Scruggs to Hamilton Fish, December 27, 1873

No. 179. Mr. Scruggs to Mr. Fish.

Sir: In the afternoon of the 15th instant the house into which I had that day been moving was stoned by the rabble attached to a religious procession. Neither the flag-staff or shield of the legation, nor the legation itself, was at the time attached to or in the house. They were still at the house of the legation, in another part of the city, from which I had been moving.

The house against which the indignity was offered was unoccupied at the time, except by a few articles of furniture previously sent over, and by myself and little son9 who chanced to be there; he on the balcony overlooking the street, I inside superintending some workmen who were arranging the office-furniture. All the other houses fronting the plaza, except this one, had hung from their windows and balconies symbolic emblems in recognition of the procession. I am quite certain, from all that I can learn, that the perpetrators did not know the character of the house or its new occupants. You will perceive, from the annexed correspondence, that the government acted with commendable promptness, and without solicitation. Some of the perpetrators have been apprehended, and are now in confinement, and the incident will possibly lead to the suppression of all such processions in the future.

Hoping that my course in this matter, as indicated in my reply to Mr. Colunjé’s note, may meet the approval of the Department,

I have, &c.,