Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-03-12

markable when it is remembered that the
person referred to by him as Mr. Asp.uwaY8
broker was Starbuck, the very man ems
.ploycd by Mr., G. d. Morgan subsequent
to the purchase of the Roman and Badger,
as appears from the following letter:
"DEAn COMMODORE l have not directed the
Mediator to 50 to the navy yard, and until hear
frem you shall do nothing in the ma tier. ! hare
requested Mr.. Storbuck. icho purchased her 10 call
and zee y0u' Very truly, your obedient servant,
GEO. D. MORGAN.
S. L. BE'sc, Esq, Flag Officer,
Washington, June !, 1861,
1t is due to Commodore Breese, to say
that, when the ships were brought to the
navy yard, he discovered the fraud, in
formed the secretary, and desired to have
them considered Mr. Aspinwalps purchase
which he understood was done, rs an
order was issued for loading them.
The Secretary also refers to the Pen
guiE and Albatross, bought by Commo-
dore Breese, for SIS 600 each, alleging
that they were of no greater tonnage tnan
the Stars and Stripes The Secretary,
however, omits to state that the Penguin
and Albatross were built for sea going res
SeiS, with double engines, and cost, proba,
D'y' ~ 'O"9' ~ 'o''' Oii0 'AA'i' 'iiOI' VIA"
the Stars and Stripes.
The Secretary further says:
"In single transaction originally made with
n large ship owner by Conmo dore Breese, for five
'aiuaole steamer 5, ielt 'na' Tue government
was ullioi Inv Ipu n. -uo ga" "n'
,nd ,,root digiorIos bo s"oonndj II
| ing 10 tbc Govern,ocnt by his action in that
transaction. above $l24, 900"
The exclamation. as understand it. is
this. the Commodore in chartcring the
! five vessels renuired the owners to insert
n price at which thew would sell to Gov
arrmant wac q moro nronositi,r IN
,hair mart II was not accartad nai,Lsr
rae NO Goyorprorf bornl to ,,o,, -
Tho Secrotorv oIso odds.
,1..rt...r..,, A., -. .., IL
oo-,rIoi,,, t+ I," L, .,, a,.oro,i s ~ s,.,
tenn of nurchose have been oppr.ssed or a,gri,-
we'd"
Lot us examine the correctness Of this
statement by one transaction. In the
month of MAY last, j. Rudolph Sieg and
James i. Jewctt i Co., of New York city,
were owners of the steamer Mercedta.--
During that month a man 10y the name of
Burrill, claiming to be an agent and advi.
ser of the Navy Department, proposed a
purchase. Jewett d. Co., to prevent the
eXtortious Of government agents, on the
10Th day Of June wrote a letter to the
Secretary of the Navy, offered to charter
or sell that vessel at a valuation to be fixed
by the Department. A similar letter was
sent by them to the President OF the Uni.
ted States. Ihe Secretary returned an
answer refusing TO charter or purchase, as
she was unsulte4 Tor an armed ship. Bur'
rlll shortly after appears, saying that he
can sell the rejected steamer that he had
returned from Washington, and asked au-
thouiy from them to sell to Government,
which was given him on the 81 day OF Ju-
~ On the oISt oil July' burllII came again
and made an offer from the Secretary Of
the Navy lor IAe rejected steamer, on the
I condition mat the owners should pay
S5,OOO to hlm, besides tar brokerage ;
which S0,UUU, burrlli saId, was to be gwen
to Government oihClals Tor their assistance
in selling tins vessel. Jewett q Co. reius-
ed, Proclaiming that they would first see
their vessel rot at the wharf, and them
selves wanting Tor bread, before one penny
should 90 10 br6e government officials
requesting Eurrill to say to those who sent
him, II the government wanted S3,VUV'
they would give that sum towards raising
another regiment to MI the place OF the
New York 09th. barrlII leIt' ana after
the lapse OF few hours returned, saying
he bad heard from washington, anu mat
he would withdraw inc condition ana
they need only pay What lhey sA" III 10
allow him for his services. Ihey accept,
ed; and on the same day gave bnrrllI b'!I
Of sale ior the Department and he pre-
sented a list Of alterations required IN the
handwriting OF ;. NJ. iooE, the Naval
Constructor, and OF the board to examine
vessels. On the 2,th September they de,
livered up the vessel TO Government turo'
Burrill.
Much to the surprise OF the owners, the
Secretary sent requsltion to pay, Burri!i
the 500, 900 for the Mercedlta, although
the names to the blll OF sale were Sleg,
owner of se' en.t .tenths, and Jewett u Co.,
three-tenths. They succeeded IN arrang-
ing so that the money should oe drawn oy
q third party Some twenty days after Inc
date Of the requlsltlon, an ordeT was had