Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-09-06
The Cuban Revolution.

;; The Cincinnati Commercial publishes
abe following letter from Roberts, the
Spanish minister at Washington, to d.
Rodas, the Captain General Of Cuba
said to have been intercepted :'7'''e ''H
Legation of Spain, Washington, Au.
gust %, 1869. 10 Caballero De Rodas
Captain General de Cuba. Dear Sir,
In reply TO- your communication Of the
10th instant, relative 10 the probably
future action of the government of the
United States, | can only answer You
from opinions formed by myself, after
having given due attentions to the sub
ject, by consulting with gentlemen Of
reputed intimacy with the administra-
ton. ooausiia ed}liHo el ons9h aW
Respecting the gunboats ordered by
our govern ment, they are being pushed
to completion. T~elve of them will be
ready to receive their ornaments by the
10Th of September, but under surroun-
ding circumstances / have advised the
agent not to purchase any ornaments
for the present. L am inclined to be-
lieve that if the vessels were ready for
the ornaments, and they whore shipped
it would give new excuse to the adj
ministration to seize more firmly upon
the boats, while the present standing
order for their retention is a mere
formal affair.". or so considered by me.
think that it would please the adj
ministration if it could have some more
potent excuse for holding them until
Congress meets in, December. z The
shipment of American seamen, even to
take the boats into Cuban waters, will
necessarily have to be dispensed with
and other arrangements madej but there
will be time enough to act in this case
after I obtain more satisfactory infor-
nation regarding the designs of this
government. 5 4aisidt ~ llsa.j
AS things stand at present, l note a
manifest change OF opinion among
members of the cabinet of General
Grant. Secretary Fish is the most in
flexible of the cabinet; still ! fear that
he respects our rights more on account
of the old question with England than
out of any respect for our govern
ment. i,s4.'.i M ',1,',
Respecting belligerent rights being
granted to rebles, l am 10th to believe it
will ba conferred in hsate. The press Of
this country is clamorous, and may yet
succeed in forcing the administration
into granting beliigerent rights to re-
bells. ..,..-.,..'. ...,., .i
Our greatest fears are that the gun
boat release question will be delayed
until Congress assemblies, and that
body, l must confess, will not be slow
to indicate to General Grant that Gu
ban independence must be acknowl-
edged. 'AtN "a 0etu
have repeatedly urged my govern
ment to forward at least fifteen thousand
more men to Cuba, and with the least
possible delay. Also ! have urged
that manifestation should be made
Of an intention to forward reinforce
ments, which would dampen the zeal Of
American sympathizers and decrease
the popularity here Of the insure
ton. "
If General Prim possibly can ...he will
forward six thousand men. to join you in
October. Consequeh ly you will have
to rely wholly upon your present COM
mand for continuing your supremacy UNI
til you can be reinforced. aioon Wa
Upon what you say regarding con-
Quoting an expedition into the central
department. with Trinidad or Nueyitas
for an objective point, | am unprepar-
ed to extend you any counsel. 1t app
pears to me of most vital interest that
no sea port should be allowed to fall
into the hands of the rebels, for am
made aware of the ominous fact that q
number Of commercial houses Of both
New York and Boston are perfectly
willing and ready to supply shipping
and goods for therebels when they shall
have a port of entry. serR nx,,rrrv
I The draft sentrne for paying Delam-
alter 6 Co. was duly presented, paid,
and the amount accepted by the firm.
Respecting the next installment, it
shout be paid according to contract,
for its non-payment may cause not only
annoyance, but unnecessary delay.
When | receive futher instructions
and advice l shall be prompt to COM
municate to you. -
Yours, most respectfully. ,ar,ts
RoBERTs, /