Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Moore.

Sir: With reference to Mr. Sherman’s note of March 14 last, conveying, at the instance of the governor of Florida, an invitation and request that a British man-of-war should again visit Tampa on the 24th instant, on the occasion of the Queen’s birthday, I have the honor to inform you that I am in receipt of a dispatch from Her Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs stating that the invitation in question has been referred to the commander in chief on the North American and West Indies station, who will, I have no doubt, take such steps as the exigencies of the service permit to meet the desire so kindly expressed by the governor of Florida.

I have, etc.,

Julian Pauncefote.