Mr. Thompson to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of
the United States,
Petropolis, January 12, 1894.
(Received February 8.)
No. 135.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of
a communication from Capt. Picking, inclosing a letter to him from R. A.
Saldanha da Gama.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 135.]
Capt. Picking to
Mr. Thompson.
United
States Cruiser Charleston,
Rio de
Janeiro, December 11,
1893.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith the
translation of a note received from Rear-Admiral Saldanha da Gama this
morning. The translation was kindly made for me by Capt. Castilho,
commanding the Portuguese man-of-war Mindello. I
will send a copy of the original if you desire it.
I am glad that Saldanha da Gama has finally taken a stand in one
direction or the other. Certainly he should have done this a long time
since.
You note what he says relating to the conditions on which he will fire on
the city.
The insurgent vessels have finally been driven to seek an anchorage at a
considerable distance from the coast on the west side of the bay. The
firing there has been too hot for them.
There is no special news here, and I am sorry I can not report a clear
day.
Yours, etc.,
Henry F. Picking,
Captain U. S. Navy, Senior Officer
Present.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 135.]
Rear-Admiral da
Gama to Capt. Picking.
Rio de
Janeiro, December 10,
1893.
To his excellency the superior
commander of the naval forces of the Republic of North America
anchored in the harbor of Rio de Janeiro:
I have the honor to communicate to your excellency that on this date I
have taken the command in chief of the naval revolutionary forces in
this harbor against the government of Maréchal Floriano Peixoto.
In this position, being decided to use my best endeavors to overthrow the
situation which oppresses and degrades my country, my most earnest wish
is at the same time to safeguard as much as possible the city of Rio de
Janeiro, with its numerous commercial interests, from the effects and
contingencies of the struggle. For my part, therefore, the compact
entered into by my predecessor of not firing with great guns from the
fleet against the city unless some very urgent circumstances or unless
the batteries on shore shall provoke such fire.
I beg your excellency to be kind enough to give notice of the contents of
this communication to the diplomatic representative of the Republic of
the United States of North America in this country and avail myself of
this opportunity to offer to your excellency the assurance of my
personal esteem and distinct consideration.
Luiz Felippe de Saldanha da
Gama,
Rear-Admiral.
