ministers and consuls in Russia, China, Japan and the Sandwich Islands, to learn, if possible, the whereabouts of the boys if living, or, if dead, the place, time and probable cause of their decease.

The subscriber also prays that your honor may be pleased to give this your immediate attention.

Your humble servant,

New Bedford, April 2, 1853.

WILLIAM HALL.

Letter to the Secretary of State, from Hon. A S. Cushman, of New Bedford.

HON. LEWIS CASS, Secretary of State,
Washington City.

SIR-Allow me to say to you that I have seen the letter written by Mr. Hall that I know something of the case in question, and that I most cheerfully concur in the subject of his letter to you; hoping that you will hear his prayer in his distressed condition.

Mr. Hall is one of our most respected citizens, and has the hearty sympathy of our entire community; therefore, I can with propriety, recommend him to your notice. Your obedient servant,

A. S. CUSHMAN,
United States Commissioner.

New Bedford, April 2, 1859.

Letter from the United States Secretary of State to Mr.

Hall.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, April 7, 1859.

DEAR SIR: Your communication of the 2d inst., and also two letters from Mr. A. S. Cushman and Mr. A. H. Howland, respecting the abandonment of your son and Albert Sherman, on the shores of the Okotsk Sea, have been received.

Agreeably to your request, instructions have been sent to the United States Consuls at Hong-Kong, Shanghai, Sidney, Mauritius, Hilo, Lahinia, and Honolulu, directing them to make inquiries concerning these young men, and to cominunicate any information which they may obtain to this Department.

Your obedient servant,

JOHN APPLETON,

Assistant Secretary.

WM. HALL, Esq., New Bedford, Mass.

Letter from Rev. 8. C. Damon, seamen's pastor at Hono

lulu.

Honolulu, July 26, 1859.

DEAR SIR:-Your letter of the 2d now lies before me. In reply let me say, that I am acquainted with all the facts in regard to the ship Condor, and her being condemned at Honolulu. I had considerable to do with the crew, but I do not remember to have

heard them speak of your son's being left in the Okotsk Sea.

As you have doubtless, ere this, heard the particulars from Captain Whiteside, I hope your anxious mind has been relieved. At present, I know not if any of the crew are in Honolulu, but I will make inquiries when the ships return from sea. You know that none of these ships will be reported until September or October. In the meantime, I shall be glad to hear from you again, unless your mind has been put at rest by the captain's statement. In conclusion, let me say, that the condemnation of the Condor was a most unfortunate affair for the crew. They were paid off here, at Honolulu prices, and obtained orders which were sold back to the agent at a low figure. I suppose all is right, but still I could not but look on and feel sad, for this was one of the best crews that ever came into Honolulu. Yours truly,

Second Letter from the Secretary of State.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, December 20, 1859.

WILLIAM HALL, ESQ.,

New Bedford Mass.

SIR:--Referring to the communication of the 7th of April last, addressed to you, in reply to your letter of the 2d of the same month, respecting your son, who is supposed to have been abandoned on the shores of the Okotsk Sea, I have now to transmit, for your information, a copy of a despatch, (No. 17,) received from the United States Consul at Honolulu, in reply to the instructions of the Department on the subject.

I regret to inform you that the other United States Consuls to whom similar instructions were sent, have been unable to furnish any information concerning your son.

I am sir, your obedient servant,

JOHN APPLETON, Assistunt Secretary.

Despatch from the U. S. Consul at Honolulu. No. 17.

CONSULATE OF THE U. S. AT

Honolulu, S. I., October 15, 1859.

SIR:Your letter of inquiry, under date of April 1, 1859, in relation to the fate of two young men, viz., Daniel W. Hall and Albert Sherman, of Massachusetts, who sailed from New Bedford in August, 1858, on a whaling voyage, &c., in the ship "Condor," Samuel H. Whiteside, master, and who are reported to have been left on the shore of the Okotsk, &o., was received; and in answer thereto, I can only at present say, that early last spring, and long before the receipt of your despatch, the ship "Condor" was condemned and sold in this port, consequently, the crew were discharged, and some of them shipped again to return home, while others of them shipped in various vessels for another whaling expedition; and that immediately after condemnation and sale of the "Condor," Capt. Whiteside returned to New Bedford by way of San Francisco, since which time I have not seen any of the officers or crew of said vessel, nor have I been able to obtain the least information on the subject.

No information touching the matter, was communicated to me, or to any other person, as I can learn, while the crew were in this port. Some of the seamen who shipped on a whaling voyage, will, undoubt