Mr. Washburn to Señor Caminos.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of yesterday, in which your honor makes certain objections to my taking away money belonging to other people than those in the government employ, or for persons whose names are not given. In reply to this I will remark, that there are only two persons having money here to my knowledge, which I should feel authorized to take away. These two are Domingo Parodi, Italian, and Carlos Ulrich, German. The former has left with me two bags marked 800 pats, each, and a light box supposed to contain jewelry. The latter has left with me a box marked 709 pats. There is, however, a bag of patacones here belonging to Mrs. Grant, widow of the late Win. Grant, which I promised to send her, and for which I shall be held responsible. That is all the money not belonging to myself that I propose to carry away. I have no interest in it, and only wish to take it as a favor to the owners. But if your government objects, I shall only ask that its decision may be soon made known to me, for as soon as this matter is arranged I shall be ready to depart. In fact, my own affairs [Page 819] are ready, and I am anxious to be off, as I know the commander of the Wasp is very impatient to return to Buenos Ayres. Will you have the kindness to advise me at the earliest moment of the hour when the steamer is to start?
Should your government not object to my taking away the money above referred to, your honor will do me a great favor if you could advise the owners to send me a couple of strong boxes to pack it in, and at the same time send a clerk to take an account of it. A part of the sum mentioned in my list of yesterday was delivered to the order of Messrs. Hunter and Nesbet.
Respecting the archives of the legation and the former consulate, which I shall not take with me, I shall leave them in the office of the legation, not expecting any further care or responsibility on the part of the Paraguayan government than for the house or property of any foreigner.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the passports, for which please accept my thanks.
I improve this occasion to tender to your honor assurances of high regard and distinguished consideration,
His Honor Luis Caminos, Acting Minister of Foreign Relations.