TAYLOR, British Vice-Consul to The Prefect of the Department at Aspinwall, September 14, 1865

Mr. Taylor to the Prefect of the Department at Aspinwall

Sir: Permit me to enclose to you a copy of the price list which has been sent to me by Jos. Heady, of goods alleged to have been plundered from his store in this city, by a party of the 14th United States regiment, on the night of the 26th of August last.

As you are already fully aware of the circumstances of the case, and, as I understand, vigorously lent your authority to suppress the lamentable excesses of those disorderly soldiers on the night in question, I need not here trouble you with the rehearsal of those circumstances.

You will observe that the amount of Heady’s claim is $114 60, a large sum to a poor struggling tradesman; but I rely with confidence on your assurances that you will, to the utmost, use your influence to cause him, and the other parties similarly situated, to be paid the value of the goods of which they were plundered.

I am not aware whether any claim has been made by any of those parties for compensation for the (in some instances severe) personal injuries which they sustained from the soldiers, but I venture to suggest that it is a matter worthy of your consideration.

With renewed assurances of high consideration, I am, sir, your obedient servant,