[154] *Mr. McCulloch, collector, to Mr. Crawford, Secretary of the Treasury.
Collector’s Office, March 26, 1823.
Sir: It is proper to inform you that the Colombian cruiser General Paz, Chase commander, of whose situation I had written to you August 13, 1822, has been suddenly carried off from this port without declaration or clearance by the said John Chase, in contempt of the public authorities, and injuriously to individuals concerned.
The captain had been arrested here at the suit of a foreign agent, the cargo on board his vessel sold by order of court, and himself imprisoned for want of bail. The vessel remained dismantled for several months, till during the last week the captain received a discharge under the insolvent laws of this State, as is reported. This was unknown to me till information came from the cutter that he was preparing the vessel for sea. But this was done so secretly and expeditiously by a few of his officers and passengers that the officer of the cutter had scarcely started to bring the information before the privateer was under full sail and running down the river. Having a strong and *favorable wind, blowing almost a storm, she reached the capes and went to sea next morning, being followed in vain by our cutter, and, as I am informed, by the United States brig Spark, which, at my request through the collector of Norfolk, had been dispatched in pursuit. [155]
What has made the transaction more remarkable is the circumstance that several persons interested to observe his motions, and who were living around the spot, were unapprised of the preparations for the vessel’s departure, and were as ignorant as every one else; a few officers having put her under way at breakfast time, and some men having been silently dispatched the night before in two or three small boats to be taken on board below.
[Page 510]It was an additional unluckiness of occurrence that the captain and first officer of the cutter were both confined to their beds by sickness at the moment. The second officer, Mr. Philip Marshall, with great zeal and activity, got under sail and pursued the fugitive to the capes, agreeably to his orders, notwithstanding the boisterous season.
Wm. H. Crawford, Esq.