Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Jr to William H. Seward, November 7, 1866

Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, jr., to Mr. Seward

My Dear Sir: I am the nephew of Santa Anna, the Mexican general, and as his only relative now near him, am bound in all duty and conscience to see that he suffers no harm, from designing persons. I have sufficient grounds to make me believe that the general is not faithfully served, and that in consequence of trusting to representations urged upon him, he may lose not only his reputation and his fortune, but even more—his life, in a mistaken enterprise. I, therefore, am driven to take this liberty of addressing myself to you; and I beg you, not as minister of state, but upon your generous instincts as a man ready to aid a fellow-man, to tell me (if it may be done without detriment to the public interests) whether the United States government is treating with my uncle, the general, in reference to Mexico. The general believes, and is acting under the belief, that such a treaty exists between himself and the government, but I do not believe that he, in person, has ever met an accredited agent of the government; and therefore it is that I pray you for such an answer to this my respectful inquiry as may enable me to disabuse his mind and save him from dangers to which his present ill-advised course must expose him.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA, Jr.

Hon. William H. Seward.

I requested an American gentleman to write this letter, at my dictation, because of my not being familiar with the language; and I add this note, that a letter addressed to Mr. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, jr., at New York post office, wilt reach me.