FOREIGN RELATIONS.


mit a copy of a communication which I have addressed to the captain-
general of this island, respecting the case of the Virginius, and of such
citizens of the United States as may be found among the prisoners,
claiming for them     the rights, privileges, and considerations to which
they are entitled by the treaty of 1795iand that no sentence of death
'shall be executed upon such citizens until the facts have been brought
to the knowledge of the governments of Spain and of the United States.
The communicatiou referred to I considered necessary on account of
the intense excitement prevailing here, the statement that the prisoners
were being tried as pirates by a competent tribunal, and the universal
clamor of the peninsular population for vengeance, urged on by such
papers as the "YVoz de Cuba."
   The locality of the Virginius when captured has not been made pub.
 lic. That she was not in Cuban waters or within Spanish maritime
 jurisdiction is clearly evident, having been overtaken after a chase of
 eight hours toward the coast of Jamaica.
   Telegraphic communication with Santiago de Cuba being interrupted,
 I have written to the vice-consul in charge there to ascertain and in-
 form me, as soon as-possible, whether the-vessel was captured in neutral
 or British waters, and other particulars-of the affair.
        lam, &c.,
                                                HENRY C. HALL,
                                                     iTT CamiU 1,U. lGemerat.

                              [Inclosure 1 in No. 295.]
                                    UNITED STATES CONSULATE-GtNERAL,
                                                    Havana,- November 5,
1873.
   EXCELLENCY: An official bulletin published in a Gaceta extraordinaria
of thisdate, as
 therein reported by order of your excellency, announces the capture of the
steamer
 Virginius on the 31st ultimo toward the coast of Jamaica, together with
some one
 hundred and sixty-five persons on board, who are, as may be inferred from
the same
 report, prisoners at Santiago de Cuba, andý are now being tried,
as pirates, by a com-
 petent tribunal.
 It is not my purpose or desire to enter into any discussion in regard to
the national-
 ity of the vessel, or in regard to the intentions of the persons who were
found on
 board; but I do respectfully.call the attention of your excellency to the
fact that the
 said steamer was not captured within the waters of Cuba, or its maritime
jurisdiction,
 and being further persuaded.that, among the persons who have thus been captured,
 there are some who are citizens of the United States, I hereby claim for
them all the
 rights,,privileges- and, considerations to which they are entitled under
the stipulations
 ,of the, treaty of 1795 between Spain and tthe United States, and that!
no sentence of
 death shall -be carried into execution until an opportunity has been had
of, bringing
 all the facts of the case to the knowledge of the government of Spain as
well as that
 of the United States.
 I have the honor to assure your excellency of my high consideration and
respect.
                                                     HENRY C. HALL,
                                      Acting Consul-General of the United
States.
  His Excellency the SUPERIOR POLITICAL GOTERNOR
                    and Captain-General of the Island of Cuba, 4c.


                             [Inclosure 2-in No. 295.]
                   From the "Diario" extra of November 5, 1873.
                           HURRAH FOR SPAIN,
  The commandant-general of marine has just communicated to us the following
very
important dispatch, dated Santiago-de Cuba, November 1:
  "The following persons were found on board of the Virginius and Taken
prisoners:


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