Office of the Historian

Mr. Stilwell to Mr. Seward.

No. 2.]
Legation of the United States, Caracas, December 10, 1867.

Sir: I beg to inform the department that we arrived in this city on the evening of December 6, making the trip from New York to La Gnayra in eleven days.

When we arrived at St. Thomas, we found that the recent earthquake, on the 18th of November, had so disabled the vessels in the Atlantic squadron at that point that it was impossible for Admiral Palmer to comply with the order from the Secretary of the Navy to send me in a government vessel to La Guayra, consequently I made the trip in a small yacht.

On the 9th instant I addressed a note to the honorable Jacinto Gutierrez, minister of foreign affairs, announcing my arrival, and informing him of my being a bearer of a sealed letter from the President of the United States of America to the President of the republic of Venezuela, (an open office copy of which I forwarded to him at the same time,) and asking him to designate a convenient time and place when I could have an audience with him and place the same in his hands.

A copy of this note I inclose, marked inclosure No. 1.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOMAS N. STILWELL,

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

[Inclosure No. 1.]

Mr. Stilwell to Señor Gutierrez.

Mr. Thomas N. Stilwell has the honor to present his compliments to the honorable Jacinto Gutierrez, minister of foreign relations of the United States of Venezuela, and to inform him of his arrival in the city of Caracas, bearing a sealed letter, an open office copy whereof is herewith transmitted, addressed by the President of the United States of America to the President of the republic of Venezuela, accrediting the undersigned as minister resident of the United States near the government of Venezuela.

Mr. Stilwell, in pursuance of his instructions, begs to request the honorable the minister of foreign relations to designate a convenient time and place at which he may have the honor of presenting such original letter of credence in person to his excellency the Supreme Chief of the United States of Venezuela.

Mr. Stilwell takes the advantage of this, his first opportunity, cordially to salute the minister of foreign relations, and to tender him the assurance of his distinguished consideration.