Cushing to John McKeon , United States District Attorney, New York, December 24, 1855

Mr. Cushing, Attorney-General, to Mr. McKeon, district attorney.

Sir: I duly received your communication of the 23d instant, and the documents accompanying the same, having reference to the engagement and preparation of persons in the State of New York for military service in the state of Nicaragua. You will have received my dispatch by telegraph notifying you of the order given by the President to Captain Bigelow, of the United States Navy, to proceed according to your advice in the detention of any vessel whatsoever implicated in proceedings contrary either to statute or to treaty stipulations, and desiring you to act in the premises upon all proper information. This applies more especially, of course, to the steamer Northern Light.

If there shall have been occasion to act on the brief order sent to Captain Bigelow by telegraph, or *there should be good reason to suppose that there will be occasion so to do in the sequel, orders to the same effect and in more complete form will be transmitted by mail. [505]

I have the honor to be, &c.,