Sir

It devolves upon me, as a duty to draw Your Excellency’s attention, more particularly, to the case of Mr. John S. Thrasher, a citizen of the United States residing in this city, and who was arrested, as I informed Your Excellency I had learned, by order of the Government.

Your Excellency will recollect the interest I manifested in the release of Mr. Thrasher, and that he should have a fair trial, and that I might be present at the same, and assist him as far as I should be able in the way of council and advice.  Having now just been informed that Mr. Thrasher is incommunicated, I avail myself of the earliest moment to reiterate the views and wishes I had the honor to express in the personal interview with Your Excellency.

Under instructions from my Government, I beg leave to state to Your Excellency; that while I am required to bear in mind that my duties are such as strictly belong to the Consular character, and that the Government of Spain has refused to consider the Consular functions here as in any respect diplomatic, yet, the Government of the United States requires the Consul to be vigilant in ascertaining who, among his countrymen in his Consular district, are charged with crimes against the Sovereignty of Spain, and to see that they have a fair trial.

I close, by earnestly requesting Your Excellency to allow Mr. Thrasher to be put in communication, and that I be permitted to see and converse with him relative to his case.

                                                                                                                                                                I have the honor to be,
                                                                                                                                                                Your Excelleny’s
                                                                                                                                                                Ob’t Serv’t
                                                                                                                                                                (signed) A. F. Owen

His Excellency
Sr. D. Jose de la Concha
Gov’r & Capt. General
of the Island of Cuba