Mr. Riotte to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches Nos. 123 and 124, of dates, respectively, the 27th of July and 2d of August last, [Page 445] with enclosures. In compliance with your order I transmitted the office copy of President Johnson’s letter for President Castro to the minister for foreign relations, Mr. Volio, at the same time soliciting the appointment of an audience for the delivery of the original. This audience was fixed upon for the next day, the 31st of last month. In handing the letter over to President Castro, I said a few words appropriate to the occasion, which he replied to in a like strain; and, after opening the envelope, gave expression to his satisfaction at President Johnson’s words, and to his admiration of the brilliancy of the artistic execution of the penmanship.
With the steamer of 15th of last month Mr. F. Kurtze, this government’s agent for negotiating a contract in New York for the construction of a railroad across this republic, (see my despatches Nos. 140 and 141,) has returned, bearing a contract entered into between him, on one part, and Messrs. General John C. Frémont, Governor Nye, and others, on the other. It seems that this government is willing to recommend to Congress its approval as soon as two sections of it, which are considered ambiguous, have been more clearly defined, at which, according to Mr. Kurtze, there will be no hesitation on the part of the contractors. As soon as the contract shall be perfected I will not fail to send a copy to the department.
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I have the honor, sir, to be your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.