No. 259.
Mr. Moran
to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Lisbon, March 13, 1877.
(Received April 4.)
No. 131.]
Sir: Referring to your No. 62, and to my No. 120,
relative to the cooperation of the Government of Portugal with that of the
United States in the determination telegraphically from Paris of the
longitudes of both coasts of South America, 1 now have the honor to forward
herewith copy of a letter, and translation thereof, addressed to me by the
Marquis d’Avila e de Bolama, on the 8th instant, by which it will be seen
that the necessary orders have already been given by His Most Faithful
Majesty’s government to the proper officers in the Azores, Madeira, and
continental Portugal to render to the Navy of the United States their
services in the proposed undertaking. I add a copy of my reply to the
marquis’s note.
I have not been able to learn whether His Majesty’s government will detail
one of their ships of war to aid in these scientific observations, but as
neither Mr. Corvo nor the Marquis d’Avila has said anything in reply to the
suggestion of the Secretary of the Navy on that point, I infer not, and in
this I am confirmed by the expressed purpose of the new cabinet to practice
economy as far as possible in naval matters.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
131.—Translation.]
Marquis d’Avila e de
Bolama to Mr. Moran.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Direction of Consulates and Commercial
Affairs,
Lisbon,
March 8, 1877.
In addition to the note dated 10th January last, which my predecessor had
the honor to address to your excellency, I now have the honor to inform
you that the necessary orders have been sent to the civil governors of
the districts of Azores and of Funchal,
[Page 460]
and on the continent to the heads of scientific
institutions and to the civil governors of districts where sea-ports are
situated, in order to offer to the Navy of the United States their good
services, which it perchance might require in the studies which it
proposes to undertake in order to determine telegraphically from Paris
the longitude of both coasts of America, and that also the general
direction of geodesical studies and the direction of telegraphs and
light-houses of the kingdom have already knowledge of the resolution of
the government of His Majesty to co-operate in the proposal of the
United States of America.
I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your excellency the
assurances of my highest consideration.
Foreign Office, March 8,
1877.
MARQUIS D’AVILA E de
BOLAMA.
Sen. Benjamin Moran, &c., &c.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 131.]
Mr. Moran to the
Marquis d’Avila.
Legation of the United States,
Lisbon, March 12,
1877.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your excellency’s note of the 8th instant, in which you are
so good as to inform me, with reference to my correspondence with your
predecessor on the subject, that the necessary instructions have been
sent to the civil governors of the districts of Azores and Funchal, and
on the continent to the heads of scientific institutions and to the
civil governors of districts where seaports are situated, in order to
afford to the Navy of the United States their good offices which it may
require in the studies which it proposes to undertake to determine
telegraphically from Paris the longitudes of both coasts of South
America; and that the direction-general of geodesical studies, and the
director of telegraphs and light-houses of the kingdom, have also
already been informed of the resolution of the government of His Majesty
to co-operate in the proposal of the United States in regard to these
contemplated scientific observations.
I have to thank your excellency for the information contained in your
above-mentioned note, and for the cordial manner in which His Most
Faithful Majesty’s government has responded to the suggestions of that
of the United States in regard to the proposed undertaking. I shall
promptly forward a copy of your excellency’s note to the Secretary of
State at Washington, and when I am favored with further information, on
the subject to which it relates will do myself the honor to communicate
it to you.
With renewed assurances of my highest consideration, I am your
excellency’s most obedient servant,
His Excellency the Marquis d’Avila e de
Bolama, &c., &c.,
&c.
