Mr. Bryan to Mr. Hay.
Petropolis, Brazil, April 2, 1901.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you of the departure on the 28th of March of the Benjamin Constant, a school-ship of the Brazilian navy, from Rio de Janeiro en route for the United States. She goes under sail and will make two stops, Pernambuco and Barbadoes, before reaching Newport News, her first port in the United States. Her commander is Capt. José Martins de Toledo, who is accompanied by a complement of officers and a large number of midshipmen.
I visited the ship shortly before her departure to wish Captain Toledo, his officers, and young men a happy voyage to the United States.
It is a long time since any Brazilian naval officers have had an opportunity to visit the United States and I am sincerely hopeful that they will bring back impressions that will be of mutual advantage to both countries.
I have, etc.,