Charles R. Lowell to By the President: Wm. M. Evarts, August 6, 1880

No. 311. Mr. Lowell to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: On the 2d of December last, Captain Tukey, of the American merchant ship Normandy, wrote to Mr. Hoppin, at that time chargé d’affaires, calling attention to the disadvantage in the London freight market suffered by American vessels on account of their exclusion from the conveyance of British Government stores. It was said by Captain Tukey that an exception had been made in the case of the Italian ship Manilla, and it was suggested that admission to this trade might be obtained for American vessels. On the 23d of December last, Mr. Hoppin addressed a note to the British Government on this subject, to which I have just received a reply. The reply states the decision of the Indian council not to alter the present practice of chartering or employing for the conveyance of stores to India vessels only that sail under the British flag. I inclose herewith copies of the notes of Mr. Hoppin and Earl Granville and of the letter of Captain Tukey, thinking that the correspondence may be of interest to the Department.

I have, &c.,