[127] *Mr. Hoar, Attorney-General, to Mr.
Fish, Secretary of
State.
Attorney-General’s
Office,
Washington, November 15,
1869.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
(with request for its return after perusal) a letter from the United
States district attorney at Philadelphia, inclosing a report of the
United States marshal there, relating to the steamer General
Dulce.
Very respectfully, yours, &c.,
E. R. HOAR,
Attorney
General.
Hon. Hamilton Fish,
Secretary of State.
[Inclosure No. 1.]
Mr. Smith,
United States attorney, to Mr. Hoar, Attorney-General.
Office of the United
States Attorney, Eastern District of
Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, November 13, 1869.
[128]
Sir: The marshal of the district, in
accordance with instructions to him, contained in a letter to
him from the Assistant Attorney-General, bearing date the 5th of
November, 1869, visited and examined the steamer General Dulce,
now lying in this port. He took with him Captain John H. Young,
who is an old and experienced ship-master, well acquainted with
such matters, and received from him a statement in writing,
relating to *the character and condition of the vessel, a copy
of which he has lodged with me. I have the honor to inclose you
a copy of this, and of a memorandum annexed, signed by the
marshal, showing his concurrence with it.
Very respectfully, yours, &c.,
AUBREY H. SMITH,
United States
Attorney.
Hon. E. R. Hoar,
Attorney-General.
[Page 825]
[Inclosure No. 2.]
Mr. Young to
Mr. Gregory, United States
marshal.
Philadelphia, November 10,
1869.
Sir: The undersigned, at your request,
visited the steamer General Dulce, now about ready for sea, and,
after a careful examination, respect-fully reports the said
steamer is in good order, of small capacity and power, say about
150 horse-power, with large deck accommodations for passengers.
The coal-bunkers are full of coal, and contain 87 tons, with the
intention of putting 50 tons more in the fore hold, for the
purpose of bringing her in trim; as her coal consumption does
not exceed 10 tons per day, it will be observed that the above
quantity will give her about thirteen days’ steaming.
[129] The quantities of stores on board
are, perhaps, not more than sufficient for twenty days’
consumption *for her ordinary crew.
In fact, the outfit (excepting coal) is under rather than over the
usual necessities for such a vessel.
Being entirely unsuited for anything else than passengers and a
very small amount of cargo, I respectfully submit that there is
nothing whatever of a suspicious character either in the vessel
or her outfit.
Respectfully,
- JOHN H. YOUNG.
- E. M. Gregory,
United States Marshal.
United States Marshal’s
Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, November 11, 1869.
I fully unite and agree with Captain Young in the foregoing
report, having accompanied him in the examination of the
ship.
E. M. GREGORY,
United States
Marshal.
