United States Consul General to William H. Seward, February 24, 1865

Mr. Minor to Mr. Seward

Sir: à few days since a schooner called the Gypsy came over here from Key West, Florida, and was sold to a man by the name of Barney Pennington. On the 23d instant she left here for Nassau. Last evening I received information that she took quite a large crew, and about fifty passengers, among them some desperate characters. Her commander is Captain Lorent, formerly commanding the schooner Dart, which was captured a few months since off the coast of Florida. My informant further stated that Captain Jacobs, of the Maria, just left for the west coast of Florida, owned an interest in her. I am inclined to believe that on her arrival at Nassau she will be fitted out as a piratical vessel, to prey upon the commerce of our country. The schooner is a very fast sailer; length, 120 feet; beam, 23 feet; hold, 9 feet; fore-and-aft schooner rigged. Lorent will probably leave her at Nassau, and Pennington, from Newark, New Jersey, take command.

I have communicated this information to Admiral Stribling and Commodore Palmer, and to Collector Draper, of New York, and in the envelope to Collector Draper have sent a letter to T. Kirkpatrick, esq., United States consul at Nassau, requesting the collector to transmit it at the first opportunity.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,