Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-06-27
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
If|0SLjDnfOD 2ofh lfgycb

Washington goth yho,rct, 1928.
SIR; have received your letter Of the 9th in
slant, containing copy OF resolution adopt
cd by the Committee on Retrenchment. in
which they are pleased 10 enquire--Did john
III. Pleasans 70 bearer OF dispatches from the
United States TO Rio Janeiro and BucnoS Ayrcs,
in 1925? Did he deliver the dispatches 10
the proper authority al Rio Janciio and Buc.os
Ayres: II lac did not 80, what became Of Inc dcs-
spatches who bore them TO Rio Jancro and Buen-
os Ayres? Where did !. H. peasants go after he
left the United States! " as il not known 10 the
Department, when his account was settled and paid
him, that he had not been TO Ri" Janeiro Blu
enos Ayres, as bearer o dispatches from this Gov
eminent?
In reply, have the honor TO state, for the in
formation OF the committee, that MIR. Peasants was
engaged in the Spring oil 1925 TO carry to our res
pcctiyc Charges DIES Aiaires at the Brazls and
Duenos Ayres, their credentials, commissions, and
general instructions, and other dispatches, from
this Department, that with that view, he left the
city OF Richmond, the place OF his residence on
the 10Th day of April, and embarked at The port of
New York, on The 18th May, 1925, or board the
brig William Tell, having employed The intcrme-
date time in seeking, from Baltimore 10 Boston, a
vessel i'll which he could obtain passage: chat
at sea, he taken 80 III as TO be apprehcnsivc Of
his life, which he supposed would be in imminent
danger it he continued the voyage, and meeting a
vessel NJ bound to Antwerp, he transferred
himself 10 her, and committed the dispatches with
Nhl n hc charged 10 the care OF Captain Hin
man, the master of the vessel William Tell: that
the dispatches both for Mr.. Forbes, our Charge
TAiiaires at BucnOs Ayres, and for Mr.. Racquet,
our Charge d'Afllres OF Rio Janciro were deliver
cd by the Captain of the William Tell TO the form
or gentleman on the 18th day Of August 1925, as
will appear by an extract from a despatch from him
under date the 18th day OF September, 1925, mark
cd A, and that those intended FOR Mr.. Racquet were
received by him on the 10th Oct 1925, as Will ap-
pear by an extract from despatch from him,
der date the I2th Of November, 1929, which is
marked u.
beg leave also to refer to copy Of letter from
Dir. ~Pleasants, under date the 9Th day of July,
iS25, marked {, and to extract from letter
trptn him, under date the I'D October 1925 mark
ed ID, as explaining more fully the motives which
induced him 10 change his destination, and to cOin-
init tie public dispatches in hi; care to Capt. Hin
man. During his voyage ia the Antwerp vessel,
MIR. Pleasants met az sea a vessel bound TO Liver
pool, TO which he transferred himself, and he arrv-
ed in that port on the first day of July 1925. He
reached the port OF New fork, his return TO
the United States, on the 22nd October 1925,
bringing with him dispatches for this Department
from Alr. X. King, our Minister at the Court of
London.
Ii was known at this Department, when the ac-
count oil Mr.. Pleasants settled and closed, that
he had not reached Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Ay-
res; but it also known dat the dispatches
which had been e?trustGt 10 him, had been re-
ceived by the persons 10 whom they rcspec-
lively addressed; and it was believed that be had
been prevented from personally delivering then by
The causes already stated Surprising That the al
H'c.ion of disease did not occasion forfeiture o.
all claim for expenses, and al compensation for
services, the allowances made 10 him were accord
ing TO established usage, which has prevailed as
iar back as any traces Of the accounts Of bearers
Of dispatches can be discerncd in tie Treasury
Agreeably 10 that usage they generally allow
ell their expenses, personal and travelling, from
the port OF embarkdtion their passage money at
eea, their expenses, personal and travelling from
the roTt OF deba;katon 10 the places OF their dcs-
GnatioD, and the like expenses and passage money
on their return home; and they receive, moreover,
compensation for their services Of So per day,
out of which they dcIray their expenses whilst
they remain at The places to which they are sent,
lr may stay az Washington for dispatches.
Upon an examination OF Mr.. Pleasauis account
it will be seen that IL has been adjusted according
10 these principle; and, Of the sum received by
him 1855 dollars was lOr per diem allowance, and
The residue Oh account OF expenses and passage
money.
1t was not believed that thc visitation Of Proyi-
dence with Which he was afflicted ought 10 de-
privc him Of all allowance for expenses and all
compensation for services, but it was not thought
light that the per diem should be continued du-
ring the whole period Of bis absence from home,
aud uHtiI his return 10 New York on the 22d DC
tober, 1926. II was therefore limited 10 the 22i
August 1926 thst being the time when it vas es-
,inatcd he might have returned TO the H. States
q, after abandoning The voyage to South America
lac had sought opportunity Of coming home, in-
aiead OF proceeding 10 Europe. IL was within the
discretion Of the Department 10 have cOmpcnsat-
"a HIM as tic bearer OF dispatches from Mr.. King,
but II vas bot deemed proper 10 make him any al
jowance for that service.
Ihave The honor tobc,
With great respect,
Your oJcdicnt servant,