No. 638.
Aristarchi
Bey to Mr. Fish.
New York, September 30, 1874. (Received October 1.)
Mr. Secretary of State: The governor of Bingasi has informed the department of foreign affairs at Constantinople of the humane conduct of Mr. Vidal, consul of the United States of America at Tripoli, in Africa, during the prevalence of the bubonic plague at Bingasi, while Mr. Vidal was temporarily sojourning there.
Mr. Vidal, who was stopping in that city simply as a private individual, visited Merdj, with the commission which had been appointed for the purpose of studying the nature of the malady on the spot, and of adopting prophylactic measures; he gave his most active co-operation, and thus rendered services which have been highly appreciated.
His excellency Aarifi Pasha, while commending the conduct of Mr. Vidal, instructs me, Mr. Secretary of State, to convey to the Washington Cabinet the sincere thanks of the authorities of Bingasi and of the imperial government for the same, and I deem myself happy to be the interpreter of these sentiments.
Be pleased to accept, &c.,