall be very
glad to learn the views of the governor upon this subject, or to learn that
he has com-
municated these views in any way to the superior authorities of my Government.
      I have, &c.,
                                                         GEORGE F. SEWARD.

                                [Inclosure 4 in No. 54.]
                           Mr. WTilliams to Mr., Seward.
                                          LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
                                                          Peking, August
11, 1874.
  SIR: I have received your dispatch of the 26th of last June, (No. 374,)
with its in-
closures, relating to the case of Walter Jackson, a seaman belonging to the
British ship,
Satsuma, who was charged with complicity in a case of piracy, and assault
with intent
to murder, on board that vessel, but who, having escaped to Shanghai, claimed
your
protection from arrest under a warrant from the British authorities of Hong-Kong,
because of his being an Amierican citizen.
  This case presen~ts some peculiarities whi~ch render it worthy a careful
examination.
The piracy is said to have been committed on or about the 29th of last January,
and Mr