Bassett to L. Ethéart, May 2, 1872

Mr. Bassett to Mr. Ethéart.

Sir: In your dispatch of the 3d ultimo you state your intention to cause all celerity to be given to your investigation of the Jastram affair, in order that it might be terminated. Again, in your unofficial note of the 17th ultimo, you inform me that the dispatch which you had addressed to His Excellency the President had missed him while he was in the north, and you ask me therefore to await a few days longer in order that the result of the affair might be reached.

You will observe that a month has now passed since the date of your dispatch, and that two weeks have elapsed since I last heard from you on the subject. It occurs to me that you have, therefore, probably had the time which you deemed necessary for making your investigation. And I presume that you have found, from your investigation, that my statement of the facts, as to the assault on Mr. Jastram, is substantially correct.

I therefore have now the pleasure to await your answer to my dispatch of the 25th of March.

I am, &c.,