DAVISON, United States Consul to John Bigelow, United States, February 6, 1865

Mr. Davison to Mr. Bigelow.

Sir: In answer to yours of the 4th, received yesterday, (Sunday,) I am enabled to say that the Stoerkodder took on 180 tons of coal here before leaving for Denmark. I called upon Mr. William Bradley, (an Englishman,) coal dealer, who informed me that he furnished the coal for all of Annan’s vessels—the Yedo, Osacca, and Stoerkodder—and that he put 180. tons on the latter, and a larger amount on the former two, (some 200 or 300 tons each.) It is stated here, and was published in the papers at the time, that the Stoerkodder also put into Cherbourg for more coal on her way north, the statements being that her sailing apparatus did not work well, and that she had to go entirely by steam.

I called on my friend Mr. Preck, also, again to-day, who tells me he thinks she had but 100 tons of coal on her, and that she would hold 250 tons. He was a surveyor of that vessel, and was on board during her trial trips on the river. He says she went up and down the river two or three times, making, at the best speed, ten knots an hour in smooth water, with, I believe, sixty-five revolutions of the wheel per minute. I think Arman had agreed to make her run twelve knots..

Mr. Preck says the remaining iron-clad, the Cheops, has been sold to the Bey of Tunis for two and a half million francs. He tells me an engineer of the Bey was here to examine her. There may be another dodge awaiting us with this vessel. * * *

Very respectfully yours,