Office of the Historian

[770] *Mr. Pierrepont, district attorney, to Mr. Fish, Secretary of State.

Office of the Attorney of the United States for the Southern District of New York,
No. 41 Chambers Street, November 25, 1869.

Sir: Your letter of the 23d instant, inclosing copy of Delamater’s protest and your telegram of this date, are received.

The gun-boats were libeled as I stated, on the 23d instant, they would be, and upon the ground mentioned in that letter. I suppose a motion will soon be made to release them on bond. As a matter of course they will be so released, provided the bonds are satisfactory, unless the Government for some reason, or without reason except its will, desire that they should not be bonded. If the Government oppose their release on bond, I wish to be advised at an early date, as this will be an important question to be determined on a motion. If the Government are willing that they should be released on bond, then my course will be very different from the course which I shall take if the Government do not wish them so released. I think I can get a special admiralty *term appointed for an early trial of the libels, and thus dispose of the whole question by an early trial without any bonding. I respectfully await the expression of your views in the premises. [771]

Yours, very respectfully,

EDWARDS PIERREPONT,
United States Attorney.

Hon. Hamilton Fish,
Secretary of State.