26th June 1866
In confidence
7025797
The reason of Your Excellency quitting the dinner table so soon after dinner was because you were afraid that I should insult you.
I stoutly deny this.
These statements and their falsehood can be proved, the first by Captain King and doubtless by others, the second by Mr. Woodgate, the Honble Cupt H. Stewart RH and Capt. Matkins RN and no doubt also by others.
I believe Mr. Lusty to have stated more than I have written above and I have been informed that he made a similar statement to Mr. Lestic, but as yet I have not seen this gentleman. However, I leave them enough to call upon Mr. Lusty for an immediate ample and public apology.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) John Wyllie
To Sir John Bowring