Joáo de Andrade Corvo to H. W. Diman, July 29, 1876

Mr. Corvo to Mr. Diman.

ministry of foreign affairs—political bureau.

In answer to the note which Mr. Benjamin Moran addressed me on the 15th June last, desiring the re-imbursement of a sum of money which had been unduly paid to the civil governor at Ponta Delgada as fees and stamps for nine passports conferred on indigents, I beg to inform your excellency that the minister of the kingdom has communicated with me to that effect on the 21st instant.

His excellency informs me that the civil governor of that district, who was questioned on the subject, regrets in his answer this error, due no doubt to the fact that the consular agent had not declared, when demanding the passports, the state of poverty of the American citizens to whom they were destined, which was since asserted.

The minister of the kingdom states, moreover, that the above-mentioned civil governor is prepared to reimburse the amount of the said fees, (7,200 reis insular money,) and that on the same day he notified the minister of finance that the delegate of the treasury should be instructed to make restitution of the stamp money, amounting to 9,045 reis.

God keep your excellency.