[80] *Mr. Bobbins, district attorney, to Mr. Adams, Secretary of State.
District Attorney’s Office, December 23, 1817.
Sir: I have just received your letter of the 13th instant, and hasten to communicate the information therein requested.
In July last, a Spanish ship called the St. Romans, and prize to a Buenos Ayres privateer, was found within the waters of this district, at Block Island, disposing of her cargo by retail to the inhabitants of that island. The ship and cargo, so far as the latter could be, were seized and carried first to the Connecticut district, and thence brought to this district, and have been libeled here as forfeited to the United States, under the act entitled an act to regulate the collection of duties on imports and tonnage, passed the 2d March, 1798.
[Page 479]Mr. Malagamba, the Spanish consul, residing within this district, has also libeled the same property on behalf of the original Spanish owners, and has filed a claim against the libel before mentioned of the United States. I have also filed a *claim in behalf of the United States against the libel of the Spanish consul. Both cases are still pending in our district court, and stand for trial at the term to be holden the first Tuesday of February next. The laws to preserve the neutral relations of the United States are not at all involved in the ground of the libel of the United States, but some considerations of them, however, may incidentally arise in discussing the Spanish claim. The libel of the Spanish consul will probably be attempted to be enforced on the ground of those laws. As the libels are adverse, it is unnecessary to say that the libel of the United States was not instituted on the application of the Spanish consul. [81]
In September last, a schooner called the B, an American registered vessel, with some armament and 13 men, cleared out from Bristol, in this State, for the West Indies. Some days after, she being found hovering on the coast and augmenting her force, the collector of this port sent the revenue-cutter to seize and bring her in. These orders were executed, and at the request of the collector I libeled the vessel as forfeited to the United States, under the *act entitled “An act more effectually to preserve the neutral relations of the United States,” passed the 3d March, 1817. This libel has been tried, and the property condemned in the district court of this district, but is now pending by appeal in the circuit court, and stands for final trial at the term to be holden the 15th June next, which trial is to be final by agreement of the parties. [82]
I have also, at the request of the collector of this port, preferred an indictment against ——Jones, owner and master of said schooner, under the last-mentioned act, which indictment has been found and continued to the next June term of the circuit court.
The Spanish consul has not moved at all in the business of this libel or indictment to my knowledge or belief.
These cases embrace all the proceedings which have been had in this district since the last session of Congress, involving any question upon the laws made to preserve the neutral relations of the United States.
With the most perfect esteem, I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
Hon. John Quincy Adams,
Secretary of State, United States.