[115] *Mr. McCulloch, collector, to Lieutenant Marshall.
Collector’s Office, April 22, 1819.
Sir: Please to proceed with all expedition to Patuxent River or elsewhere down the bay, in search of the vessel said to be a prize to some foreign cruiser. Take possession of her and bring her into port for security to the revenue, and as soon as you have seen her up into this river, return and board privateer if found below. Order her immediately to come to entry in some district or leave the waters of the United States; if they refuse or delay willfully, call for assistance from the militia officers on shore, who are obliged to render it, and any person refusing is liable to a heavy penalty, and notice must be taken of them. If any United States vessel is in the bay at Annapolis or Norfolk apply for their aid to enforce the laws, if you cannot of yourself, but it is trusted that it is only necessary to say this by way of information or instruction, and that resistance will not be offered.
There is now danger of these vessels bringing up goods clandestinely, or of their being smuggled on shore where they lay, and against both of these mischances you will be *watchful and not suffer any boat to board or leave either vessel without being searched, stopping all goods that may be in passage, permitting only refreshments to go or passengers’ baggage to be lauded from them. [116]
I am, in haste,
- J. H. McCULLOCH.
- Lieutenant Marshall.