Mr. Seward to Mr. Pruyn.
Sir: Your dispatch of the 29th of September, No. 33, has been received. We have learned here that the late President Falcon has abandoned the republic of Venezuela; that General Bruzual, who claimed to be his successor, and maintained a resistance with national forces at Puerto Cabello, has died of wounds received in battle; that Puerto [Page 983] Cabello has fallen into the hands of the provisional government established at Caracas; and that the civil war, so far as it was necessary to regard it as a national conflict, has come to an end. There seems, therefore, to be no sufficient ground for withholding longer the formal and full recognition of that provisional government.
In announcing this decision you will express to the provisional President the sincere hope, on the part of the United States, that the republic of Venezuela may speedily come to the enjoyment of internal peace and the renewal of national prosperity.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Erastus C. Pruyn, Esq., &c., &c., &c.