109 
Commission, the navy officer, Don Mauro Guide, is no less praiseworthy for his 
kind disposition and constant attention to every charge committed to his care. 
Finally I beg to express my gratitude for the confidence placed in me when 
entrusted with this Commission, and to assure you that I have sought by every 
means in my power to justify your choice." 
In enclosing this to your excellency, that you may convey it to the knowledge 
of his Excellency the President, I deem it my duty to call his attention to the 
merit and zeal displayed in the fulfilment of his Office by the firrt naval officer, 
Don Pedro de Garay y Garay, Secretary to the Commission, whose ability, zeal, 
and devotedness are worthy of commendation. I have the honor to repeat to 
your Excellency my professions of respect. 
God and Liberty, Mexico, April 22, 1843. 
Jose de Garay. 
To his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs. 
Answer of his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to the 
above communication. 
His Excellency the Provisional President of the Eepublic was much pleased 
with the persual of your note of the 22d inst., in which you enclose that of the 
Secretary of the Commission of Survey, containing a reiteration of his opinion 
that it was possible to open a canal between the two oceans through the Isthmus 
of Tehuantepec. His Excellenc}' waits for the documents you have offered, in 
order to obtain a clearer idea of the investigation which has been concluded and 
of the great result we may anticipate from it. 
I beg to reassure you of my consideration. 
God and Liberty, Mexico, April 29th, 1843. 
BoCANEGRA. 
Senor Don Jose de Garay. 
No. 5. 
Decree granting to Don Jose de Garay the term of a year, according 
to his request, for the commencement of the works. 
Office of Foreign AfTaiis. 
Sir, 
His Excellency the President ad interim, whom I acquainted with 
your request, that the period prescribed in the decree of March 1642 for the 
