Macdonell to his excellency the minister of state, August 5, 1874

The chargé d’ affaires of Great Britain to his excellency the minister of state.

Sir: Having communicated to the Earl of Derby the desire of your excellency that Her Majesty’s government should, for the moment, delay agitation of the claims relating to the Virginius, I have received instructions from his excellency reminding that many months have already elapsed since the execution, of the British subjects captured on board of the said steamer, and that the families of the persons executed have represented in several instances that they were in misery.

The last consideration, I am sure, will have weight in the mind of your excellency, as well as in that of the Spanish government.

Her Majesty’s government has instructed me to represent that however much it does not desire to augment the difficulties of the Spanish government, yet it cannot permit that these claims should be postponed indefinitely, and therefore trusts that your excellency will have the goodness to give me a decisive promise that this matter will be arranged at a specified date, and not a very distant one.

I beg your excellency to receive, &c.