Y Garcia to C. E. De Long , Envoy Extraordinary and, March 5, 1873

Mr. Garcia to Mr. De Long.

Sir: It is with the greatest satisfaction that I have received your excellency’s esteemed communication, dated March 2, 1873, accompanied by numerous inclosures, which form, your excellency states, a complete history of all your excellency’s correspondence about the bark Maria Luz, conducted by your excellency with all parties; embodying also a complete history of all your excellency’s correspondence with the Peruvian and Japanese governments, on behalf of Peruvian interests, subsequently to my departure from Lima; exhibiting likewise, your excellency adds, a complete account of the property found on board of the vessel when your excellency assumed charge of her; as also an account in full of all the expenses incurred, under your excellency’s direction, in paying off the crew and maintaining the possession of the bark.

I am sincerely obliged to your excellency for the kind words which your excellency employs in congratulating me and the members of my legation upon our safe arrival here. I also thank your excellency for the amiable offer which your excellency makes to aid me in my efforts to negotiate a treaty with Japan, and in establishing cordial relations with this empire.

By the first mail I shall inform my government, both of the contents of the dispatch which I have the honor to answer and of the friendly action and good offices which, with so much kindness, have been lent me by your excellency, even before I landed at the port of Yokohama.

I have also read, with equal pleasure, your excellency’s favorable opinion about the objects of the present mission, and the manner it finally came to this country, on account of the original intention of sending it forth on board of vessels of war having been revoked.

The accounts of the Maria Luz shall be paid without delay, in conformity with the documents which your excellency has forwarded to me, as soon as your excellency may see fit. In conclusion, I beg your excellency to please wait a few days more, in order to come to a final resolution about what is to be done with the said ship.

I avail myself of this new opportunity to repeat to your excellency the assurances of my particular esteem and of my most distinguished consideration.