Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1872, Part II, Volume I

[743] *Mr. Hoar, Attorney-General, to Mr. Smith, district attorney, Philadelphia.

Washington, May 14, 1869.

Sir: It has been orally reported to the Department of State, by the minister of Spain, “that the steamer Atlanta at Philadelphia has been sold to the Cubans, and that the steamer Florida at Chester, Pennsylvania, is being fitted out under suspicious circumstances.” To this last-named vessel the diplomatic representative of. Hayti has also called attention. You are referred to the copy¹of the letter to the United States marshal for the southern district of New York, sent you inclosed with my letter of the 12th instant, for general instructions in the premises.

Whenever complaint is made against any vessel on trustworthy evidence sufficient to establish before a court of justice probable cause to believe that such vessel is forfeitable for a violation of the neutrality laws, you are instructed to file a libel and arrest the vessel.

Very respectfully,

E. R. HOAR,
Attorney-General.

Aubrey H. Smith, Esq.,
United States Attorney, Philadelphia.

1. For copy of this letter see post p. 729