Charles C. Marsh to D. A. Armstrong, May 18, 1872

No. 245. Mr. Marsh to Mr. Fish.

Sir: 1 have the honor to inclose herewith a copy and translation of the reply of the minister of foreign affairs to a note respecting the loss of the Shamrock at Genoa, and a copy of dispatch from the consul at Genoa on the same subject.

The reply of the minister, it will be observed, takes no notice of the evidence submitted on the part of Captain Ray, nor does it detail that upon the other side on which the conclusions of the ministry of the interior are founded.

So far as the conduct of the health-officers is concerned, it seems highly probable that the difficulty arose from the want of any means of communication between those officers and Captain Ray, and it certainly appears singular that there should be no person capable of speaking a language commercially so important as English in the service of the health-officer at Genoa.

I had expected a somewhat different reply in regard to the conduct of the health-officer, having been led by the consul’s letter of March 9 to suppose that officers action in the case had been disapproved by the local authorities, but it is evident that Mr. Spencer must have been Misinformed on that point.

It is probable that the government would furnish copies of the evidence before the commission of inquiry at Genoa, but I have not asked this, because it would in all probability be extremely voluminous, and would doubtless be in accordance with the conclusions of the ministry.

If further investigation is deemed necessary, I think the only judicious mode of pursuing it would be by the employment of counsel at Genoa. This would be a very expensive proceeding, and I do not think myself authorized to resort to it without special instructions to that effect.

I am, &c.,