No. 54

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No
28 of the 9th of October last transmitting copies of a
correspondence which has passed with the Foreign office on the
subject of the money advanced by me in 1856, for the purchase of
commodities supplied to the authorities of Washington Territory,
on the requisition of Governor Stevens, and I feel truly obliged
to you for the great trouble you have taken in this matter.

I regret to observe that the United States Government have not
repaid the money due to me on that account, a want of good faith
which I must confess has called forth in my mind a feeling of
pain and surprise. This is however not the only instance in
which I have suffered in consequence of relieving the distress
of United States Citizens, who have applied to me for
assistance, and I therefore certainly trust that such instances
may not often occur hereafter during my tenure of office.