Benjamin Moran to the Marquis d’Avila e de Bolama, March 12, 1877

Mr. Moran to the Marquis d’Avila.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of the 8th instant, in which you are so good as to inform me, with reference to my correspondence with your predecessor on the subject, that the necessary instructions have been sent to the civil governors of the districts of Azores and Funchal, and on the continent to the heads of scientific institutions and to the civil governors of districts where seaports are situated, in order to afford to the Navy of the United States their good offices which it may require in the studies which it proposes to undertake to determine telegraphically from Paris the longitudes of both coasts of South America; and that the direction-general of geodesical studies, and the director of telegraphs and light-houses of the kingdom, have also already been informed of the resolution of the government of His Majesty to co-operate in the proposal of the United States in regard to these contemplated scientific observations.

I have to thank your excellency for the information contained in your above-mentioned note, and for the cordial manner in which His Most Faithful Majesty’s government has responded to the suggestions of that of the United States in regard to the proposed undertaking. I shall promptly forward a copy of your excellency’s note to the Secretary of State at Washington, and when I am favored with further information, on the subject to which it relates will do myself the honor to communicate it to you.

With renewed assurances of my highest consideration, I am your excellency’s most obedient servant,