Mr. Seward to Mr. Burlingame
Sir: I enclose a pamphlet containing a copy of the correspondence which has taken place between this department and the honorable Z. Chandler, the chairman of the Committee on Commerce in the Senate of the United States, in relation to proposed overland telegraph between Europe and America, by the way of Behring straits, projected by Perry McD. Collins, esquire. I enclose also a copy of an instruction addressed to Cassius M. Clay, esquire, our minister at St. Petersburg, on. the 24th of September last, No. 85, and of his reply of the 14th ultimo, No. 62. I refer you to the act of Congress of the 1st of July last, entitled “An act to encourage and facilitate telegraphic communication between the eastern and western continents,” and to the President’s last annual message. As it is considered desirable and important that a branch of the great line of telegraphic communication referred to in these papers should penetrate into the populous and wealthy empire to which you are accredited, you are expected to [Page 425] co-operate with thè Russian authorities, and those of other western powers favorably disposed toward the enterprise, in any effort which they may make towards that end
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Anson Burlingame, Esq., &c.,&c.,&c.