WORTHINGTON, Collector to Folger, April 20, 1883

Mr. Worthington to Mr. Folger.

Sir: I beg leave to inclose herewith a communication from United States Minister Fish, at Brussels, of the 6th instant, advising me of the shipment to the United States of Irish pauper emigrants, shipped under the control of the British Government, by whom their journey is paid. These emigrants are reported as coming from the most distressed district of Ireland.

Accompanying this communication is an extract from the Moniteur Beige, Brussels. [See ante].

The steamship Phoenician arrived at this port on the 4th instant, having on board 420 ste rage passengers, of whom 213 were known as “assisted immigrants.”

The steamship Nestorian, which arrived on the 14th instant, brought 770 steerage passengers, of which number 538 were assisted immigrants, nearly all of whom were ticketed through to various parts of the west; some, however, being destined to the oil and coal districts of Pennsylvania.

The alien passenger commissioner represents to me that all these steerage passengers were able-bodied, and. therefore, prima facie, able to “take care of himself or herself without becoming a public charge.”

It is understood that the British Government supplied these assisted emigrants with money varying from £1 to £8 per family, according to the number of each family.

I regard this great influx of Irish pauper immigrants shipped under the control of the British Government as presenting a very grave question, and fraught perhaps with disastrous results, and I have deemed it my duty to transmit a copy of Minister Fish’s letter for Department consideration, and have, &c.,