Manuel Bustamente to W. T. Coggeshall, January 26, 1867

Señor Bustamente to Mr. Coggeshall

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge to your excellency the receipt of your appreciable letter of the 16th of the present month, in which is enclosed to me a legalized copy of the circular despatch of the Secretary of State of the United States of the north, expressing the profound sentiments of the people and government of the Union concerning the war between the allied republics and Spain, and the wish of his Excellency the President of that powerful nation to renew his former efforts to preserve peace, newly employing to that effect his good offices.

Having given account to his Excellency the President of this republic with the mentioned despatch, and informed him of the propositions that it contains, he manifests, through my medium, his gratitude for the friendly and brotherly sentiments of the illustrious government of your excellency tendered to Ecuador; and, as the interests of this republic in the present struggle are conjointly with those of Chili, Peru, and Bolivia, they sustaining the same cause, it is necessary to arrange unanimously, in order to conform his resolution. When this shall be attained, it will be satisfactory to me to transmit it to your excellency in order that it may be presented to the Secretary of State.

Having positive gratification to present to your excellency the certainty of the distinguished consideration with which I am your attentive servant,