Mr. Blaine to Mr. Hirsch.

No. 50.]

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. King’s No. 62 of the 19th of December last, and of the extracts from the Levant Herald giving an account of the trial of Moussa Bey at Constantinople on accusation of the crimes of murder and robbery, and his acquittal; also of the copy inclosed therewith of Mr. King’s note of 18th ultimo to Said Pasha regarding the alleged attack of this person, Moussa Bey, on the American citizens, Messrs. Knapp and Raynolds, several years since.

Mr. King’s note is approved. The Department regrets the apparent miscarriage of justice in the late trials of Moussa Bey and the influences which seem to foreshadow a like miscarriage of attempts to bring this man to punishment in respect of other crimes. It would be a most unfortunate commentary on Turkish justice should it appear that the ministers of the courts act otherwise in his case than the proper rules of evidence demand.

I am, etc.,

James G. Blaine.