[Untitled], June 7, 1866.

[Untitled]

Dear Sir: In reply to your two very acceptable letters of the 1st and 29th of April, which I only received yesterday, I must inform you that I received your others, with the official despatches, in due time, and answered them, and I hope the answers have reached you by this time. I spoke of my situation and my wants with great frankness in those letters, and begged you to use all your influence in procuring me aid, by writing to the government to give the necessary aid to the army of the centre, particularly if the loan has been effected.

As I told you, I have continued to labor without ceasing to increase and organize my forces, in spite of the great scarcity of resources with which I have to contend, and the want of arms and ammunition.

The imperialists are so demoralized at the report of the withdrawal of the French army, and the certainty of no more aid from abroad, that I have no doubt I could vanquish them; but the interests intrusted to me are so sacred I will not risk it unless I have the elements to insure success. If the government will send me the aid I have asked I will attack at once; but I repeat to you that, even if I do not get it, I will not be discouraged, and will work on faithfully and diligently; and I trust my delay will not be attributed to any other causes than those I have mentioned.

I hope you will continue to favor me with your letters, while I remain your respectful and obedient servant,