Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams
Sir: Information has been received here from the United States consul at Amoy, China, to the effect that on the 26th of March last Commander Broad, of her Britannic Majesty’s sloop-of-war Cormorant, with a view to the rescue of such of the survivors of the American bark Rover, wrecked near the southern coast of Formosa on the 12th of the last-named month, as might be left in the hands of the savages of that island, proceeded to the scene of this painful disaster, having on board a Chinaman, the only known survivor of the ill-fated crew.
On the arrival of Commander Broad at the place he discovered the Rover’s small boat on the beach, and in attempting to land a force from the Cormorant was fired on from the jungle, which was so dense that it was found to be impossible, with the limited number of men at his command, to penetrate therein, and consequently the expedition was abandoned. It is proper to state that Charles Carroll, esq., the British consul at Tam-suin, Formosa, kindly interested himself in the matter, and accompanied the expedition for the purpose of rendering such assistance as might be in his power.
Under these circumstances I have to request that you will avail yourself of an early opportunity to express to her Majesty’s government in fitting terms the high appreciation entertained by this government of the generous and humane conduct of Commander Broad and Consul Carroll on that occasion. I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.