Mr. Tassara to Mr. Seward
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of her Catholic Majesty, has had the honor to receive the note which, under date of [Page 567] yesterday, the honorable Secretary of State has addressed to him, transmitting a copy of the despatch from the consul of the United States at Halifax about a plan for capturing merchant vessels of this country at different points on the Pacific coasts as well as on the lakes, whose base of operations, as well as principal centre, is supposed to be at Havana.
The undersigned will give an account of the matter, by the steamer of the day after to-morrow, to the captain general of Cuba; and the honorable Secretary of State may be assured that authority will take measures to ascertain the foundation of this plan, and that if in fact there be any, all the means in his reach will be employed to frustrate it, so far as the jurisdiction of Cuba reaches.
The undersigned avails of this occasion to reiterate to the honorable Secretary of State of the United States the assurances of his highest consideration.
Hon. Secretary of State of the United States, &c., &c., &c.,