"J.R. Tucker, Esq.
"39 Broadway, New York City.
"Esteemed Friend:—I have received and answer with pleasure your appreciated letter of the 10th ultimo, apprising you that the grave economical difficulties which at present afflict the Republic, obliges the Government to order the termination of the commission with which you are charged for the publication of the maps and charts of the Amazonian regions.
"For this reason, you will be pleased to deliver to Mr. Freyre, Minister of Peru in Washington, the referred to charts, maps and all other articles belonging to the Government of Peru, which now remain in charge of the Commission over which you preside; all to be delivered under inventories and with the necessary forms.
"In regard to the payment of the salaries of yourself and the other gentlemen who form part of the Commission, I have ordered the Minister of the Treasury to take measures for the prompt disbursement of what may be due, and I judge that in a short times these claims will be completely satisfied.
"With my best wishes, it gives me pleasure to repeat the expression of my friendship and particular esteem.
"Truly your faithful Servt.,
"Pardo."
In compliance with the directions of President Pardo, the charts made by the Commission were delivered to the Peruvian Legation at Washington. These charts were all ready for publication, and had they been published would have afforded much valuable information in regard to the Upper Amazon and its tributaries, water courses which are daily becoming more and more important to commerce, and which are destined in the not distant future to be navigated by lines of ocean as well as by lines of river steamers.
The following letter from Colonel Manuel Freyre, Peruvian Minister at Washington, describes the charts and plans which Tucker delivered to the Legation, and which it is to be hoped are still preserved:
"Legacion del Peru.
"Washington, Marzo 22 de 1877.