Mr. Monroe, Secretary of State, to Mr. Wirt, district attorney.

Sir: Your letter of the 30th of last month has been received, with all the accompanying papers. It appears that you have sent all within your reach, or control, but it is feared that unless the originals can be procured, obstacles will be thrown in the way of the prosecution against Taylor, at Baltimore. It is still deemed most advisable that the Government should direct proceedings against him first, being as far as is yet known the principal offender. To this end it is imagined that the original examinations, subscribed by the witnesses and attested by the magistrate, must be forwarded, and if these cannot be removed from the files of the clerk’s office, where it is probable they may be, the attorney of the Government at Baltimore, it is apprehended, may experience embarrassments, unless the witnesses themselves are made to appear in person. The original custom-house papers may be dispensed with, as the collector at Baltimore could supply any defect that might be alleged in their authentification, but the letter of instructions from Taylor of the 11th of April, 1816, is an important document, the original of which, it is thought, it would be very desirable to have, if its *transmission be practicable. The papers that you sent are at any rate, for the present, returned, with a request that you will have the goodness to act upon the suggestion of this letter, so far as you may find it within your power. [31]

If the original examinations are not forwarded, perhaps if the inclosed could be made to take the shape of an exemplification, under seal, they might the better serve the purpose of incipient steps at Baltimore.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

JAMES MONROE.