Mr. Seward to Mr. Burlingame
No. 183.]
Department of State, Washington,
January 21, 1867.
Sir: I invite your early attention to the
enclosed copy of a letter of the 17th instant, from N. Mickles, esq.,
vice-president of the East India Telegraph Company, in regard to a grant
which was obtained by you for that company from the Chinese government
before your departure for home. No despatch of the nature indicated in
the letter has been received from you.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Anson G. Burlingame, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Mickles to Mr. Seward
Office of the East India
Telegraph Company, No. 55
Liberty Street, New
York,
January 17, 1867.
Dear Sir: I beg to inquire if the
Department of State are in receipt of any despatches from Hon. Anson
Burlingame, United States minister at Peking, in China, in relation
to the, grant which was obtained by him of the Chinese government
for the East India. Telegraph Company, before his departure to
return to China. I make this inquiry for the reason that Mr.
Burlingame assured us that he would make it the subject of a
despatch to the Department of the State. Learning that he arrived in
China some months since, it is hoped that his promised despatch has
been received.
We are desirous of commencing the construction of the line
immediately, for the reason that an English company are making an
effort to the same end, and if they succeed in forestalling [Page 453] our action, the telegraph
in China will be under English instead of American control. Trusting
this will be a sufficient reason for this application and the reply
as early as your engagements will permit,
I am, my dear sir, very truly, yours,
N. MICKLES, Vice-President.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
