L. Ethéart to Bassett, July 16, 1872

Mr. Ethéart to Mr. Bassett.

Sir: I have received the dispatch that you have done me the honor to address me the 12th July instant, by which you bring to my knowledge the fact that a citizen of the United States, Mr. Clement Eldredge, captain of the American schooner Lucy Holmes, now anchored in our harbor, was arrested with violence by a patrol, immediately after he had left the house of Mr. Oliver Cutts, on the 11th instant, at a somewhat advanced hour of the night. You add that Mr. Eldredge was only released after having made a promise to the officer commanding the patrol to give him money the next morning.

I read attentively the document which you were pleased to send me, and which contains the declaration made by Captain Eldredge, at the legation of the United States, in regard to the circumstances of his arrest.

As no report had been made to the authorities about this arrest, I hastened immediately after the receipt of your aforesaid dispatch to gather all information of a nature calculated to enlighten me upon this affair, and to this end I caused the officer and the principal men of that patrol to be summoned to my office to be heard on this charge.

They denied completely that they had caused Mr. Eldredge to undergo any ill-usage at their hands. However, the government, wishing that all the citizens of the United States coming within the territory of the republic should be covered with all the safeguards prescribed by the law, with the view of maintaining the good relations which unite this country to the great republic which you represent, has placed under severe punishment the chief of the patrol that was engaged in the arrestation of the captain of the schooner Lucy Holmes.

I seize this occasion, Mr. Minister, to renew to you the assurance of my very high consideration.