Mr. McCulloch, collector, to Mr. Glenn, district attorney.
Collector’s Office, November 1, 1820.
Dear Sir: Upon receiving your note with that of the Spanish consul inclosed, an order was immediately given to two inspectors of the customs to proceed to the point and examine the several vessels mentioned in a particular manner, and a report has just been handed to me by the officers thus appointed, the result of which, in their own words, is as follows:
At Captain Merrick’s wharf found a new schooner completely rigged, with three gilt stars on the stern, no name, and nothing on hoard except a small quantity of ballast. The second vessel named was not found. There are other schooners at the wharf, viz.: the Blucher, Waverly, and a quite new vessel, mast standing only, and a considerable quantity of water in the hold.
The brig Independencia has 15 guns mounted on deck, and her old or former armament; no sails bent; with two persons on board.
[145] *To this I add that the first schooner (with stars) is owned by Captain Kelly, the Blucher, by Coll’s Tennant, the Waverly, by C. Malloy and J. Williams. The two last have lately returned from commercial voyages, the first is, as well as the last, owned by persons hitherto clear of any imputations of such proceeding as the consul seems to apprehend. It must be supposed he is deceived by persons who report in this case without knowledge of the ownership or circumstances of the vessels beyond their outsides: The Independencia is a public vessel of the Buenos Ayrean government, and cannot be detained when she is ready to proceed, unless upon knowledge of illegal armament, &c.
Elias Glenn, esq.
P. S.—The new vessel cannot move till measured, &c.