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Latest News from the Seat of War: Spain

Spain did not long remain a "sister republic," and it made no difference to Cuba whether she was or not. Cuba never had any rights Spaniards were bound to respect.

President Grant had so far made up his mind that war might occur, growing out of the attitude of Spain, that he directed observations and studies to be made of the fortifications of Havana, and ordered officers to obtain certain information looking to operations by land and sea. But he did not love war, and accepted peace with alacrity.

Nov. 12, 1877, the house of representatives called for a report from the secretary of state on the Virginius indemnity, and received the following: DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 1877.

The secretary of state, to whom was referred the resolution of the house of representatives of the 12th inst., requesting him to "inform the house, if not compatible with the public interests, what amount of indemnity has been paid to this government by the government of Spain on account of the execution or General Ryan and others, at Santiago de Cuba, Nov. 4, 1873, and what disposition has been made of such funds as may have been received," has the honor to report to the president that the amount of indemnity paid by the government of Spain on that account was 80,000 Spanish dollars, yielding, less exchange, the sum of $77,794.44 in coin; that claims thereon have been settled and paid to the amount of $38,102; that a claim for $2,500 has been settled, but is not yet paid; and that the unexpended balance of the Virginius indemnity is invested in 5 per cent. registered bonds of the United States. The secretary of state has also to state that, as the heirs of General Ryan failed to prove that he was a citizen of the United States, nothing has been paid to them from said indemnity funds.

Respectfully submitted.

Wm. M. EVARTS. To the President