I shall be permitted to express my great grief at an occurrence which has thus suddenly stricken from my side two gentlemen upon whose advice I so confidently relied in the discharge of my arduous task of administering the office of the executive department, and whose services at this interesting period were of such vast importance.
In some relief of the public sorrow which must necessarily accompany this most painful event, it affords me much satisfaction to say that it was produced by no carelessness or inattention on the part of the officers and crew of the Princeton, but must be set down as one of those casualties which to a greater or less degree attend upon every service, and which are invariably incident to the temporal affairs of mankind. I will also add that it in no measure detracts from the value of the improvement contemplated in the construction of the Princeton or from the merits of her brave and distinguished commander and projector.
JOHN TYLER.
WASHINGTON, March 7, 1844.
To the House of Representatives of the United States:
I transmit to the House of Representatives a report[105] from the Secretary of State, with documents, containing the information requested by their resolution of the 26th ultimo.
JOHN TYLER.
WASHINGTON, March 8, 1844.
To the House of Representatives:
In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 10th of January last, I communicate to that body a report[106] from the Secretary of State ad interim, which embraces the information called for by said resolution.