Office of the Historian

Mr. Boutwell, Secretary of the Treasury, to Mr. Fish, Secretary of State.

Treasury Department,
Washington, May 11, 1869.

[49] Sir: I have the honor herewith to trans*mit a copy of a letter received from the collector of customs at New York, in reply to [Page 782] my communication of the 8th instant, informing him of the alleged intended fitting out of the steamer Quaker City at that port to cruise against Spanish shipping under a letter of marque, communicated to me in your letter of the 8th instant.

Very respectfully,

GEO. S. BOUTWELL,
Secretary of the Treasury.

Hon. Hamilton Fish,
Secretary of State.

[Inclosure.]

Mr. Grinnell, collector, to Mr. Boutwell, Secretary of the Treasury.

Custom-House, New York,
Collector’s Office, May 10, 1869.

Sir: In reply to your letter of May 8 instant, with reference to the fitting out of the steamer Quaker City from this port to cruise against Spanish commerce under a letter of marque, I have the honor to say that, previous to the receipt of this communication, I had been advised of the suspicious movements in and about this vessel, and had ordered the captain of the revenue-cutter McCulloch to hold his vessel in readiness for any emergency which might arise in this connection.

[50] Subsequently, the testimony against the vessel growing stronger, I ordered the cutter into the *East River, within sight of the suspected vessel, at the same time placing her under the espionage of intelligent officers on shore, detailed to watch and report her movements.

I would further add that I have conferred with the United States marshal, General F. C. Barlow, who is prepared to act with me should any emergency arise requiring-his co-operation.

Be assured that I shall continue to exercise the utmost vigilance in this and kindred cases, and promptly advise the Department of whatever steps I may feel constrained to take to vindicate the present attitude of the Government under the neutrality act of April 20, 1818.

Very respectfully,

M. H. GRINNELL,
Collector.

Hon. Geo. S. Boutwell,
Secretary of the Treasury.