TRACY ROBINSON, Vice-Consul to A. A. Burton , United States, August 31, 1865

Mr. Robinson to Mr. Burton

Sir: The United States gunboat James Adger, Captain McDiarmid, hence to Cartagena to-morrow, affords me an opportunity of addressing you this note and of enclosing to-day’s Panama Star and Herald, from which you will see that the revolution is progressing rather slowly.

It is yet impossible to say how the affair will terminate.

United States government troops are now being passed over the isthmus, en route for California.

The fourteenth regular infantry arrived here per steamship, April 25th instant, when the steamer was allowed to come alongside the wharf, to remain with the troops on board over night. The result was, although I wrote a note to the commanding officer requesting him to prevent any of the men from landing, quite a number escaped the guard, came on shore, became intoxicated and created considerable disturbance.

Some of the small drinking shops, belonging to British subjects, were entered, and, I have been informed, taken forcible possession of; so that the British vice-consul informed me he has been since applied to for redress and restitution from our government. No claims have yet been presented to me, however.

The local authorities were very much incensed at the affair.

Small parties of our troops, with guns and fixed bayonets, were going about the streets during the night, under the pretence, I am told, of picking up stragglers, taking matters into their own hands for the time being.

Yesterday the government transports Benjamin Deford and S. R. Spaulding arrived here with the second United States artillery, 648 men, on board for transportation to Panama and San Franciseo.

In order to avoid, if possible, the recurrence of the former trouble, I addressed a note to the commanding officer, requesting him not to permit, under any circumstances, the landing of any portion of the men until the cars were ready to embark them at once for Panama.

In reply to my note the general commanding, who I have heard is General French, has dictated a note to the effect that he will do as he pleases, or, to use his own words, “the general commanding will consult what he deems most necessary for the interest of his command in the matter.”

I will only add, that if officers in command of our troops in crossing this isthmus do not keep them in subjection, so as to prevent outrages upon the people here, we may expect trouble.

I have not written the government about the matter, preferring to await the return of Mr. Rice, who will be here on or about the 10th instant.

I beg to remain your obedient servant,