One day, while this controversy was raging, the General called upon me, and begged me, for my own satisfaction, to inquire of Baron de Mareschal, the Austrian Minister, respecting certain charges that had just appeared against him. I consented, and immediately despatched the following letter to the care of my friend, the Honorable George Evans, our Representative in Congress, requesting him to see the Baron for me. "_To_ HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL BARON DE MARESCHAL, _Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from his Majesty the Emperor of Austria._ "The undersigned is led to apply to your Excellency in behalf of a gentleman here, who has been assailed by a great variety of newspaper slanders, most of which have been triumphantly refuted. The gentleman referred to is known here, by his passports and other credentials, as John Bratish Eliovich, late a general in the service of her most Catholic Majesty, the Queen of Spain, and is now an American citizen. "He states--and he bids me trust confidently to the character of your Excellency for an early reply--that in 1828 he was at Rio Janeiro; that instead of 'running away,' as reported, with a large amount of funds belonging to his uncle, Christopher Bratish, he left Rio Janeiro in consequence of being appointed by the Emperor, Dom Pedro, Brazilian Consul to Austria, with the approbation and consent of your Excellency, manifested by a regular passport, granted by your Excellency's legation. "The friends of General Bratish in this region are numerous and respectable, and they beg your Excellency's reply to the following questions:-- "Is the statement above made by General Bratish true? "And if your Excellency would be so kind as to say whether, in your opinion, there can be any foundation for the story respecting the 'large amount of money' said to have been carried off by General Bratish, when he is reported to have run away from Rio Janeiro, your Excellency would gladly oblige, not only the undersigned, but a number of other persons deeply interested in the character of General Bratish. "Meanwhile, I am with respect your Excellency's most obedient servant, "---- ----. "PORTLAND, ME., April, 1840." "That your Excellency may know who has taken this liberty, the undersigned begs leave to refer you to the Hon. George Evans, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, General Scott, or to any member of Congress from the Northern or Middle States." Through some oversight in the transcribing, the full date of this letter does not appear; but I soon received the following from Mr. Evans:-- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WASHINGTON, April 20, 1840.