Office of the Historian

Mr. Boutwell, Secretary of the Treasury, to Mr. Fish, Secretary of State.

Treasury Department,
Washington, May 18, 1869.

Sir: Respectfully referring to your communication of the 13th instant, and my reply thereto of the 14th, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a letter from the collector of customs at New York, dated the 15th instant, stating that he had refused a clearance to the steamer Columbia, (Quaker City,) because of suspicious circumstances connected with her.

[57] *I am, very respectully,

GEO. S. BOUTWELL,
Secretary of the Treasury.

Hon. Hamilton Fish,
Secretary of State.

[Inclosure.]

Mr. Grinnell, collector, to Mr. Boutwell, Secretary of the Treasury.

Custom-House, New York,
Collector’s Office, May 15, 1869.

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, transmitting a copy of one from the honorable Secretary of State, in regard to the alleged fitting out of several steamers at this port, and beg leave to report that the special vigilance of the officers of customs in this district has already been directed to the vessels named, and I have this day refused to grant a clearance to the steamer Columbia, (Quaker City,) the suspicious circumstances connected with her having induced me to adopt that course.

Anticipating your approval of my action in the matter, I am, very respectfully, &c.,

M. H. GRINNELL,
Collector.

Hon. Geo. S. Boutwell,
Secretary of the Treasury.