Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Congress

Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward.

No. 64.]

Legation of the United States, Tegucigalpa, June 9, 1866.

Sir: I have the honor to enclose to you two translated copies of notes addressed by me to the minister of foreign affairs for this republic at Gracias.

Trusting they will meet your approval, I am, sir, your obedient servant,

THOMAS H. CLAY.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Mr. Clay to Mr. Leiva.

Legation of the United States at the Republic of Honduras, Tegucigalpa, May 22, 1866.

Sir: I have the honor to enclose to you a printed copy of the proclamation issued by his Excellency the President of the United States of America, dated the 2d of April last. Have the kindness to place it before his Excellency the President of the republic, as it declares the insurrection at an end in certain States of the Union which had been in rebellion.

With the highest consideration, I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

THOMAS H. CLAY.

Hon. Ponciano Leiva, Minister of Foreign Relations.

Mr. Clay to Mr. Leiva.

Legation of the United States at the Republic of Honduras, Tegucigalpa, May 28, 1866.

Sir: I received the following note from the late minister of relations, Don Francisco Cruz, in October last, in answer to a demand made by me for indemnification for the loss of the sloop Muhlenberg, at the port of Ruatan, in July, 1864, which occurred from the refusal of the chief magistrate to grant a clearance, although three different applications had been made for the same. The following is a copy of his note:

“Comayagua, September 28, 1865.

“Sir: The governor of Ruatan, and the commandant of Truxillo, in compliance with my previous orders, had sent to this department some documents that gave information about the abandonment of the sloop Muhlenberg. With copies of these documents I hope to satisfy the claim you have made in reference to said sloop, and I only await a little time, as my business is pressing on me at present, for them to put in order the documents which I shall place at your disposal.

“Permit me to reiterate my high consideration.

“FRANCISCO CRUZ.”

From what I have written, and the evidence you must be in possession of, I hope you will give this matter your early attention, that the interests of the party concerned may not suffer by any further delay.

With the highest consideration, I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

THOMAS H. CLAY.

Don Ponciano Leiva, Minister of Relations of the Republic of Honduras.