The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-21
CUBA.
How Nenr Mr. Polk Cnme 20 nurIna It.


Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazette
E2WAsHINeToN, Monday, Aug. 16 1S69.-Con-
cerning the purchase of Cuba, new version of
the steps taken in the matter during the admin
istration of Mr. Polk has just appeared in
French work issued in Paris by NJ. Profno Va
liente, entitled Reforms i'm the Islands of Cuba
and Porto,Rico," with preface by NJ. Ed. Labou-
laye. The Endorsement thus given to the work.
by gentleman rs distinguished as NJ. Labou-
laye, marks its author as man worthy of con-
fidence. His story regarding Mr.. Folks at
tempt to secure the island, as found on page 277
OF the work named, is, in substance, as follows:
During the Presidency of Mr.. Polk, when the
Spanish treasury was exhausted and a heavy
war debt was pressing, the American Minister
at Madrid proposed to the Spanish Minister of
Foreign Affairs the cession of Cufa for con-
sideration The proposition was favorably
received and price agreed upon, which was
S1OO,O00,000. The Cabinet at Washington APP
proved this agreement, and directed its Minister
to close the negotiations, but to endeavor If pos
sible, to reduce the price named. Pending the
final preparation of the papers, the American
Secretary of Legation at Madrid, who had
acted as interpreter, visited Paris, and
while there ut dinner party with friends
mentioned the particulars of the nego-
tiatiOns BY this means it became known
to certain Engshmen, who at once sent the fact
to London. The English Government immedi-
ately interered and prevented the consumma-
ton OF the negotiation. Thus far NJ. Naliente.
The version of the matter most generally re-
~
proposition for the purchase of Cuba had been
made by our authorities, but that it had been
declined. If the above account be true, there
must be some interesting unpublished cores
pondence upon the subject in the State Depart
ment. If the part played by Lord Palmerston
could be ascertained, it would form readable
chapter in the history of the loves of these two
countries And if the Secretary of Legation Gf
he be living) could be induced to prepare an ac-
count of that dinner in Paris it would not be
without its value.
The Volunteers Refuse TO Fight.
HAVANA, Aug 15.-To replace the losses the
battalion of modified volunteers sustained in
campaign, it was lately proposed to select three
men of each company of the Havana volunteers.
To induce them they were promised not to be
sent to the field of operations, and were told
that they were to be employed merely to garri-
son the city of Neuvitas. None would enlist;
but they said they would all 90 in body of
5000 or 5000 men, commanded by their own
officers, which they, of course, know is imprac
ticable. News was received at the Palace yes
terday, from Macagua, Jaguey Grande, and
Colon stating the insurgents intended to open
active operations in the western district. The
D1driO is alarmed.
In respect to confscated sugars the Roberts
family are now the talk of Havana. Mr.. Lopez
Roberts, who is Civil Governor, and has charge
of the business of cOnfscation, has brother
who is a broker, and to whom the sugar is turned
over to be sold. The amount of confscated
sugars is now very large, and they are all sold
knows what they bring. A large lot coming
from the estate of Senor Mora (San Joaquin) has
been lately sold to Perez and Meyeros, Spanish
SPECTATORS These gentlemen would not report
the price at which the sugars were bought, even
when pressed for an answer by some of their
friends and other brokers. Bills of exchange to
the amount of $500, 900 are reported as having
heen drawn recently in favor of Lopez Roberts,
the Civil Governor.
The Cuban Expedition.
\ GIlit i'm IN 'nitn Stnta
District Court of Brooklyn, by Jacob Herrion,
Peter ii;llIiimUl(i, and Catharine a. Franklin,
against Ignatio Afaro and Others, composing tie
Cuban Junta. Jacob Herrion sues to recover
1886 for ten days use of his tug-boat Jonathan
Chase. His claim was secured by the seizure of
416 cases of ammunition, 200 shell, 157 cases.
and parts of three wagons, the property of the
Junta in this city. The suit of Peter Hammond
| is for the same amount, for charter of his tug
| boat II. NJ. Cool and Catharine A. Franklin
| sues for $4,000 for the use of the tug r. L. Ma
| hey. The property was to have been sold by
the United States Marshal to satisfy the above
| claims, when the Junta through their counsel,
| applied to Judge Benedict to have the default
| reopened. The request of the Junta was granted
yesterday, and it is expected that the suits will
come up for trial at the first session of the Court
| Another Cuban Expedition.
1t is suspected on good grounds that Cuban
expedition will leave within few days either
from this port or Boston. Preparations have
been quietly and silently going on for the last
! three weeks among the Cubans of this city, and
it is believed that the two or three expeditions
on a small scale from Florida were mere blinds
to divert the attention of the public from the
| direction in which the work is going on. Mar.
shal Barlow has been for the last two weeks
taking extraordinary precautions against any
violation of the neutrality laws and the fill
busters will probably find some difficulty in get
ting safely off.
A wild and probably unfounded story was
aloat yesterday, to the effect that II conspiracy
existed among certain of the Cubans in this city
to seize several of the Spanish gunboats as soon
as completed and sail off in them to the An
titles. What with the Port Admiral Barlow,
Delamater, and the Spaniards, this would be in
deed difficult if not an impossible, achieve
ment. The released flibusters have been mys-
teriously quiet for three weeks past, and
their leaders have subsidized into sudden Obscu
rity.-N. y paper.
COntrabaDd Publications..
Copies of La ReUOhtciOn, the Cuban organ
| printed in New York city, are being extensively
circulated in Cuba and Porto Rico. The copies
to be forwarded are printed on tissue paper and
enclosed in an envelope like an ordinary letter.
| THE WATER QUEsTION-Pursuant TO orders is
sued by the Mayor the 18th inst the police OF the
different districts this morning visited the occupants
| of the houses on their beats, and cautioned them
| AGAINST unnecessary OF the aqueous fluid