Mr. Tuckerman to Mr. Seward.
Sir: At a late hour last evening, I received a dispatch from Admiral Farragut, dated on yesterday, “off Syra,” informing me that he was on [Page 130] his way to Constantinople with the United States steamers Franklin and Frolic, and requesting me to telegraph for a firman for the latter vessel to pass the Dardanelles, with himself and staff; which I accordingly did. The admiral also informed me that he arrived off Syra “in time to join in the congratulations of the people of Greece to their sovereign, upon the safe delivery of her Majesty of her first-born.” The birth of an hereditary heir to the crown of Greece, which formed the subject of my last-dispatch, continues to elicit from the people and the press expressions of unaffected satisfaction. * * * A native-born prince, who indeed, if he reigns, will be in fact the first Greek King recorded in history; who, in conformity with the Hellenic constitution, must profess the tenets of the orthodox or “Greek” church, will do more to fix the wavering mind upon the inevitability of monarchism in Greece, than could any event or circumstance at the present time. Whatever dreams of republicanism may have at times disturbed the popular mind here, the true friends of the Hellenic race cannot but perceive that such ideas are incompatible with the character of the people and the political surroundings of the kingdom.
The ministerial counsel is, I think, more a unit than it has been, upon the necessity for providing funds for the support of the Cretan refugees, and thus indirectly supporting the insurgent movement in Candia. Some differences have heretofore existed on this head, not from want of interest in the struggling Cretans, but solely from financial considerations. The outside pressure has, however, overruled these objections and the refugees will continue to be sustained at the public charge. The opposition has pressed the government for an explanation of the apparent apathy on its part with regard to the affairs of Crete. The answer has been, that at a proper time the correspondence will show that no apathy exists; and that the present government has done more for Crete than the preceding ministry. With this answer the interrogators profess to be content. I have reason to believe that remonstrances to this government on the part of France have been of so unequivocal a character as to account in a measure for the seeming inactivity of the ministry in Cretan affairs.
I have the honor to be, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.