Mr. Coggeshall to Mr. Seward
No. 27.]
United States Legation,
Quito,
March 2, 1867.
Sir: I Lave to acknowledge your despatches Nos.
15 and 16, under date of January 2d.
I have the honor to forward herewith copies of correspondence which
declare that Ecuador promptly met at maturity the second dividend of the
debt due the United States, and that the amount has been transmitted to
the State Department in London exchange.
Your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.—Extract.]
Señor Bustamente to Mr. Coggeshall
The second dividend of the North American debt, which was due on the
17th ultimo, has been paid at Guayaquil. I have the honor to
communicate this information to your excellency that you may
acquaint your government of the fact, and I hope it will, upon
receiving this intelligence, acknowledge the punctuality of Ecuador
in executing its engagements.
I beg to assure your excellency that if the same punctuality was not
observed in the past year, it was involuntary causes which
occasioned a short delay, contrary to the wishes of this
government.
I hasten to offer to your excelleney the testimony of my attachment,
subscribing myself your obedient servant,
W. T. Coggeshall,
United States Minister.
[Page 285]
Mr. Coggeshall to Señor Bustamente
United States Legation,
Quito,
March 2, 1867.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge your
important despatch dated March 1, 1867.
I have forwarded the same to the Secretary of State at Washington,
and I do not doubt that he will cordially thank Ecuador for its
exactness in the payment of the second dividend of the debt due the
United States.
In answer to your request respecting the particular claims
constituting the debt as declared by the mixed commission, permit me
to say that I possess no data on which I can make an adequate
report, nor do I deem such report necessary. The negotiation is now
between the United States of America and Ecuador. The payments to
particular creditors are made, if I understand the case, from the
United States treasury. Receipts showing that Ecuador has met the
dividends annually are sufficient, it appears to me, to protect its
treasury from any future demands by individual creditors whose
claims have been approved by the mixed commission.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Señor Manuel Bustamente,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Prevost to Mr. Coggeshall
Consulate of the United States of
America,
Guayaquill,
February 23, 1867.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I
have invested the $10,533 28 of this currency received from the
government treasurer a few days since, into bills on London at 90
days’ sight, which produced £ 1,572 2s. 7d. at 34 per cent. premium, valuing the pound
sterling, as is the custom in this country, at five dollars. The
said bill of exchange, payable to the order of the Department of
State, goes forward in my despatch No. 30, by the steamer which
sails this afternoon.
I remain, sir, yours respectfully,
W. T. Coggeshall, Esq., United States Minister Resident at
Quito.
