No. 95.
Mr. Hurlbut to Mr. Fish.
Bogota, February 7, 1872. (Received March 22.)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your dispatch No. 55. The demand for pecuniary damages in the case of the Montijo having been expressly declined by the government of Colombia, and the whole matter remitted by me to the Department of State in my dispatch No. 73, there is no negotiation pending in this legation in reference to the question of damages.
On the 3d of this month I received a communication from Señor Zapata, informing me that the judge of first instance in Panama charged with the criminal examination against Herrera and Diaz had issued a supersedeas “auto de sobresevmiento? the effect of which, as I understand it, is to stay all proceedings in the matter. From this [Page 155] decision an appeal has been taken to the supreme court now in session, and we are now awaiting its decision. I am not yet informed of the grounds on which the court below stopped the proceedings, and have not taken any special pains to inquire, as the government is fully informed of our views and has repeatedly pledged itself to vigorous prosecution.
I am, &c,