Mr. Hollister to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to represent that the danger from disease at Mr. Conard’s house made it necessary for me to get a promise of amnesty from President Salnave for the safe departure of the Haytien women and children, and for their protection after leaving the house, and his consent that the men by him deemed culpable might be put on board a merchant ship, quietly in the night season, under an escort from the Penobscot, and landed in New York. We had about one hundred and fifty persons in the house who fed at our table, and slept not only in the rooms, halls, galleries, and kitchen, but also in the back yard.
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Even the consent that I got from the President was very reluctantly given, at the solicitation of Captain Eastman, Mr. Conard, and myself, who went to the palace together to make the arrangement. The President finally agreed to it as a sanitary measure and out of personal regard for me, for Mr. and Mrs. Conard, and for our government. I then wrote Mr. Oonard a letter telling him what was agreed upon, and at the same time told General Romain, one of the refugees, that he might remain, notwithstanding the order, with such of his friends as he thought most in danger.
The next morning the Haytien refugees all left except General Romain and six others, who are still with us. I knew the President would allow me to keep such as I pleased, and afterwards saw him, and he assented to my conduct under our arrangement.
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I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.