[46] *Mr. McCulloch, collector, to Captain Beard.
Captain Beard: Information is just given that a considerable quantity of goods has been landed at Annapolis from on board a Buenos Ayres privateer schooner, which was yesterday morning lying at anchor between Horn and Seeley’s Point; that it has been ascertained that a further quantity was to have been put on board a schooner with bright varnished sides, supposed to be the Holliday Oak, commanded by Captain Holliday Oak, of Annapolis, with a view to their transportation to Magothy River or this place. Though your force may be inadequate to take forcible possession of the privateer, yet I think it will be proper that you should make use of some exertion for the purpose and bring her into port for investigation. Probably by showing your flag she will quietly submit to authority.
At any rate you will receive by the vessel which carries this a re-enforcement of six men armed, under the direction of Messrs. W. H. Hansom and D. B. Watts, inspectors of the customs, who will assist in every measure necessary to take or secure the vessel and property which you may seize or think proper to detain. The schooner hired for this object must be dismissed as soon as possible, as well as the men, when their services are no longer needed. You can receive them on board the cutter if you need them, and if there is a resistance threatened that you do not think it prudent to encounter, stay by the offender, and dispatch a messenger to me in the most expeditious manner, and the United States sloop of war here will be applied for immediately with a force sufficient to overcome it. [47]
The vessel described before (the Holliday Oak) appears like the Annapolis packet, with sky-blue quarters, bright varnished bottom, &c.; main top-mast, the mast raking much abaft. You have already received such general instructions that, with the advice of the officers sent, you will be able to act in any emergency.
Your obedient servant,