Mr. Seward to Mr. Prevost.
Sir: I have received your despatch No. 6, of the 1st of March, transmitting the reply of Mr. Manuel Bustamente, the minister for foreign affairs of the republic of Ecuador, dated February 14th last, to your note to him of January 24th, informing him that the first instalment on the awards made by the commissioners under the convention of November 25th, 1862, would be due by Ecuador on the 17th February, 1866, and that you had been instructed to receive the same in behalf of your government.
On the receipt of this despatch, should Mr. Bustamente not have replied in a more satisfactory manner to your subsequent note to him in which you again call his attention to yours of the 24th of January, you are instructed to again address a respectful communication to him, and to ask an explicit answer on the subject of the payment of the said instalment, now past due, and to report the result to this department.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
L. V. Prevost, Esq., &c., &c., &c.