Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Congress

Mr. Morris to Mr. Seward.

No. 145.]

Legation of the United States of America, Constantinople, February 28, 1866.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit enclosed a translation of a note in French, which, in common with my colleagues of the diplomatic corps at this capital, I have addressed to the Porte. Although the commerce of the United States in the Black sea is inconsiderable, I have nevertheless deemed it my duty to cooperate in a movement the object of which is to procure proper protection to life and property on this tempestuous sea. Many lives and ships are annually lost near the mouth of the Bosphorus for the want of the precautions and life-saving apparatus in use on stormy coasts by all other governments. It is possible that the Porte may be induced to take some action in the matter from the combined movement of the diplomatic corps. Separate intervention by the individual members of the corps would lead to no practical result.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

E. JOY MORRIS.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Mr. Morris to Aali Pacha.

Legation of the United States of America, Constantinople, February 23, 1866.

Highness: The representatives of foreign powers at the Sublime Porte have been deeply concerned by the maritime disasters which are annually renewed at the entrance to the Bosphorus, and which occasion the death of a great number of seamen, and serious material losses.

They have, therefore, deemed it necessary to advise on the most efficacious means of “preventing these misfortunes, and of attenuating, as much as possible, their fatal consequences.”

While I reserve the honor of conversing with your honor on the subject of the pratical means recognized as the most useful in such cases, other than the establishing of lighthouses, so as to facilitate to navigators the entrance of the Bosphorus, which is so dangerous in foggy weather and during the night, I limit myself at the present time to the calling of your highness’s attention to the necessity of establishing the means of preserving the lives of shipwrecked seamen, who, saved from the sea, find themselves abandoned, without aid or shelter, on a bleak and desert coast, exposed to other dangers, and to new sufferings. It will suffice, I am convinced, to point out to your highness the present painful sketch of things, so as to impress your highness with the urgent necessity that exists of remedying the evil.

In this view, I take the liberty of proposing—

1. The construction along the coasts neighboring the entrance of the Bosphorus, of huts for the sheltering of the shipwrecked mariners.

2. The establishing of batteries, projecting fuzes of preservation, as well as of all the measures generally adopted in similar cases by maritime powers.

I flatter myself that, thanks to your highness’s intervention, the Ottoman government will be pleased to take this proposition into serious consideration, be dictated by sentiments of humanity, as well as in the view of promoting the interests of commerce and international navigation.

In the hope of receiving a favorable reply, I embrace the present opportunity of offering to your highness assurances of my high respect and most distinguished consideration.

E. JOY MORRIS.