Hofmann to John Jay, September 17, 1874

Count Andrássy to Mr. Jay.

In gladly complying with the wish expressed in the esteemed note of the 4th of this month, the minister for foreign affairs has lost no time in notifying the imperial and royal minister of the Interior of the soon-expected .arrival of the board of engineers which has been sent to Europe by the Government of the United States of America, for the purpose of observation with reference to the improvement of the Mississippi, and to acquaint him with the desire of that board to examine the engineering works at Vienna.

In pursuance of this wish, Baron Von Lasser has instructed the Danube-regulation commission in Vienna to give to these officers any required information, and to grant them the desired examination of all plans, drawings, &c.

As to the other water-works of rivers being under the control of the state, which the commission may propose to inspect, the board will be pleased to apply to Ministerial Counsel Mathias Wanick, the chief of the water and street regulation department in the Imperial and Royal Ministry of the interior.

Should the commission also conclude to extend its visit to Hungary, and be desirous of obtaining a like recommendation, the minister for foreign affairs with pleasure expresses its readiness, after a communication from Mr. John Jay, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of, America, to offer his mediation alike in this direction.

The undersigned, minister of the imperial house and for foreign affairs, gladly embraces this opportunity to renew to the envoy the assurance of his distinguished consideration.

For the minister of foreign affairs.