The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-02-22
A GENEROUS ACTION
ON THE PART OF GREAT BRITAIN.
Her M'J'Ml. Government Plsc,s the steamer
Al,rt at the Dl.posai OF the uoitsd S,s,ss
for Gse Ia the Search tor Lisat. Gree. ~
.u5 lti's Pariy-Aetiou In Courrtas. X, y,

| for tss Ia the Search tor Lttas. Grst. 4
| lu'. Party-Aelion Ia Congress.
WASHINGTON, D. G., February 2l.-I,
the House to-day, shortly before adjourn
ment, tho Speaker laid before the Hous,
the following message from the President
To The Hou,e Of Representatives:
I transmit herewith The report Of III,
Secretary Of State OF the 2lst inst, where
by your honorable body, and through YOU
the people Of the United States may become
appraised Of the generous contribution msdt
BY Her britannia Msies:yB Government,
toward tho efforts for the relief oil Lieu
tenant Greelys Arctic exploring raHy, by
presenting TO the United States The Arctic
steamship Alert. CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
When the reading Of tho message was
finished, MIR. Randall called for the read.
lug OF the report In full. Tho otrer. be
said, was 30 generous coming from d
friendly power, that it ought TO De treated
with respect. .s #.3 .@ta
Tho report Of tho Secretary Of State was
read and several times applauded. 4 Mr.,
Randall asked unanimous consent for the
communication 10 bo spread on the Jour.
nal OF tho House az a mark OF the stpti.
ment OF the House. He further asked that
the communication be referred to the Cnm.
m'ttee on Foreign Affairs with the OF ject
OF having more formal and appropriate
r cognition OF the act Of the aBritish Gov.
ernment [Applause.] .fsl ! I
II object" exclaimed Finerty.
Mr.. randall then pu: his requeas in the
form Of Il motion, and 1t Was agreed TO-
Finerty and Robinson, of New York, alone
voting in the, negative. =s,, -
"Can We not have ships OF our OVID,
without beggiDg?' queried Robinson Of the
Speaker. !, l.sI ,'sys;; 7lll4l go =
"rhe Chair cannot answer that ques.
ton, responded the Speaker.
The House then adjourned until sa,ur.
day. 'S Z
t THE sEcRETARY's REPORT. l,t y
The following com nunica,ion explains
the action taken by the United States in
securing the British steamer Alert for use
il The Greedy relief expedition.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
- WASHINGTON, D. G., February 81.
To the President:
In the eearch for veFsels suitable for the
expedition now preparing for the relief OF
Lieut.. Greely and party, attention was
early dirtc.ed 10 the Alert, which is the
property OF the British government aud
was the advance ship OF the expedition
under Sir George Mares. 1t was de-
sired 10 secure this vessel, as
it is peculiarly fitted for the
intended service, and as the inspecting
officers recommended her Minister Co9ell
wgs instructed to ask whether $40 could be
spared for tho service. 1uform4tion OF tho
desire OF this Government having pre-.
viously aud informally reached tho Brit.
ish admiralty,a private intimR,ion wGscon.
we've 10 the Uai:el States Minia:er to tho
-tlec. ,ha! the Btiiish Government had
not forgotten the very considerable conduc!
Of this Government on the occasion OF the
recovery of the Resoluu; and that should
any suggestion ba made tha. the yc.ssl
would DB of use to the expedition Ahe
would he presented to ths United States
TIE RECOVERY OF THE REsoLurs.
The Resolute, vessel, as the President
remembers, formerly belonging to Her
Majesty's navy having been abandoned
in the Arctic region, was discovered and
brought to the United States by Ameri-
can Eeamen, and thereupon was purchased
by thie G5vefi. ment OF het cav o.s, repair
ed aud returned to Great Britain. On her
arriva! in E1gland Inc vessel was r..
ceiysd by tho Queen in person, and
the officers OF the U. S. Navy who took the
ship ,hither were treated With every official
and personal courtesy. The government
OF Her Majesty hes now given the Alert
to the United. States uncoudi,ionalv, win
her anchors, chains and snch OF her tqnip.
men!s as can be utilized. Recogn .zing
this graceful aud opportune &C. Of cnurtesy
on the part Of Her Msjgs:y's govtrament,
the undersigned to-day instructed Mr.. Low
ell ss follows, by cabl.: G Il.
"A MESSAGE or THANKS. -. z
"Her Majssty's Government having pre-
sented to the Goyernneu. Il the United
States the ship Ahrt to aid in the relief
OF Lieutenant Greedy and party, you will
inform tho Secretary Of .s!Ate for Foreign
Affairs that tho spirit which prompts this
act Of generosity, aud this evidence Of
sympathy with the object IN view, receives
the highest appreciation Ct ths President, as
it will that OF tue people Oft the United S:ates.
The President Aends hi, co.d'a! thanks fof
tho0pportunu gift Of tuis ve.sel, which he
accepts 10 the mans OF tho United States,
and v hich will be used in the humane
enterprise for which it is 80 peculiarly
adapted" d."t.F!lt lt s2,ss
R!spsc!fnlly submitted.