Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1872, Part I

No. 88.
Mr. Hurlbut to Mr. Fish.

Legation of the United States,
Bogota, October 7, 1871. (Received October 30.)

No. 63.]

Sir: I am just informed by the secretary of foreign relations that the commandant of the port of Colon (Aspinwall) required bonds from the captain and agents of the American steamer Virginius, not to leave that port, which order the President had immediately disavowed and annulled.

I expressed at once the thanks of the United States for the promptness-with which this had been done, without any solicitation on our part, for I had no knowledge of the matter in any form. For some reason I have received no communication on the subject from Consul Perry. It is probably on the way and will arrive by next mail.

I am, &c,

S. A. HURLBUT,