No. 387.
Mr. Bassett to Mr. Fish.
Port au Prince, July 29, 1874. (Received September 5.)
Sir: As an evidence, albeit, perhaps, not an over-important one, of the increase of good feeling on the part of the authorities of Hayti toward our country and our countrymen, I venture to relate to you that at a social fête and ball given on the 23d instant by the merchants of Port au Prince in honor of President Domingue, on a scale commensurate both with the dignity of his high office and with the general good wishes of themselves and of foreigners domiciled or having interests here towards the new government, several American gentlemen who happened then to be temporarily in the city, * * * * * * and who were invited to the soirée, were all received there with marked attention by the President; special seats were reserved for them at table, a familiar American air was, without any previous knowledge or anticipation of it on our part, played for us by the band, and I was particularly requested by my colleagues present and by several of his intimate friends to propose the health of his excellency, with which request I, of course, complied.
I am, &c.,