In the name of the city of the Committee I have the honor to represent, I accomplish the duty, heartfelt, of expressing to you a great many thanks for your generous offer of 20,000 lire and of food and mattresses, made through you by the American Ambassador for the benefit of the unfortunate refugees. Messina, Sicily and Italy, in this tragic hour of disaster, feel an infinite sense of emotion before the universal spectacle of nobility and human kindness, before the common impulse that moves, in aid of so many sufferers from the reckless violence of nature, the generous, munificent souls of the world. I beg, therefore, to ask you to be the bearer of our intense feeling to the illustrious American Ambassador, and to the American citizens, to whose magnanimous work will always be united the undying gratitude of this people. Please accept, Illustrious Sir, on this solemn occasion, the highest expression of my consideration. The Royal Commissioner, BLADIER. To Captain Reginald Rowan Belknap, Naval Attachè to the Embassy of the United States of America. RETURN OF THE “BAYERN.” With regret that we might not prolong our stay, we sailed as soon as the last slingful was over the side, at 7 P. M., arriving at Civita Vecchia at 4 P. M. the next day, Sunday, January 17, after an absence of just ten days. At Civita Vecchia we received a hearty welcome from the Sub-Prefect; Sindaco, captain of the port: Mr. Page and Mr. Pasigli, of the Committee; Mr. and Mrs. Billings, of Massachusetts, and Mr. Anniser, the Lloyd agent. There was time enough to transfer our aged charges ashore comfortably, with the expedition and baggage, to take the six o’clock train for Rome. Drs. Egidi and Alessandrini, two Italian women and two men nurses remained on board to care for the twenty-four orphans until they were given over into other hands. Everything of our cargo, and more besides, taken from the ship, had been distributed, as originally intended. Written instructions were given Dr. Egidi, who was left in charge of our party remaining on board, covering the delivering of children and return of the doctors and nurses to Rome. Written instructions were also given to the captain of the _Bayern_ to proceed to Genoa, and releasing the vessel there upon the delivery of the children into proper hands. Telegrams were sent to the American Consul-General and to the Quæstor at Genoa, informing of the coming of the ship with persons for them to receive. The American Ensign and the Red Cross were then hauled down, at 5.15 P. M., and I came ashore with the captain of the port.