[Translation.]
Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward
Mexican Legation in the United
States of America, Washington,
November 30, 1864.
Mr. Secretary: Not having had a channel in
every respect safe to transmit to the city of Chihuahua, the present
seat of the supreme government of the Mexican republic, the box
which you were pleased to send to me, with your note of the 17th of
October last past, which contained a medal which the citizens of
Montevideo intended to present to General Zaragoza, of the Mexican
army, and which, after the death of that general, they determined to
send to the president of Mexico, I made up my mind to send it to
Madame Dona Margarita Maza de Juarez, the wife of the president of
the republic, and who now resides in the city of New York, that she
might preserve it as a family relic, or send it to her husband by a
safe channel, as she might think most proper. Mrs. Jaurez has
informed me that she has decided to accept the second
alternative.
Deeming it proper to inform the Oriental consul general in Buenos
Ayres of these facts, so that through him the citizens of
Montevideo, who contributed to the medal contained in the box
referred to, may be made aware of its present whereabouts, I have
written to the said consul the communication which I enclose
herewith, opened, requesting you to do me the favor to transmit it
to its destination, through Mr. Robert C. Kirk, minister resident of
the United States to the Argentine Republic, through whom the said
box was sent to me.
[Page 552]
Anticipating my acknowledgments for the forwarding of the enclosed
communication, I avail myself of the opportunity to renew to you,
Mr. Secretary, the assurances of my most distinguished
consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
[Enclosure No. 1.—Translation.]
Mexican Legation in the
United States of America,
Washington,
November 17,
1864.
I have the honor of transmitting to your excellency a package
covered with canvas, with the seal of the Oriental republic in
wax upon it, and directed, “To Citizen Benito Juarez, President
of the United States of Mexico.” This package was sent to me by
the Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the government
of the United Stated, with a communication apologizing for not
having delivered it to me before, because of the negligence of
some clerk in his department. It seems from that communication,
of which I enclose a copy, that the package contains a medal of
value, awarded by the people of Montevideo to General Don
Ygnacio Zaragoza; and on learning the fate of that illustrious
Mexican, it was determined to send it to the President of our
republic, as was done through the Hon. Mr. Kirk, United States
minister at Buenos Ayres, who sent it to the Secretary of State.
As I have no safe means of conveyance for such a treasure,
valuable in many respects, to Chihuahua, I beg you to receive
it, to be sent to the President by the first opportunity, or to
be kept for your husband when you meet again, whichever you
think best.
I also request you to send me any papers the package may contain
for the government, that I may forward them to the proper
address.
I take this occasion to express my particular consideration and
distinguished esteem.
Lady Margarita Maza de Juarez, New
York.
[Enclosure No. 2.—Translation.]
New York,
November 28,
1864.
I have received your kind communication of the 17th instant, with
a package sealed and addressed to my husband, by the republic of
Buenos Ayres, through the Hon. W. Seward.
I will try to send it to my husband by the first safe opportunity
that offers. Independence and the republic!
MARGARITA MAZA DE JUAREZ.
C. Matias Romero, Minister
Plenipotentiary of the Mexican Republic, Washington, D.
C.
[Enclosure No. 3.—Translation.]
Mexican Legation in the
United States of America,
Washington,
November 30,
1864.
I have the honor of transmitting to you the copy of a note
addressed to me on the 19th of October last by the Hon. William
H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States, with a box
to citizen Benito Juarez, constitutional President of the United
Mexican States, containing a medal awarded to General Zaragoza,
of the Mexican army, by certain citizens of Montevideo. In this
note you will find an explanation of the long delay, on the part
of the Department of the United States, in the delivery of the
box.
The present condition of Mexico, caused by the war now sustained
by the republic against the French invasion, and the distance of
the present site of the national government, prevent frequent
and safe communication. For this reason, and not wishing to run
the risk of having such a valuable present lost, I have
determined to send it to Mrs. Margarita Maza de Juarez, wife of
the citizen President of that republic, now in New York. I did
this on the 17th instant, as you will see from an accompanying
copy of my letter to that lady. I also enclose you a copy of her
answer, in which you will see what disposition she intends to
make of it; and thus ends my connexion with the affair.
I beg you to make known these facts to the citizens of Montevideo
who subscribed for the medal, and assure them that the people of
Mexico will never forget that proof of sympathy and
consideration given by a kindred nation in the time of our
greatest adversity.
With pleasure I accept this occasion of offering you, Mr. Consul,
the assurances of my distinguished consideration.
Señor Don Mariano Espinoza, Consul
General, Buenos Ayres