Translation: To his excellency, Reschid Pasha, minister for foreign affairs, of the Ottoman Sublime Porte etc. Your Excellency: It is with profound regret that I have the honour of announcing to your Excellency of the death of my father who succumbed this morning after a long bout of illness. This loss is all the more regrettable as he leaves behind eight children without any means of support, and whose existence up to now has depended on the generousness of the Sublime Porte on their upbringing.

Right now, I am soliciting from your Excellency the grace of wishing to continue in this regard the same sentiments that my father always honoured. I think it is useful to mention to your Excellency that for eight years I have constantly been of assistance to my late father in the publication of this newspaper and that this experience has placed me in the same level of knowledge and I have continued the publication of this journal during his long affliction that he suffered. In consequence I ask to continue this work under your fair patronage and consult you on all modifications that your Excellency would judge necessary in the spirit of this publication.

I will not neglect any factor to make me worthy of the confidence placed by the Sublime Porte on me. The heartfelt sentiments characteristic of your Excellency and the faithful and long service to the Government by my unfortunate father, is my sure guarantor that the position of the family will be put into consideration and of my zeal in serving the cause of which my unfortunate father considered sacred all his working life. I have the honour of being of your Excellency, Your humble and faithful servant Alfred B. Churchill Pera, 7 September 1846