Mr. Starbuck, district attorney, to Mr. Boar, Attorney-General.
Salem, North Carolina, December 30, 1869.
[190] Sir: The United States circuit court at Raleigh has just closed its session of about four weeks. I filed a petition and obtained thereon an order for the sale of the perishable portion of the property found on board the steamship Hornet, alias Cuba, consisting of ship-stores, the furniture of the vessel, and a large quanity of gunpowder. This became necessary to save the property from the damage which must ensue by next June *term, to which the Case of the Hornet comes up by appeal, as you have doubtless ere this been informed by Mr. Phelps, the assistant district attorney in this case.
This property will be sold and the proceeds held by the marshal subject to the final decision of the case, which will probably be made at June term, 1870, of this court.
I am, sir, very respectfully, yours, &c.,
United States Attorney.
Hon. E. R. Hoar, Attorney-General.