Mr. Bliss to Mr. Davis.
Dear Sir: You will learn from Mr. Washburn of the queer doings that have been going on here for two months past, or, at all events, will learn enough about it from the newspapers. I never thought to be accused of “high treason” by any government under the sun; for, being a musical genius, as you are aware, I am clearly not fit for “treasons, stratagems, and spoils.” Whatever comes of the affair, I desire to bear testimony to the persistent efforts of Mr. Washburn to save myself and Mr. Masterman, my fellow-rascal, (as the official correspondence of the ministry here politely designate us.) Mr. Washburn had liked to have shared the fate of the hero of his own novel, if the United States gunboat Wasp had not very opportunely come to his rescue. As it is, he escapes “by the skin of his teeth,” after all possible obstacles have been put in the way of his departure. The Wasp is now lying but a league below here, but is not allowed to come up. I suppose Mr. Washburn will leave to day, and I shall immediately be nabbed by the twenty or thirty “guardians” who have kindly “looked after me for the last two months.”
I hope for relief from our government in three or four months; that is, if it don’t come too late for any practical purpose, so far as I am concerned.
Please give my best regards to General Webb and family. I hope Mr. Washburn will arrange all little matters between us; please give him any letters or keepsakes of any little value for my family that I left in a trunk with you. I accompany some lines for Mrs. Davis.
Yours, faithfully,
Geo. N. Davis, Esq.