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

Mr. Harvey to Mr. Seward.

No. 391]

Legation of the United States, Lisbon, April 21, 1866.

Sir: Although, strictly speaking, it is not within the sphere of my official duties, I have felt it to be one of humanity and of conscience to co-operate with the efficient efforts of our consul in extending all possible relief to the United States steamer Kearsarge, which, as you have already been made aware, entered this port under painful circumstances ten days ago. The reports from the ship have been quite satisfactory of late, but the alarm created in the community by various unfounded and exaggerated rumors, alleging the existence of yellow fever on board, have tended to create a prejudice and panic, which have resulted unjustly to the disadvantage of the ship. The regular quarantine expired on Wednesday, the 18th instant, and it was hoped and expected that the enforced restraint would have been removed the next morning. As the moment of liberation approached the alarm augmented, and the board of health, which is an independent body, hardly controlled by the state, though morally satisfied as to the sanitary condition of the ship, and of the absence of any epidemical disease, and really disposed to grant the necessary pratique, found itself confronted with an erroneous opinion difficult to combat, owing to the recollection of epidemics which a few years ago spread havoc through the city. As the best means of quieting these fears and invoking the reason of the community, a publication was made to-day in the leading commercial newspaper, which, though not ostensibly emanating from the board of health, was undoubtedly prepared and published by its authority. I enclose a copy of it in translation, since the assurances thus given may serve to relieve the natural anxiety of the friends and kindred of the officers and crew of the Kearsarge in the United States.

There is now every reason to hope that the ship will be relieved from quarantine within a few days, and my present inclination is to advise her commander to make a cruise towards the north in order to escape the climatic influences of the warm season here, which is already upon us with intensity, should he not be able to discover the whereabouts or to communicate with the admiral of the squadron.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

JAMES E. HARVEY.

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

[Translated from the Jornal do Commercio of April 21, 1866.]

The corvette Kearsarge.

We have received the following communication:

“On the 11th instant the United States steamer Kearsarge entered the Lisbon bar, from Sierra Leone in twenty-nine days, from Madeira in three and a half days, with a crew of one hundred and seventy-eight men. In the commencement of her trip the yellow fever broke out on board, she having caught it by communicating with a barge serving as a coal depot. Nineteen of her crew were attacked of whom fourteen died, including the surgeon.

“Five of the sick recovered, and the last death occurred on the 28th of March last. The bedding, clothes and utensils of the dead men were all cast overboard. The vessel has remained under strict quarantine, in pursuance of Article VI of the standing regulations.

“During all the time she has been under quarantine in Lisbon not a single case of yellow fever, nor of any suspicious disease, has occurred on board.

“The board of health having demanded daily reports of the sanitary state of the crew, and having indicated the sanitary precautions proper to be observed on board, so as to enable the vessel to have free pratique, instructed the Guarda Mor of the board of health at Belem to present himself on board on the 19th instant, the date on which the ordinary quarantine terminated, in order to acquire an accurate knowledge of the sanitary condition of the crew, and to ascertain whether all the precautions recommended had been properly carried out, so as to place the board of health in condition to decide whether the vessel was to receive pratique, or be subjected to further quarantine, according to circumstances.

“In compliance with these orders the Guarda Mor’ went on board the Kearsarge, where he was courteously received by the commander, Captain Harrell, by the doctor and all the officers. He immediately visited the hospital, where he minutely inspected all the sick. There were twelve in all, and only six in bed. The latter were suffering from the following diseases: 1, pulmonary tubercles; 2, atonic ulcer; 3, carbuncle: 4, cold tumor; 6, secondary syphilis.

“The Guarda Mor’ then proceeded to examine the state of cleanliness of the ship from her deck down to her keel. The cleanliness on board could not be surpassed. The water-tank had been emptied and washed; all her bunkers had been cleaned out, then fumigated and whitewashed: in fine, wherever it was possible to do so, solutions of chloride of lime were used, together with fumigations of tar or the process of whitewashing. All the foul linen had been previously soaked in chloride of lime, then washed, fumigated and exposed to the atmosphere. The beds are aired every day. Ventilation is uninterrupted, and carried on by three ventilators, (wind-sails.) Even in the deepest part of the vessel not the least token of disagreeable smell exists.

“Notwithstanding that the period of ordinary quarantine, according to the regulations, has elapsed; that the good hygienic condition of the Kearsarge is recognized; that her crew are in a good sanitary states; and that twenty-five days have elapsed since the last case of yellow fever occurred without any suspicious occurrences the board of health has thought proper, for the further security, to withhold the immediate pratique of the vessel The board, therefore, has instructed the said Guarda Mor’ to continue his visit to the sick on board, furnishing daily reports of their condition, and should the present state of things continue, without alteration, it will shortly come to a determination regarding giving free pratique to the vessel, which, under such circumstances, cannot cause any alarm whatever.”

We are of opinion that the board acts in a proper manner in thus employing all hygienic measures and restrictions on board the American corvette, and in obtaining the certainty, as far as science can furnish it, of the absence of all danger in giving free pratique to the vessel.

What more can be demanded or required ?

Therefore there is no cause for fear or alarm, especially in a vessel which brings no cargo, and consequently does not incur the danger of having on board the germ of an epidemic.

The measures employed, and the fact of so many days having elapsed without the occurrence of a fresh case, give us the assurance that whenever the board of health shall have given her free pratique, there shall no longer exist any fears for, or danger to, the public health.