Mr. Day to Mr. Dupuy de Lôme.

No. 259.]

Sir: Upon the receipt of your note of the 11th instant, stating that you were informed that a filibustering expedition was under preparation on the southeast coast of Florida, and that 2 carloads of arms had been shipped to that part of the peninsula and would probably be transferred by the yacht Volusia to a vessel off the coast, the matter was at once brought by telegraph to the attention of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Attorney-General.

I am advised by the Acting Secretary of the Treasury that on Saturday, the 12th instant, telegraphic instructions were sent to the collectors of customs at Jacksonville and Key West, Fla., to notify the commander of the revenue cutter and the United States attorney to take necessary steps to prevent a violation of the neutrality laws, and to the collector of customs at St. Augustine, Fla., to notify the inspector at New Smyrna to take steps necessary to prevent violation of the neutrality laws.

Accept, etc.,

William R. Day.