The language used by Lyons was such as to provide an excellent defence in published despatches, and it was later so used.

But privately neither Lyons nor Russell were wholly convinced of the correctness of Bunch's actions.

Bunch had heard of Mure's arrest on August 18, and at once protested that no passport had been given, but merely a "Certificate to the effect that he [Mure] was a British Merchant residing in Charleston" on his way to England, and that he was carrying official despatches to the Foreign Office[357].

In fact Mure had long since taken out American citizenship papers, and the distinction between passport and certificate seems an evasion.
Officially Lyons could report "it is clear that Mr.Robert Mure, in taking charge of the letters which have been seized, abused Mr.Bunch's confidence, for Mr.Bunch had positive instructions from me not to forward himself any letters alluding to military or political events, excepting letters to or from British officials[358]." This made good reading when put in the published Parliamentary Papers.

But in reality the sending of private letters by messenger also carrying an official pouch was no novelty.