Joy Morris to Fuad Pasha, August 18, 1868

Mr. Morris to Fuad Pasha.

Highness: The flag-ship of Admiral Farragut having arrived at the Dardanelles, I have the honor to solicit that permission be granted to said vessel to pass the straits. Although vessels of war of the size of the Franklin are excluded from the straits by the existing treaties, exceptions have been made from time to time in favor of such Vessels, when having on board a prince of royal blood. Hereditary dignities do not exist in the United States. If these exceptions are exclusively confined to princes of the blood, the historical personages of the United States cannot profit by the same, and an invidious distinction will thus be established against them by the Porte.

Admiral Farragut is the officer of highest rank in the American navy, and the most distinguished. His achievements in the late civil war greatly contributed to the salvation of his country and to the preservation of the American Union against its enemies. His fame has become cosmopolitan, and he has been received in all the courts of Europe with princely honors. Sovereigns have granted him extraordinary honors, regarding rather the facts of his history than his rank.

Admiral Farragut having been received with such distinction elsewhere, I venture to hope that his Majesty the Sultan, with his usual appreciation of distinguished exploits and services, will accord to him the exception heretofore only made in favor of princes.

The admiral desires to bring the Franklin to Constantinople exclusively for purposes of courtesy to a power with which the United States has always maintained the best relations, and with which it seeks to remain on the most friendly terms.

I beg your Highness to do me the honor to submit these considerations to his Majesty the Sultan, and to assure him that the concession of the desired permission will be regarded as a compliment to the American people, and to one of its most faithful and distinguished servants.

I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your highness the assurances of my perfect consideration.