Mr. Straus to Mr. Bayard.

No. 151.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that the Bible House has for several months past been seeking permission from the minister of public instruction to print in Turkish thirty-live thousand Bible tracts, consisting of the Psalms the Proverbs, the four Gospels, and the Acts.

The minister of public instruction having declined to give the authorization, the matter was referred to the legation by the Bible House.

Yesterday I succeeded in having the grand vizier give orders for the necessary authorization.

I have, etc.,

O. S. Straus.