No. 649.
General Sickles to Mr. Fish.
At 2 this morning I have a message from President Castelar that a note will be sent to me to-day recognizing the principles on which our demand is based, and promising to make the reparation we require on or before the 25th of December, if the facts elicited by the investigation now being made by this government show that the Virginius was a regularly-documented American ship.
In reply I expressed my apprehension that the proposed delay would not be acceptable, and suggested that this government should receive our declaration of the nationality of the ship and make the reparation immediately. Nevertheless, I said that on receipt of such a communication to-day I would inform you of it, and assume the responsibility of deferring my departure until the further orders of the President.
My belief is that the real object of this overture is to gain time to strengthen the Spanish fleet in the Gulf of Mexico and send troops to Cuba, and that at last some pretext will be found to evade the reparation. The fall of Carthagena, which is daily looked for, is expected to liberate the home squadron and the besieging army.