Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-12-30

Ayres and from the circumjacent country
then occupied BY the hostile armies
OF the civil war then raging, Montevideo be.
ing in q state Of seige. With extreme diff
Guilty were obtained ample rooms in large
private residence, which we occupied for
some months-the same now occupied by
another Foreign Minister and his family.
Nearly year since we returned to our origi-
nal quarters at the "Hotel Oriental" where
we still remain. In respect to the statement
Of the Tribune writer that our accommoda-
tions are on nggardly scale and at dimun-
tive rates, it need only be said that the "Ho-
tel Oriental' is admitted to be the largest and
most extensively appointed hotel in South
America, having cost including fixtures near
ly $3.50, 600 in gold-that we have four large
elegantly finished and admirably furnished
rooms on the front side of the same, more ca
pacious quarters than those of any other For
eign Minister living at this hotel, of whom
there are generally several-that for these
rooms and board pay higher than is paid at
most of the European capitals for similar ac
commodations, and more than four times the
amount stated by the Tribune calumniator.
AS to my ''incompetency" for the perform
ance of my official duties l am willing the
facts should be the test. What the facts are
under this head the Department of State and
persons here who have had the legitimate
right to ask for my official services, are
competent to decide. The charge that the
undersigned has ignored and despised the
Spanish language Is not true. Since the un-
dersigned has been in this country he has
translated carefully solid volumes of Litera-
tuTe and Religion in the Castillian tongue,
read regularly the Daily and Weekly news.
papers and Literary Magazines, has studied
the Constitution, Commercial Code, Treatise
and DEGREES of Uruguay, the published OF.
cial Correspondence Of the Uruguay and Par
aguay Governments, Judicial Decisions, and
whatever other documents that serve to give
him Information in relation to his official du-
ties, and without assistance he translates the
official notes of the two Governments to this
legatiop-all the above being in the Spanish
language. When needed have the services
of an accomplished clerk-a gentleman edu.
Gated in College of the United States, but
who has spent twenty years on the Rio de Ia
Plata-yet have the assistance of a clerk
less than most of the Foreign Legations here.
and chiefly for important verbal communica.
tons.
As to the gentleman asserted to be ''the
factotum" Of the Montevidean Legation, he
has no more to do with it than person liy.
ing in China. His place of business is in
Buenos Ayres-one hundred and twenty-five
miles from this city-where he has been most
Of the time since he came to South America,
and there he and his family reside. In res
pect to unfriendly comments by any portion of
Of the Montevidean press, it has been to a
very trifing extent, and that had its origin in
consequence of my persistent and determined
efforts to protect some property from unjust
and illegal spoliation, belonging to heirs and
orphans residing in the United States.
The moral atrocity Of an unprovoked and
cowardly assault on one who is faithfully per.
forming his duties in foreign land, would |
Justify far greater severity of terms than has
been allowed in this communication, but the
language used is deemed adequate to the just
purpose In view. JOHN L. STEVENS.
MoSTEvIpEo, Nov. IL,