My. Barlow, United States marshal, to Mr. Fish, Secretary of State.
*Southern District of New York,
New York, May 11, 1869.
Sir: My instructions in your telegram of May 8 instant, were “to watch the Quaker City, and seize her whenever I obtained sufficient proof.”
Under these instructions I should not have seized her (subject to due precautions to prevent her escape) until I had obtained some further evidence of her illegal character.
To-day, however, Mr. Grinnell, acting under instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury, put the revenue-cutter alongside of the Quaker City.
This will, of course, prevent the latter from going to sea without the permission of the customs authorities, but will prevent our obtaining further information, I suppose, by putting her owners on their guard.
Very respectfully,
United States Marshal.
Hon. Hamilton Fish,
Secretary of State.