Mr. Willis to Mr. Gresham.

No. 105.]

Sir: On the 29th ultimo I sent the following telegram, which I now confirm:

Your No. 65, of February 21, 1895, has just been received per Gaelic from Hongkong, marked “missent to Hongkong.” Two other letters, one of which was from Washington, were received inclosed as above.

On the morning of the 30th ultimo I called upon Mr. Hatch, minister of foreign affairs, and explained to him that on the previous afternoon I had found in my box at the post-office a dispatch from you, indorsed with the words “missent to Hongkong,” and on that morning I had received by steamer Coptic, just arrived, a duplicate of the same dispatch, which I was instructed to read to him in person. Thereupon I read to him your dispatch of February 21 last, and left with him a copy of the same.

It appears from newspaper clippings, which I inclose, that the subject-matter of your dispatch was before the executive and advisory councils yesterday afternoon. What conclusion, if any, was reached is unknown to me.

With assurances, etc.,

Albert S. Willis.