services once more.

After waiting patiently for nearly a year, Congress has at last taken a
hand in the matter.

A joint resolution has been passed, empowering the President to take
such steps as he thinks fit to secure the release of the prisoners, and
to have the boat restored to her owners.

The resolution also gives the President authority to employ such means
and use such power as he may think necessary to accomplish this purpose.

The Spaniards are angry at the action we have taken in both the Ruiz and
_Competitor_ cases, but their especial anger is vented on our consuls in
Cuba.

General Lee has been informed that if the Spaniards were revengeful
instead of noble, he would not long be allowed to remain at his post and
foment trouble between Spain and America.

The consul in Matanzas has been forced to fortify the Consulate in
consequence of the threats which have been made against the Americans
there. He has done this to afford a safe shelter for the Americans in
Matanzas in case trouble should break out.

While the authorities in Cuba are feeling angry with us on account of
the Ruiz and _Competitor_ cases, the Government in Spain has a fresh
cause of annoyance against us.

This has arisen through a despatch sent by the Spanish minister in