JOHN DAVIS, Acting Secretary to Charles R. Lowell, August 7, 1883

No. 241. Mr. Davis to Mr. Lowell.

Sir: With reference to your No. 580, and to the correspondence therein indicated respecting state-aided emigration from Ireland, I inclose copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, dated the 4th instant, containing the result of an investigation conducted by the board of emigration of the State of New York into the circumstances attending the arrival at that port of certain persons specially cited by Lord Granville at your interview, in illustration that those who had been helped to depart had friends and relatives here to receive and care for them on their arrival.

The report includes the affidavit of the parties, and of an officer who endeavored unsuccessfully to find the persons who had apparently invited the immigration, and announces that under the circumstances these destitute and helpless folks were reshipped to their native country.

Inasmuch as Lord Granville frankly imparted to you the documentary evidence upon which the commission had felt justified in aiding the departure of these individuals, it seems proper for you to explain to him the failure of any friends to appear and receive them here, and the consequent necessity of the port authorities to return the immigrants after a reasonable delay and an unavailing effort to discover those upon whom it had been believed they could depend.

I am, &c.,