De Long to Aurelio Garcia , Envoy Extraordinary and, March 2, 1872

Mr. De Long to the Peruvian minister.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the dispatch from your government, dated the 21st of November last, forwarded to me in your care.

I have carefully noted its contents, and after first expressing my deep sense of gratification at learning that my course here, while representing Peruvian interests, has been approved, I beg to express my admiration for the kind consideration manifested in revoking the original intention of sending your legation forth in vessels of war as soon as the Maria Luz complication became known to your government.

I am also deeply gratified to learn by this dispatch that your mission is one of peace, and that you bear with you instructions to adjust the Maria Luz business in an amicable manner. With such information before me, I feel at liberty to answer you that it will be a great pleasure to me to aid you to negotiate a treaty of amity and commerce with Japan, and in establishing cordial relations with this empire.

I congratulate your excellency and the officers comprising your suite upon your safe arrival here, and I beg to express the hope that your mission may result in the greatest good to your own and also to this country.

In obedience to the verbal suggestion made to me yesterday by your excellency’s secretary of legation, Señor J. Fredrico Elmore, I have now the honor to transmit to you herewith copy of a dispatch, (No. 218,) of the 6th of October last, addressed by me to your government respecting the Maria Luz; also a copy of my dispatch to your government relative to the same subject, (No. 229,) of the 5th of last November, (with eight inclosures,) and my No. 151 of the 16th of last November, (with eleven inclosures;) also my No. 18 of the 18th of last January, (with two inclosures,) and my No. 48 of the 18th of last February; also copy of a note from the acting master of the Maria Luz, dated the 22d of January, communicating an inventory made by him of the property on board the bark, and a list of certain other property belonging to the bark, recovered from the schooner South Sea. Also another communication from the same source, dated the 13th of January last, forwarding the expenses of that vessel for that month.

This forms, I believe, a complete history of all my correspondence about this bark which I have conducted with all parties; also it embodies a complete history of all my correspondence with your government, and all of my correspondence with this on behalf of Peruvian interests which had not reached Lima prior to your departure. It also exhibits a complete account of the property found on board of the vessel when I assumed charge of her; and also an account in full of all expenses incurred, under my direction, in paying off the crew and maintaining possession of the bark.

I beg leave, in conclusion, to request your excellency to extend an early examination into the accounts of this ship; and I also beg to advise you that it is my desire to speedily transfer its custody into your hands.

I have the honor to remain, sir, your most obedient servant,