No. 258.
Mr. Moran
to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Lisbon, January 16, 1877.
(Received February 5.)
No. 120.]
Sir: With reference to your No. 62, in which was
inclosed a copy of a letter to you from the Secretary of the Navy, in which
he suggests the desirability of the co-operation of the Governments of
Portugal and Brazil in the determination telegraphically from Paris of the
longitudes of both coasts of South America, I have now the honor to inform
you that I presented this suggestion to the Portuguese Government on the
[Page 458]
19th ultimo, and received Mr.
Corvo’s reply last evening, dated the 10th instant. In this he says that he
has the pleasure to inform me that the Government of His Most Faithful
Majesty feels disposed to accede to this request, and that necessary orders
have been and shall be given to that effect. I have expressed to him the
gratification his note has given me, and now forward copies of all the
correspondence in the case, and respectfully await your further instructions
in the premises.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 120.]
Mr. Moran to Mr.
Corvo.
Legation of the United States,
Lisbon, December 19,
1876.
Sir: Under instructions from my government, I
have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a letter addressed by the
Secretary of the Navy of the United States to the Hon. Hamilton Fish,
Secretary of State, in which Mr. Robeson suggests the desirability of
the co-operation of the Governments of Portugal and Brazil in the
determination telegraphically from Paris of the longitudes of both
coasts of South America.
In submitting this suggestion to His Most Faithful Majesty’s Government I
beg to say that a similar instruction has been addressed to the minister
of the United States at Rio de Janeiro, and that should one or both of
the governments named be pleased to co-operate, the naval parties of the
United States would take up the work at any point or points desired by
those governments, in the Atlantic, whether at Lisbon, the island of
Madeira, the Azores, or Rio de Janeiro, and would continue the work
across the continent and along the western coast of South America,
wherever the telegraphic lines might exist, and with the approval,
concurrence, and such aid as Chili and Peru might be disposed to
render.
But should either the government of His Most Faithful Majesty or that of
the Emperor of Brazil find it inconvenient to co-operate, and yet feel
disposed to allow the United States naval parties the necessary
facilities for the work, as has been cordially done by several
governments in West Indies, the work will be executed by the United
States naval parties at the earliest period that may be found
practicable by the United States Navy Department.
In presenting this suggestion of the Secretary of the Navy of the United
States to His Most Faithful Majesty’s Government, the purpose of which,
if carried out, will add much to the material interests of commerce and
the advantages of science, I have to request that your excellency will
do me the honor to favor me with the reply of His Majesty’s Government
at an early day, as it is the desire of the United States Navy
Department to begin the work with as little delay as possible.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your excellency the
assurance of my highest consideration.
His Excellency João de Andrade
Corvo.
&c., &c., &c.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
120.—Translation.]
Mr. Corvo to Mr.
Moran.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Direction of Consulates and Commercial
Affairs,
Lisbon,
January 10, 1877. (Received January
15.)
In answer to a note which your excellency addressed me on the 19th
December last past, relative to the desirability of determinating
telegraphically from Paris the longitudes of both coasts of South
America, and desiring the co-operation of the Portuguese authorities to
that end, I have the pleasure to inform your excellency that the
government of His Most Faithful Majesty feels disposed to accede to the
request of which your excellency is the interpreter, and that necessary
orders have and shall be given to that effect. Foreign Office, January
10, 1877.
Senhor Benjamin Moran, &c., &c.
[Page 459]
[Inclosure 4 in No. 120.]
Mr. Moran to Mr.
Corvo.
Legation of the United States,
Lisbon, January 16,
1877.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your excellency’s note of the 10th instant, in reply to the
one which I addressed to you on the 19th of December last, under
instructions from Mr. Fish, suggesting that His Most Faithful Majesty’s
government might be pleased to co-operate with the Governments of the
United States and Brazil in the determination telegraphically from Paris
of the longitudes of both coasts of South America, and I am gratified to
learn that His Majesty’s government is disposed to accede to this
request, and that the necessary orders have been and shall be given to
that end. I shall at once inform Mr. Fish of this reply, and promptly
communicate to your excellency any further information I may receive
from my government on the subject.
I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your excellency the
assurances of my highest consideration.
His Excellency João de Andrade
Corvo,
&c., &c.,
&c.
