Macdonell to Augusto Ulloa, August 15, 1874

Mr. Macdonell to Mr. Ulloa.

M. le Ministre: I beg to thank your excellency for the ready acknowledgment of the communication I had the honor to address to you on the 5th instant, and I hasten to inform your excellency in reply that I have been authorized by Her Majesty’s government to accept an advance on the sum which they deem due, as compensation, to the families of the British subjects captured on board the Virginius and subsequently shot at Santiago de Cuba.

This point having been settled, it now becomes my duty to acquaint your excellency with the total amount claimed by Her Majesty’s government on behalf of those who suffered on that occasion. The individuals executed numbered nineteen, of whom nine were men of color, and ten were white men. For the colored men Her Majesty’s government claim of £300 sterling each, and for the white men £500 sterling each; which constitutes at otal of £7,700 sterling, it being clearly understood that in the event of no near relative of these men coming forward to establish a claim, or failing to substantiate it, within a reasonable period, the amount paid to Her Majesty’s government on behalf of such individual or individuals shall be forthwith restituted to the Spanish government.

In submitting the above figures to your excellency, I have no hesitation in looking forward to a favorable reply, confident that the Spanish government, guided by their high sense of justice, will readily agree with the government of Her Majesty in considering the amount of compensation claimed both fair and equitable.

I avail, &c.