Watson Webb to William H. Seward, August 7, 1868

Mr. Webb to Mr. Seward.

Sir: In my last I stated that the minister of foreign affairs desired me to ask for a conference, which I had declined doing, at the same time expressing my readiness to wait upon him at the Foreign Office whenever desired to do so. I was in consequence invited to a conference on the 1st of August.

We accordingly were in conference two and one-half hours on the 1st, three hours on the 4th, and nearly three hours to-day, I having just returned from the Foreign Office.

The result was that I left with the minister my dispatch herein inclosed and marked No. 4, he having previously explained that in no event should the Wasp be impeded in her course to Asuncion. It is understood that Paranhos’s note, “subject only to such trilling delay as may arise from the active execution of any military operation which may transpire at the time,” means simply that if, when the Wasp arrives at the front, the Brazilians are actually firing at the enemy, they shall not be required to cease firing; but in such an event, the Wasp shall wait until the firing cease. To this I assented, stipulating, however, that if the Wasp thought proper to pass between and under the fire of the belligerents, she should have a right to do so, and in like manner the belligerents would be at liberty to sink her if they can, and she is sufficiently foolhardy to invite destruction.

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I shall send a brief dispatch by telegraph from London, announcing the result of the Wasp affair.

I have reported to Admiral Davis that a United States vessel of war may go up the Paraguay for Mr. Washburn; and have requested him to send the Wasp, with the same commander. This he will do.

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Humaita was attacked on the 16th by the allied forces, and the assailants beaten off with fearful loss. On the 18th the allies were again badly beaten in the Chaco.

On the 25th the allies discovered that Humaita had been evacuated by Lopez’s forces, and they quietly took possession of it. The city of Rio has, in consequence, been illuminated for three nights in succession. There is no end to the rejoicing, and the press assures the people that there is no such triumph on record in ancient or modern warfare.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant.