Mr. Washburn to Señor Benitez.
Sir: The note of your excellency of this date has this moment been received. In it I am requested to deliver to the bearer a sealed package of communications that was delivered to me by Señor Don José Berges at his house in the Salinares the day after his return from San Fernando. In answer to this I have the honor to advise you that I did not know of Señor Berges’s return till several days afterwards; and that when I did hear of it I learned also he was very sick at his quinta, and called, according to my diary, the 22d of June upon him, as I was going to take a paseo, and found him in bed in his house. I do not remember how long that was after the return of Señor Berges, but I think it was a week or more, but he never gave me any package or communication, or letter or message of any kind. We talked about the condition of the war and of other things of a casual nature, and the only thing that I remember is that he said the Brazilians could not hold out much longer; that their credit was exhausted, and several provinces were already in revolt. On taking my leave he begged me to come and see him often, which I promised to do; but I never called but once afterwards, and that was with Mrs. Washburn, according to my diary, on the 3d of July, when I found him still in bed. His talk then was very similar to what it had been on the previous occasion, but neither then nor at any time has he ever given me any package or communication whatever. You must, therefore, be entirely misinformed in regard to the package concerning winch you inquire. I have never received anything of the kind, nor have I received from him any communication, either verbal or by letter, since his return from San Fernando.
I avail myself of this occasion to tender assurances of distinguished consideration.
His Honor Gumesindo Benitez, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs.