Thomas O. Osborn to By the President: Hamilton Fish, May 10, 1875

No. 13. Mr. Osborn to Mr. Fish.

Sir: On the 8th instant President Avellaneda opened the Argentine Congress by delivering his message in person to both houses assembled in the chambers of deputies.

The President, his cabinet, and officers of the army proceeded on foot from the President’s house to the house of congress with a battalion of troops as guard of honor, and was received by a deputation from both houses on his arrival.

The message of the President, which I have the honor to transmit herewith, was well received by the press and the people, is considered a plain statement of facts, and is accepted with much favor, not only, by the friends of the administration, but by the foreigners residing here and many of the opposition, who, since the inauguration of President Avellaneda and the close of the rebellion, have stood aloof and have given little or no sympathy to the government.

The two ironclads, on the monitor plan, and torpedo-boat, built in England for the Argentine government, arrived a few days ago, and are now in the waters of the Plate.

The torpedo-boat, called the Fulminante, was brought out by Mr. Hunter Davison, chief of the Argentine torpedo department, an American, and formerly of the United States Navy. The vessel is considered a very formidable one, and is calculated to do much execution when called into action.

I have, &c.,