Office of the Historian

Mr. Field, Acting Attorney General, to Mr. Davis, Acting Secretary of State.

Attorney-General’s Office,
Washington, August 4, 1869.

[734] Sir: I have received your letter of the 3d instant, with a copy of the note of the Peruvian minister inclosed, all relating to the Spanish [Page 734] gun-boats. On the 3d instant I sent to the attorney of *the United States, at New York City, a telegram, of which a copy is inclosed, marked No. 1, and received from him the same day a telegram, of which a copy is inclosed, marked No. 2. I have to-day received a telegram from the marshal of the United States, at New York City, of which a copy is inclosed, marked No. 3. If the suggestions contained in the telegram of the marshal are not approved by the Department of State, will you be so kind as to inform this office of the action desired by that Department?

Very respectfully, &c.,

W. A. FIELD,
Acting Attorney-General.

Hon. J. C. B. Davis,
Acting Secretary of State.

[Inclosure No. 1.]

Mr. Field, Acting Attorney-General, to Mr. Pierrepont, district attorney.

[Telegram.]
Attorney-General’s Office,
Washington, August 3, 1869.

Hon. Edwards Pierrepont, United States Attorney, New York City:

[757] The Secretary of State informs this office that the Peruvian minister has notified him that a state of war still exists between Peru and Spain; that the Spanish government has ordered the building within the United States of thirty gun-boats equipped for war, fifteen of *which are building in the ship-yards of the Mystic River, Connecticut, ten in Poillon’s yards, Brooklyn, New York, four of which last have been launched, and are at Delamater’s, receiving engines; and five gun-boats are building at Green Point; and that the President desires that you act promptly and prevent the sailing of any of these gun-boats.

W. A. FIELD,
Acting Attorney-General.
[Inclosure No. 2.]

Mr. Pierrepont, district attorney, to Mr. Soar, Attorney-General.

[Telegram.]
New York, August 3, 1869.

Attorney-General, Washington:

Yours received. The Spanish gun-boats will be stopped this day.

EDWARDS PIERREPONT.
[Page 735]
[Inclosure No. 3.]

Mr. Barlow, United States marshal, to Mr. Hoar, Attorney-General.

[Telegram.]
New York, August 4, 1869.

Attorney-General, Washington:

[758] *I do not think it worth while to stop work on the Spanish gun-boats, at least until they are nearly ready to sail. They cannot leave until we are willing, and if released the damages for stopping work would be heavy. Please telegraph if this is not satisfactory.

FRANCIS C. BARLOW,
United States Marshal.