Office of the Historian

Mr. McCulloch, collector, to Captain Webster.

Custom-House, Baltimore,
Collector’s Office, December 18, 1819.

Sir: You will please to proceed immediately to Norfolk, and apply to any officer of the United States, having a suitable force at command, [Page 501] to assist you *with all speed to intercept the brig Irresistible, to detain, arrest, and bring back to this port, or any district of the United States, the said brig; her commander and crew having violated the laws of the United States by entering and recruiting men in our district, thereby increasing her force, &c., in breach of our neutrality. [135]

You will, therefore, run straight down, without stopping, and get ahead of the brig, if possible; and apply to the naval commander of any of the United States vessels to assist to stop her, and bring her in for trial for the said offenses.

Yours,

  • J. H. McCULLOCH.
  • Captain J. A. Webster.