The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-03-02
(COpY.)
81 r.
Office Of Discount and Deposit.
N. ORLEANS, Nov. 90. 1900

DIR,
A circumstance has occurred ola most
extraordinary nature, the elopement of William
Brown, collector of this port 1t is presum,ble
he has carried with him about 10000 dollars. in
douoloons, which he had obtained by means of
inc credit given him by you on this Office On
the 4th day of October, the amount was. n, hi.
request placed to his credit on our books. as well
rs OH his own bank book, and drawn for agreea.
Oily 10 the account herewith. He left this citv
on tuesday about IL o'clock, and stated to his
deputy tina: he was going to leave town for a
,e" Gays which he was i'll the habit of doing.
his wife's friends living about 25 miles m H.
coast. Not lisp of suspicion existed until
thursday, nor would il in all probability for
many days, only from the following circumst,n
ces he had a note due in this bank for 600 dol
lars at near o'clock, sent over to the cu.ton
house, and his deputy refused to nav il with tha
message that the collector had left no word a.
oout 1t, and he did not know where he wa. rone
i then saw the naval officer he told me he la
not know, nor could account for Mr.. Brown,s oh.
sence, except he was gone ND to n, ,v;f,,s
i,ie'as: expressed my establishment at the
deputy's refusing to nay his note and asked hin,
IL he knew the cause he then told me cou6den.
TALLY, that although he could not for moment
suspect the honesty OF or motives of Mr. Rro,,,n
there was something strange in his leaving At the
moment he did, when his services and ppeesnra
was particularly required at the custom hce,sa
ne Circumstance OF the advance ofthe 100.
dollars then occurred to me. asked hin, e he
knew of the advance? he said he knew oftbe or
der from you, but did not know that thu. coeota,
had made use OF it. ! asked him if the bus;ros.
OF the custom house required the advance he
answered no. told him Mr.. Brown had dra w,
considerable proportion of it, and went ;mn,a
u'aeely to the bank to see the state ofhs account
ON our books, when was surprised to find Inc
nad nearly drawn the whole balance, within tb..
last few days, which had remained TO his craJ;,
on the 3lSt day OF October, by checks payahIe On
the Louisiana bank, for which it since aprao.c
ne got doubloons, stating they were to be sb;n1
PED on account OF government in an unarmed vas.
sci, therefore enjoined secrecy on the cashier
My suspicious were then excited and T LII
on the president of our bank, stated the c;rn,,,,
stances to him after some conversation. I'VE o.
greed, delicate as the affair would be if orr enc
Picions should prove without foundation m time
ought to be lost IN making them known tn the
Governor He Immediately summoned alL,he ne.
flcers VI the custom house before him: their evi.
oehce, ana It's being proven that he had secretI,
become the purchaser of q felucca, or ENGLISH nj
lot boat, which had sailed on the dav he the cni
lector, went away, left no doubt but he had o,one
IN her. The governor then sent for commodora
Porter, who Immediately dispatched row bo,,
with AN officer and six armed men, after the e..
iucca. Accounts just arrived from the PAIL.
state tlat She, the teiucca, was lying there on
=, nun :"',y 0.iib, waiting iof wind, and that
the VIVID would be fair that afternoon, it having
changed about mid day. I am, therefore, fearful
ne VIII make his escape. The Consideration ex.
cited IN tins city by this shameful affair." is bevond
all calculation, for he was looked UP to as n mod
ell OF honesty and correctness in his Office and
although some might doubt his prudence in his
private affairs, believe not soul in the comm.
nifty doubted his honesty.
] am, sir, &c.
(Signed) JOSEPH SAUL, Cashier.
Hon. A. Gallatin, Sec, of Treasury.