Mr. Storer to Mr. Hay.

No. 3.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that yesterday, the 16th of June, the ninth day after my arrival in Spain, I, accompanied by Mr. Sickles, the secretary of the legation, was officially received by the Queen Regent for the purpose of presenting my letters of credence.

As is the universal custom for ministers accredited to the court of Spain, in distinction to ambassadors, I made no formal address, but simply stated that I had been sent to Madrid to remain as representative of the United States and was the bearer of a letter from the President, which I begged Her Majesty to receive. I added only that, feeling sure this letter contained expressions of the existing friendship our Government bore toward Spain, to carry out these sentiments I begged to put myself at the service of Her Majesty.

The Queen Regent, in accepting the letter, made no reply except a brief but courteous conversation about Belgium and my journey from there to Spain. The entire audience did not last more than five minutes and was entirely in French.

I have, etc.,

Bellamy Storer.