Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 249, under date the 21st ultimo. I am very much gratified to know that my official duties have been discharged in a manner satisfactory to the President and yourself. For the very kind and cordial manner in which you have been pleased to express that satisfaction, I beg to tender to you my sincere acknowledgments. The testimonial of approval of the conduct of Colonel Hoffman is well merited; and he desires that I should express to the President, as well as to yourself, his most grateful and profound thanks. I duly received the printed copy of the act of Congress, making an appropriation to meet the increased expenses incurred by the legation at Paris, on account of a state of war between Germany and France. As these expenses still continue, and as I presume you will not desire two accounts to be made, I shall, unless otherwise instructed, defer sending a statement until after I am relieved of the protection of the subjects of North German Confederation, and can furnish you an account which shall embrace the expenses incurred of every kind and description.
I have, &c.,