the indorsement of the American minister at Constantinople, Mr. E. Joy Morris; Governor Perham, of Maine, and Mr. Israel Washburn, collector of the port of Portland, who seem to have had a personal acquaintance with and regard for the claimant.

The unhappy colonists, to the number of forty or more, mainly Maine folk, declared their appreciation and gratitude for his services in a letter to him, now in the files of the State Department.

And, as before noted, the Department itself recommended some appropriation to reimburse him for his outlays. Under these circumstances, the committee have no hesitancy in recommending the passage of the accompanying bill, which leaves the adjustment of the amount, under fair limits, and all other details to the discretion of the Secretary of State.

March 17, 1886.

[Senate Report No. 238.]

Mr. Sherman, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, submitted the following report:

The Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom was referred S. Res. 16, having considered the same, beg leave to report in lieu thereof a bill for the relief of Mrs. Lizzie Maynadier Phelps, widow of Capt. Seth Ledyard Phelps, late minister of the United States to Peru, which they have the honor to recommend may be passed by the Senate.

The letter of the Secretary of State dated January 11, 1886, and addressed to the acting chairman of the committee, with reference to the subject-matter of the bill, is herewith presented, with request that it be printed with this report.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 11, 1886.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th instant, accompanied by a copy of Senate resolution No. 16, Forty-ninth Congress, first session, for the relief of Mrs. Lizzie Maynadier Phelps, widow of Seth Ledyard Phelps, late envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to Peru.

Captain Phelps died at Lima, June 24, 1885. He was commissioned June 18, 1883, as such minister. His salary has been adjusted up to the date of his death. While upon the subject of the Senate's resolution, I beg to submit for the consideration of your committee a few observations in connection therewith, without, however, being understood as intending in any manner to influence the comunittee's report or the Senate's later action.

I find, upon an inspection of the Department's records covering the period of Captain Phelps's official services, that they have been discharged with a due regard to the honor, dignity, and interest of the Government, and with commendable fidelity and ability. Besides his duties at his post, which, during the late revolutionary operations of the contending factions in Peru, were exceedingly onerous and difficult, it appears that my immediate predecessor, relying upon the tact and judgment of Captain Phelps, ordered him from Lima on a temporary and contidential mission to Central America. His delicate and important duties there were likewise discharged in such a manner as to secure the entire approval of Mr. Frelinghuysen. Upon the completion of this service Captain Phelps returned to Lima, entered actively upon the performance of his official duties there, and died, as previously stated, while in the Government service.

A few precedents may be here cited to show the action of Congress in similar instances where diplomatic officers have died abroad in the service.

The appropriation act approved March 3, 1879, gave to Mrs. Taylor, widow of Bayard Taylor, who died while minister to Germany, the sum of $7,000 to compensate his estate for the extraordinary expenses and losses incurred by it in consequence of his death so soon after reaching his post.

The joint resolution approved July 28, 1882, gave to Mrs. Hurlbut, widow of

General Hurlbut (Captain Phelps's immediate predecessor), General Hurlbut having died while minister to Peru, one year's salary and legal allowances, after necessary deductions of salary paid.

The joint resolution also approved July 28, 1882, gave to Mrs. Kilpatrick, widow of General Kilpatrick, who died while minister to Chile, one year's salary and legal allowances, after making proper salary deductions.

The joint resolution approved August 1, 1882, gave to Mrs. Garnet, widow of the Rev. Henry Highland Garnet, who died while minister to Liberia, one year's salary and legal allowances, after deducting the amount received up to his death. Mr. Garnet had only been in Liberia a few weeks.

The deficiency bill approved March 3, 1883, gave to Mrs. Marsh, widow of George P. Marsh, esq., who died while minister to Italy, the balance of one year's salary reckoned from June 23, 1882.

The act approved December 23, 1884, gave to Mrs. Jane Venable, widow of William E. Venable, esq., who died as minister to Guatemala, the sum of $5,636.87, being the balance of one year's salary. In this case, Mr. Venable was commissioned March 14, 1857, and died at Guatemala, August 22 of that year, before presenting his credentials. Consequently the action of Congress dates twenty-seven years after the minister's death.

The deficiency bill approved March 3, 1885, gave to Mrs. Wing, widow of E. Rumsey Wing, esq., who died while minister to Ecuador, and to Mrs. Hunt, widow of William H. Hunt, esq., who died while minister to Russia, a sum equal to six months' salary in each case. Mr. Wing was commissioned minister-resident November 16, 1869. Shortly afterwards, however, Congress discontinued the mission to Ecuador.

Under all the circumstances, therefore, I am inclined to the opinion, which, of course, is offered with a due regard to the rights of the committee, that the proposed action of Congress is one both just and worthy of bestowal.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. JOHN SHERMAN,

T. F. BAYARD.

Acting Chairman Committee on Foreign Relations, U. S. Senate.

FIFTIETH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION.

May 23, 1888.

[Senate Repor. No. 1360.]

Mr. Dolph, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, submitted the following report:

The Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 474) for the relief of General G. Cluserét, having had the same under consideration, respectfully report:

The committee adopt the report made by Mr. Russell, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House, at the present session of Congress, which is as follows:

The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 474) for the relief of General G. Cluserét, make the following report, to wit:

In obedience to Department circular of May 23, 1880, to the United States consul-general at Constantinople, the claimant was employed by said consulgeneral for the collection of statistics and the making of a report on "cotton fabrics and yarns imported into Turkey."

These statistics, owing to the condition of Turkey at the time, were very difficult to procure.

The consul-general in his dispatch of August 24, 1880, acknowledges his obligation to the American-Eastern Agency, represented by General Cluserét, who devoted much time and labor to the subject. The consul recognized the report to be as full and clear as possible.

Owing to the difficulty in obtaining the necessary data the fund at the command of the consul-general was not sufficient to meet the expenses incurred.

No payment was ever made by Mr. Heap, nor by the Government, to General Cluserét for his work.

The report of General Cluserét is to be found in the Consular Report No. 12, for October, 1881, entitled "Cotton-Goods Trade of the World, and the share of the United States therein."

Although there was no special contract made with General Cluserét, the Department of State thinks that it would be hardly just that he should have incurred any expense in obtaining valuable information for an officer of the Government without having the amount thereof, at least, returned to him.

Owing to the failure of the Department to grant the consul-general permission to apply the fund to his credit for such work, General Cluserét failed to obtain any compensation.

Your committee think General Cluserét has an equitable claim upon the Government for a reasonable sum, and they report a bill for $500, which is simply the amount he expended, not counting his time and labor in preparing the information. This view of the case is taken by the Department of State in the paper hereto annexed.

Perhaps General Cluserét would not have made this request were he not impoverished at the end of a long and honorable career as a soldier, during which he served in our own Army. The committee also refer to the statements of General Cluserét for the details of his service.

Application was made by Hon. Horace Maynard, while minister to Turkey, for compensation, and also through the Hon. Roscoe Conkling, Senator from New York, but nothing was ever done.

The value of this work will be appreciated when it is known that General Cluserét is an accomplished writer in many languages, and has fully earned the small sum which, in his old age and indigence, has been appropriated by the bill. The correspondence is hereto appended.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 13, 1887.

MY DEAR SIR: In reply to your letter of the 4th instant, touching the claim of Col. G. Cluserét, who rendered valuable assistance to Mr. Heap in connection with the Department's circular of May 23, 1880, I herewith transmit copies of the following correspondence upon the subject: (1) Mr. Cox to Mr. Bayard, No. 105, January 19, 1856, with inclosure; (2) Mr. Bayard to Mr. Cox, No. 86, of February 19, 1886; and (3) Mr. Bayard to Mr. Belmont, February 19, 1886, with inclosure, adding that the letter to Mr. Belmont covers a proposed bill appropriating $500 for the relief of General Cluserét.

I am, my dear sir, very respectfully, yours,

Hon. S. S. Cox, M. C.,

House of Representatives.

T. F. BAYARD.

[Inclosure 105.]

CONSTANTINOPLE, January 17, 1886.

DEAR SIR: When Mr. Maynard was United States plenipotentiary minister here I forwarded through Mr. Heap a memoir and collection of samples of every cotton goods employed in the Turkish Empire.

That work was very difficult, long, and expensive. I was obliged to correspond with ever villager from Persia to Herzegovina, give bakshish for every information and pay for every sample, several hundred in number. You know that in this country nothing can be accomplished without bakshish. For each sample I was obliged to pay 1 yard and transportation.

I completed three collections and memoirs including every information, not only on cotton trade, but also its manufacturing. I added statistics of import and export, etc. One was directed to the State Department, one to the New York Chamber of Commerce, and the third to that of Boston or Philadelphia, I don't recollect exactly which one. These last two were delivered by our friend, Colonel Dugane, of New York.

This work was undertaken in order to answer a questionary by the State Department to Mr. Heap, who did not think possible to give it a satisfactory solution. So in point of fact, having volunteered my services, without them being requested officially, I have no legal right to claim from the Treasury the refunding of my expenses.

Still, I have spent, besides my time and labor, nearly $500. Twice Mr. Maynard applied to the State Department for some compensation; so did R. Conkling, of New York, but to no purpose. If you, sir, through Congress, can obtain the refunding of a part, whatever it might be, of my disbursing, you will oblige me very much. Although, perhaps, not strictly correct in a financial point of view, I think that transaction perfectly equitable, for my work has been utilized not only by the State Department, but by the chambers of commerce.

Very respectfully,

Hon. S. S. Cox,

Gen. G. CLUSERÉT.

Plenipotentiary Minister of the United States of America.

No. 86.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 19, 1886.

SIR: I have received your No. 105 of the 19th ultimo relative to the equitable claim of Gen. G. Cluserét in connection with his service to Mr. Heap, consulgeneral at Constantinople, in carrying out a circular instruction of this Department of May 23, 1880.

At present I can only express the Department's regret that General Cluserét should not have been paid at the time, and that it has no appropriation available at this late date from which to recompense him for the valuable information furnished. In order, if possible, to compensate General Cluserét for his services, I have inclosed to the Hon. Perry Belmont, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, a copy of your dispatch, with a letter of explanation, a copy of which I herewith transmit, recommending the appropriation of $500, to be paid to General Cluserét.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

SAMUEL S. Cox,

No. 105.]

Constantinople.

T. F. BAYARD.

UNITED STATES LEGATION, Constantinople, January 19, 1886.

SIR: I knew a soldier in our civil war named General Cluserét. He lives here now, after military service with the Turks. He is a writer and economist, as well as soldier. He is now old and destitute. I called to see him at his room in the suburbs of this city. I found him endeavoring to get some warmth over a mangal. His condition excited sympathy.

He has an equitable claim for services rendered in the preparation of certain statistics, in response to a call of the Department. I requested him to put it on paper. I inclose you a reply of his letter, with a view to have you regard it, even at this late day, in a favorable light, and with the further object of an appropriation and payment, if you think it possible.

I am endeavoring to aid him personally by purchasing some of his pictures, but he is, or should be, an object of justice as well as benevolence.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. T. F. BAYARD,

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

S. S. Cox.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 19, 1886.

SIR: I have the honor to inclose for the consideration of your committee a copy of a dispatch from Mr. S. S. Cox, the minister of the United States at Constantinople, No. 105, of the 19th ultimo, relative to the petition of Gen. G. Cluserét for relief in connection with his services to Mr. G. H. Heap, consul-general of the United States at Constantinople, in carrying out a circular instruction of this Department in 1880.

General Cluserét's petition is correct as to the character of the information furnished, but I have been unable to find any record in the Department of his claim having been previously brought to its attention as he asserts.

The facts appear to be these:

Mr. Heap with his dispatch No. 96, of August 24, 1880, furnished a report on cotton fabrics and yarns imported into Turkey, in obedience to the Department's circular of May 23, 1880.

S. Doc. 231, pt 3- -50

A portion of his dispatch is as follows:

"For the information contained in this report I am chiefly indebted to the 'American Eastern Agency,' represented by General Cluserét, who has devoted much time and labor on the subject, and I believe that the answers to the subject will be found as full and clear as possible."

Mr. Heap also asked permission to expend the fund at his command for obtaining information for consular reports to meet the expenses incurred in making this one, after explaining how very difficult it was to obtain the necessary data. His dispatch does not say that he intended to recompense General Cluserét for his trouble or give any idea of how the money was to be applied.

At any rate no special acknowledgment was ever made of Mr. Heap's dispatch, although the report, a very full and valuable one, was published in the consular report No. 12, October, 1881, entitled “Cotton-goods trade of the world, and the share of the United States therein."

It is apparent from his petition that General Cluserét did not, when furnishing the information, expect to be compensated. Even now he says, "in point of fact, having volunteered my services without their being requested officially, I have no legal right to claim from the Treasury the refunding of my expenses.

It seems hardly just, however, that General Cluserét should have incurred any expense in obtaining this valuable information for an officer of this Government without having the amount thereof at least returned to him. But the failure of the Department to grant Mr. Heap permission to apply the fund to his credit for such work to the best advantage necessarily prevented him from offering to compensate General Cluserét, even if it was his intention to do so.

Under these circumstances the Department is disposed to agree with Mr. Cox that General Cluserét has an equitable claim upon this Government for the services rendered to it as explained, and entertains the hope that some measure for the petitioner's relief at this late date, to the extent, at least, of the $500 which he expended, besides his time and labor in preparing the information, may find equal favor with your committee and secure its cooperation in obtaining the passage of the necessary bill for General Cluserét's relief.

A draught of a bill to meet the case is here with transmitted for the consideration of your committee, and it is respectfully suggested that you authorize some member thereof to introduce it in the House, should the judgment of the committee be favorably disposed in the premises.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. PERRY BELMONT,

T. F. BAYARD.

Chairman Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives.

May 23, 1888.

[Senate Report No. 1362.]

Mr. Dolph, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, submitted the following report:

The Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 7255) for the relief of A. B. Tyan, having had the same under consideration, respectfully report:

The committee adopt the report made by Mr. Phelps from the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House at the present session of Congress, which is as follows:

In the winter of 1866-67, the colony of misguided Americans who had been led to settle at Jaffa, under the fanatic lead of the Rev. G. J. Adams, were brought to the verge of destitution. They had neither food nor money nor resources to procure either. Under these circumstances the colonists naturally turned to the consul of the United States at Jerusalem. This was Victor Beauboucher. Beauboucher came promptly to their relief, made constant trips between Jerusalem and Jaffa, and in the end found he had advanced to relieve their necessities and to aid their escape from Palestine $3,618.80 in gold.

Beauboucher applied promptly to our Government for the repayment of this

sum.

His application, indorsed by Secretary Fish, was transmitted to Senator Sumner, then chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations. A bill, introduced by