We trust that dispassionate people who do not allow their opinions to be based on partial evidence, will do our house the justice to which we are entitled by these few particulars, the truth of which is proved by facts and figures that can be authenticated by application to the offices of the Public Treasury.
| Balance in favour of our house on June 30, 1875, as per account delivered, embracing 1,377,150 tons of guano | $.24,068,156 | |
| Expenses since that date for monthly instalments, loading, salaries in Europe, etc. | $.2,390,000 | |
| Balance in favour of our house | $.26,459,156 | |
| From this sum there is to be deducted the value of cargoes despatched up to June, 300,092 tons at 30 soles | 9,002,760 | |
| Vessels now loading, 394,966 tons at 30 soles | 4,849,000 | |
| [*] Vessels detained in Callao 110,657 tons at 30 soles | 3,319,710 | |
| $.24,181,470 | ||
| Which shews a balance in our favour of | $.2,286,686 | |
| Adding to this sum interest in account current since June | 1,500,000 | |
| [†]Cost of loading ships at the deposits and in Callao | 1,500,000 | |
| 3,000,000 | ||
| Shewing a clear balance in our favour of | $.5,286,686 |
We have taken thirty soles as the average value of guano of different qualities.
These figures prove that our house not only has not received more than it is entitled to, even if all the vessels had left which are at the deposits as well as those in Callao, but that there is still a heavy balance due to us.
With respect to questions now pending, no one possesses the right to consider his opinions of more value than those of the tribunals of justice before which they now are, without the least opposition on our part.
Dreyfus, Hermanos, & Co.
Lima, Dec. 31, 1875.
It appears from this statement [*], that Dreyfus had already put in their claim for the detention of the ships. What is meant by the last item marked with a [†] is uncertain; no ships are loaded in Callao. If the Government can sustain its suit against Dreyfus on that part of the second article of the contract mentioned above, instead of its owing Dreyfus the 'clear balance of 5,286,686 dols.' Dreyfus is in debt to the Government.
But there is another item in the second article which appears to override the first: viz. 'y este (guano) será colocado por cuenta y riesgo del gobierno abordo de las lanchas destinadas a la carga de dichos buques' [or, in plain English, 'this guano shall be placed on board such launches as are appointed to carry it to the ships, on account and at the risk of the Government'].
Well, it is absolutely certain that the guano was not colocado, or placed on board the appointed launches; not because the launches were not there; not because there was no guano at the deposits;—but simply because the Government had not, for some reason or other, fulfilled its own part of the contract.