José Antonio G. Y García to His Excellency, May 8, 1877

Sir: A few naval officers have taken from its duty to the national government the-monitor Huascar, of our navy, in the bay of Callao, on the night of the 6th. This act, although of no consequence to the constitutional order of the country, carries in itself all the gravity of a military crime of magnitude, and with it the possibility of greater evils which the abuse of force may cause transitorily to navigation, to commerce, and private property on the coast and in the ports of the republic. The measures adopted by the government will soon restore this vessel to the obedience of the national authority. Meanwhile, it has considered it a duty to avoid all responsibility of the nation for any arbitrary acts of the rebels, and to facilitate that submission by enacting a supreme decree, of which I have the honor to remit to your excellency an authentic copy.

Repeating to your excellency the security of my personal consideration, I subscribe myself as the attentive servant of your excellency.