ROBINSON , United States Consul to George Bancroft, September 3, 1873

Mr. Gruner to Mr. Bancroft.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication dated September 1. In answer I beg to state that it is nearly an impossibility to ascertain the fact inquired for, there being no data to refer to. The passengers arriving here from the United States do not state their nationalities, but merely the State or city they came from, and the only criterion to go by is their name, which, of course, is only guess-work, as they may just as well be American-born as naturalized. Taking, therefore, into consideration that the passengers arrived here from the United States during the year 1872 amount to 3,910 first-class and 7,216 steerage, (the same proportion about in 1873 up to date,) it can be safely calculated that nearly from two-thirds to three-fourths of the former class, and at least five-sixths to seven-eighths of the latter, bear German names. From this statement, however, have to be deducted the commercial agents, who yearly make several trips to and fro; the quantity of those who remain in Germany permanently it is impossible to state, as all of them pass through this city for the interior. I judge, however, there are but few families, although it is said that lately more of the working-class of people have returned on account of the higher wages and cheaper living.

Trusting these explanations will meet your approbation,

I remain, &c.,