Office of the Historian

Mr. Hunter to Mr. Tassara.

Department of State, Washington, October 5, 1865.

The undersigned, Acting Secretary of State of the United States, has the honor to communicate to Mr. Tassara, her Catholic Majesty’s envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, the accompanying copy of a letter of yesterday’s date from the Secretary of the Navy, announcing his purpose to despatch a steamer to Havana, about the 20th of this month, to bring the Stonewall to the United States. He also suggests an inquiry relative to the surrendering of the Harriet Lane, a vessel belonging to this government, which had been seized and held by the insurgents, or other property recently in possession of the rebel government, that may be in the waters of Cuba. The undersigned has the honor to request Mr. Tassara to call the attention of his excellency the captain general of Guba to the inquiry of the Secretary of the Navy. The undersigned offers to Mr. Tassara assurances of his highest considération,

W. HUNTER.

Señor Don Gabriel Garcia y Tassara, &c., &c., Washington.