Mr. Harvey to Mr. Seward.
Sir:The telegram communicated herewith was received from the United States consul at Liverpool yesterday. Another, containing substantially the same facts, reached this legation on the 11th instant.
This information has been sent to our consul at Madeira; but there is no immediate opportunity of forwarding it to the Azores. It is quite impossible to communicate directly with our naval officers now in Europe, as the whereabouts of the different ships is as unknown to me as to Mr. Dudley at Liverpool. This simple fact illustrates the absolute necessity and importance of at once perfecting some mode of organization by which all the agents of the government abroad may act in concert and with efficiency. Otherwise commerce will be exposed to constant danger from piratical cruisers, and the naval force which is or may be maintained in Europe will continue to be impaired in usefulness.
I venture to hope that this subject may receive the attention of the proper department, and that a simple plan may be put in operation, whereby it will be always practicable to invoke the aid of a ship-of-war in emergencies like the present.
Since the withdrawal of the official agent in the Algarve there is reason to apprehend that the secluded resorts of that part of the coast, which are infested by a bad population, may be at any time employed to our serious injury.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.