Señor Garcia to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Having been honored by your excellency at our interview of the 8th instant with the official notification that Peru is at liberty to remove her vessels of war from within the jurisdiction of the United States without restrictions or conditions of any kind, I deem it my duty to anticipate the expression of the high esteem and satisfaction with which my government will receive this new proof of consideration which the United States government has been pleased to extend to it, by thus giving deserved attention to the important case which was the object of my endeavors with your excellency, and by deciding it in accordance with the rights of Peru. Great is the honor cast upon your excellency’s government by this transcendental act, destined as it is, from its nature, to strengthen the authority of really sound principles of the law of nations, and to invigorate and give renewed impulse to those valuable commercial and industrial interests of the American people which a vague and uncertain situation was seriously compromising.
In accordance with your excellency’s suggestion, I conferred on the same day, the 8th instant, with the Hon. Secretary of the Treasury and with the Assistant Secretary of the Navy as to the instructions to be communicated to the collector of customs and to the commanding officers of the navy yard and forts of New Orleans, and I had the satisfaction of learning the tenor of the orders sent to those officials.
Tendering to your excellency on this occasion the assurances of my personal gratitude, I have the honor of subscribing myself your excellency’s most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.