Joy Morris to Aali Pacha, February 23, 1866

Mr. Morris to Aali Pacha.

Highness: The representatives of foreign powers at the Sublime Porte have been deeply concerned by the maritime disasters which are annually renewed at the entrance to the Bosphorus, and which occasion the death of a great number of seamen, and serious material losses.

They have, therefore, deemed it necessary to advise on the most efficacious means of “preventing these misfortunes, and of attenuating, as much as possible, their fatal consequences.”

While I reserve the honor of conversing with your honor on the subject of the pratical means recognized as the most useful in such cases, other than the establishing of lighthouses, so as to facilitate to navigators the entrance of the Bosphorus, which is so dangerous in foggy weather and during the night, I limit myself at the present time to the calling of your highness’s attention to the necessity of establishing the means of preserving the lives of shipwrecked seamen, who, saved from the sea, find themselves abandoned, without aid or shelter, on a bleak and desert coast, exposed to other dangers, and to new sufferings. It will suffice, I am convinced, to point out to your highness the present painful sketch of things, so as to impress your highness with the urgent necessity that exists of remedying the evil.

In this view, I take the liberty of proposing—

1. The construction along the coasts neighboring the entrance of the Bosphorus, of huts for the sheltering of the shipwrecked mariners.

2. The establishing of batteries, projecting fuzes of preservation, as well as of all the measures generally adopted in similar cases by maritime powers.

I flatter myself that, thanks to your highness’s intervention, the Ottoman government will be pleased to take this proposition into serious consideration, be dictated by sentiments of humanity, as well as in the view of promoting the interests of commerce and international navigation.

In the hope of receiving a favorable reply, I embrace the present opportunity of offering to your highness assurances of my high respect and most distinguished consideration.