Mr. Bryan to Mr. Hay.

No. 146.]

Sir: Referring to the visit of the U. S. S. Wilmington to the Upper Amazon, I have the honor to report that on the 6th of April I received the following unsigned and undated telegram from Manaos:

Wilmington cruising up Amazon. No objection by Governor Para, Amazonas. Obtain permit if necessary. Inform governor.

Concluding that the message was from the commanding officer of the Wilmington, and noticing in such newspaper dispatches as the inclosed from the Paiz that the cruise up the Amazon River was by some considered unauthorized, I immediately mentioned the matter to the minister for foreign affairs, calling his attention to the decree of December 7, 1866, which opened the navigation of the high waters of the Amazon and its tributaries to foreign vessels. Dr. Magalhaes said that in answer to a telegram from the governor of Para, he had, although unnecessary, telegraphed authorization for the Wilmington to enter the Amazon, which message had not reached its destination before the departure of the American gunboat. The minister expressed gratification at the friendly visit of the Wilmington.

On the evening of April 15 Dr. Rodrigues, the editor of the Jornal de Commercio, sought me to show a telegram from his Manaos correspondent mentioning the alleged stoning of the American consulate, which dispatch was published the following morning. * * * Dr. Rodrigues also read me a private note written by him to President Campos Salles, conveying, with words of regret, the disagreeable intelligence. I made no comment beyond expressing doubt as to the reliability of the information. Dr. Rodrigues, however, vouched for the conservatism and veracity of his correspondent.

As I had no information in advance, either from Washington or from the commanding officer of the Wilmington, of the vessel’s coming, I could not prepare the way for her reception. As soon as I received your telegram of the 14th of March in answer to mine of the previous day, I sent a message commending Commander Todd to the good offices of my friend, the learned bishop of Amazonas. As the message was returned with the statement that communication by wire between Manaos and Para would be (as it has been) interrupted for several weeks, I could not send, as I had intended, notification to the two senators from Amazonas, with whom I had enjoyed pleasant relations during the last session of the Brazilian Congress. * * *

I have, etc.,

Charles Page Bryan.