BOUTWELL, Secretary of the Treasury to Hamilton Fish, May 14, 1869

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

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant, informing me that Mr. Roberts the minister of Spain, had represented to your Department that the steamer Atlanta, at Philadelphia, had been sold to Cubans, and that the steamers Memphis and Santiago de, Cuba, at New York, and the steamer Florida, at Chester, Pennsylvania, were being fitted out under suspicious circumstances.

[55] The suggestion contained in your letter in regard to the expediency of this Department issuing instruct*tions to collectors of customs relative to the information communicated has been promptly acted upon, and such instructions have been this day issued to the collectors of the ports above mentioned, a copy of which is herewith transmitted.

I am, very respectfully,