New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-22

To ne Esfor u The " \. IrtoHns'
SIR: You publish to-day a statement from a
Mr. Rutherford who claims TO be Special AGENT o. ne
Eery Department whose object and plain import is to
prove that made false statement in regard to the en-
CINE u the Kin kiang and bring into 50 much OF
public disgrace AS the Nav Department yet has power
to cas-, upon any private person by endeaycrng 10 show
that wa no. personally known By very refined
and intelligent gentleman" Of this City With whom the
sgecia, dsczi had special conversation about me-
This Special Agsas' WAS employed by the Navy De.
parimcnt TO Ascertain "Firs.-Was The engine Of The
Kin Kiang any Important portion II u built by Mr..
Dckerson or from plaH' rni'ASd BY ki.I' and for the
purpose 81 asccrsining that he called upon the owner
Of tie vessel and had conversation. which as Spetis!
Asrrf Of he Nary Department. he published. In his sc-
count OF the interview the following "P!ckwickian"
scene occurred which, II is claimed 70 be matter Of
"Goyernment interest" quote at lengths
Curiosity tempted to inquire whether Mr. pick.rons
connection with yesssl known 10 tie owner Tho
s~ lem with HON couvcsed was very delcao on ths
point and that b. dit not With 20 enter into any details
connected with sich mHfr bat when informed him thai
The Government. interest required the ru should he told
be stated hat be had or known M cke,on be
va. Invited BY the the trial ,rpi that he
vs. .e~u IN ile engine room watching the engines b. the
speaker for he lr.t time and inquiry was csc0lt red
thnt be was the advocate tie Sciels cutoi"
Having accomplished this be rushes into print and
my case at once. II the assertion had been made
only by yrirafs person. that the plans OF the Kan
kian4's ynlyo gear were not mine should have an
swescd IT, Fat all riihoat proofi but when the Navy
Department OF this great country employsa "speeiI
agent" to inquire into my private affairs who under
that title publishes to the world what Is not true think
/, best to adduce proof; particularly as this special
agent" intimates very strongly that the Navy De
partment doos not think very credible witness.
accordingly addressed TO Mr. Secor the manager Of the
" Allairo Works" where this engine was built (and
where engines are bull, which have superiors in the
world for quality OF workmanship note. in which
submitted to him the statement published by me yester
day. and asked whether 10 was Hraiy tue. The fol
loving is the correspondence which speaks for itself
EEw.YoRx, Jan. q 1864.
To T. r. sEcos ssg., P,e,ident hlaire Works.
DE,a SIR noose the following statement, Which please
read aud ,sy whether lie strictly rEe'
the original drawing from which ills valve gear con-
,rucied made by vh NY Opa hands although gen
,rally employs drsasman and from these drawings another
.e. reduced 10 sire under my direction by daasman
or another vessel snd oct Of patterns made From l.es
patterns tho sslyeeear Of The Kin ktng built"
YoaTs lslly J.. n. DicKERsos.
ALLsng WoaKs, Jan. a. l66a
10 EN- DioKsn'oN, e'f'
DIAN SIM; At your reue,, hsve read your statement and
answer that It IL ,yiefiy sus.
Yours truly, T =. Sscos.
hope that the special agent viii be- able IN supple
nenary report to his employers 20 inform them that
Important portion of the engine Of The Kin kians
was built from plans Furnished by me-
certainly did hot expect that any one could be found
impudent enough TO deny the truth. which is well
known here that this valve gear is my Invention and
that It has produced immense results The foundation
Df il IS the Sickels cut or the greatest improvement
yet made In steam since walls death, and this valve
gear is my improvement the old plans and the
Navy Department think that the Governments interest
required that the truth should be told take pleasure
Ia giving them this particular sccount. And would
add that hereafter whenever that digned Department
wishes TO know anything about my private affairs will
save them the expense OF employing special agent by
any question addressed 10 me In writing,
even though may think that tho Government Interest
wont suffer from ignoTarce Of my affairs
And would further suggest that II the Navy De
would employ its special agents 10 catch
,lockade runners or pirates they would be more sue
,es,fu an they have neen Jet in trying TO catch me-
Yours truly. FDw. y. DIcArIsoS.
hSlo RI, Jar 1864