APPENDIX. 283 
[Copy of Translation.] 
Ministry of Foreign Relations. 
Mexico, December 10, 1850. 
Honored Sir — The Minister of Relations has received the letter in 
which his Excellency, Mr. Letcher, communicates the sailing from New 
Orleans of the American steamship Alabama for Coatzaeoalcos, and, 
obeying the desires of his Excellency, has given the necessary orders to 
the governments of Vera Cruz and Oaxaca, that they may place no ob- 
stacles to the voyage of the Alabama, or any other vessel which has the 
same object, providing they subject themselves to the laws of navigation. 
The Minister of Relations, on giving these orders, has done it under the 
intelligence that the engineers who accompany Major Barnard form no 
military body, as Governor Letcher knows that, forming such a body, 
they would not be permitted to disembark. 
The Minister of Relations reiterates to his Excellency, Governor Letch- 
er, the assurances of his very distinguished consideration. 
To his Excellency, Gov. R. P. Letcher, Envoy Extraordinary and 
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at Mexico. 
Copy of the Letter addressed to Major Barnard by the Governor of 
Tehuantepec. 
Sir — The Secretary of dispatches of the Supreme Government of the 
State, in a supreme order of 23d May, among other things says what 
follows : 
" His Excellency, the Minister of Relations, in an official document of 
the 2 2d of last month, says the following to the Governor of the State : 
" Sir — In a separate note I communicate to you the decree passed to- 
day by the National Congress, annulling that of the 5th November, 1846, 
which prorogued the privilege conceded to Mr. Jose Garay to open an 
inter-oceanic communication across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The 
President, deeply appreciating the constitutional duty by which he has 
to enforce the orders of Congress, orders you to publish immediately said 
decree, and that you suspend immediately all scientific works going on 
either at Tehuantepec or at Coatzaeoalcos, causing all the Americans em- 
ployed on said works to leave the country, or permitting them to remain 
as long as they desire, it being understood by them that for no motive 
will they be allowed to continue said work, and that they will be subject, 
as all other strangers, to the laws of the nation. You will communicate 
