JACKSON, Secretary to Parson & French, August 2, 1883

Mr. H. J. Jackson to Mr. French.

Sir: I am directed by the commissioners of emigration to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th of July, which, owing to a mistake in the delivery thereof, reached this office but to-day.

In reply to dispatch No. 580, addressed by the American minister in London to the Department of State, we send herewith copies of the affidavits made by Mary Brennan and her daughter, Mary Lynch, also by Mary Clifford and Nan Sullivan, in which they state that they have no relatives in the United States willing and able to aid them, also expressing their willingness to return to Ireland. These persons were at the emigrant-landing depot, Castle Garden, from June 24 to June 30, and their statements were published in many newspapers throughout the country, yet no one came here to offer them employment or a home.

They were returned to Ireland at the expense of the steamship company that brought them, on an order from the collector of the port to the consignees, based on the report made to him by the commissioners of emigration to the effect that, in their opinion, the said persons were unable to take care of themselves without becoming a public charge.

As to the relatives of these persons said to have been willing to take charge of them, I beg to report that no address is given of Patrick Brennan, and we have been unable to find him.

We inclose to you the affidavit of Detective Officer Groden, to the effect that Mary Reardon referred to does not reside at No. 533 West Twenty-sixth street, New York. We find no post-office or railroad station named “Cuba Falls,” but a dispatch sent to Mary M. Sweeney, Cuba, Alleghany County, New York, has been returned unclaimed.

Very respectfully,