320                DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCEO 
Europe, and to require it to be in regular communication with those who are

intrusted with another sphere of duty, the success of which materially depends

upon its hearty and active co-operation. 
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 
JAMES E. HARVEY. 
Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, 
Secretary of State. 
[Telegram.] 
Inform Craven or some other commander that a rebel armed steamer was seen

off-Sicily a few days ago. 
JAMES E. HARVEY. 
Ron. H. S. SANFORD, 
United States Minister, Brussels. 
Mr. Harvey to Mr. Sewar 
No. 296.J                       LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, 
Lisbon, October 14, 1864. 
SIR: The telegram communicated herewith was received from the United 
States consul at Liverpool yesterday. Another, containing substantially the
same 
facts, reached this legation on the 11th instant. 
This information has been sent to our consul at Madeira; but there is no
in. 
mediate opportunity of forwarding it to the Azores. It is quite impossible
to corm 
municate directly with our naval officers now in Europe, as the whereabouts

of the different ships is as unknown to me as to Mr. Dudley at Liverpool.
ThiB 
simple fact illustrates the absolute necessity and importance of at once
perfect- 
ing some mode of organization by which all the agents of the government abroad

may act in concert and with efficiency. Otherwise commerce will be exposed

to constant danger from piratical cruisers, and the naval force which is
or may 
be maintained in Europe will continue to be impaired in usefulness. 
I venture to hope that this subject may receive the attention of the proper

department, and that a simple plan may be put in operation, whereby it will
be 
always pracicable to invoke the aid of a ship-of-war in emergencies like
the 
present. 
Since the withdrawal of the official agent in the Algarve there is reason
to 
apprehend that the secluded resorts of that part of the coast, which are
infested 
by a bad population, may be at any time employed to our serious injury. 
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 
JAMES E. HARVEY. 
Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, 
Secretary of State. 
[Telegram.l 
LIVERJPOOL, October 12-3 p. m. 
Screw steamer Laurel, 269 tons, one funnel, two masts, sailed from Liverpool

on Sunday, with Captain Semmes, a number of guns, ten officers, and one hum-

dred men, supposed for some other vessel. Advise consuls at Madeira, &c.,

and naval officers. 
CONSUL LIVERPOOL. 
A ER1CAN M INISTER, Lisbon.,