The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-07
RUssIA's DESIGNS.


LATEST ARRIVAL OF RUSSIAN AGENTS IN AMEn-
IcA--wHAr ARE THEY AFTER?
AS announced the HERALD OF yesterday Ia
despatch from Baltimore three special agents OF the
Russian governments arrived on tho steamship Cor
manic from Liverpool May 3 and proceeded at once
about their business which believed by those best IN
formed relate transactng no purchase and atting
out OF vessels Tor objects Of prvateeng These three
agents were Captain A. Grippenbere, OF the Russian
Navy brother Of Count Grppenberg now on board the
Cmbria at Southwest Harpor, Me-, and holding az 1t
Is generally presumed the sealed orders OF the Rus
sian government In regard TO operations from here,
Mr.. H. W. Hunt Of Boston, a gentleman who has
spent time IN Russia and executed several i'm
porIant contracts for the Gear. and Mr. Paul Butler
son General B. +. Butler Who it is alleged, stands
high in the councils OF tho Russian government
HERALD reporter called at the Evcrstt house last
not necessary give, Interpreted the entry tho
register for Saturday last of Nv. Mckay
and two friends Philadelphia, rooms 152 and 1853" TO
Mr.. William Mckay, SON oil the great Ship
builder, OF Boston, Donald Mckay, ana Captain A.
Grippenbcrg and Mr.. w. II. Hunt. Mr. Paul Butler
signed his namo IN full underneath. Tho latter re-
manned behind while tho former party proceeded tn
Same evening by the nine o'clock train TO Washing.
ton. Their sudden lcavotaKng OF New York wos
said to be on account Of despatch from the Rus
sian Minister IN Washington. Captain Kennedy,
OF Inc Germanc, on which steamer these gentlemen
came over. knew nothing OF their character, nor did
any OF bis officers, even including the pursor who
passengers tho steamer carries. When. however,
they discovered yesterday who these people were
they endless recalling incidents OF
the voyage where tho Russian agents made them.
selves conspicuous. and nobody ever suspected their
designs They wcrc foremost In the usual gamc OF
quoits deck, and In tho smoking room their merri
ment cxceiled all Tho rest Between Inc pursor and
.nash TN who ons rue John Bu baa
known the precise mission Of the Captain at the mo-
ment there might have been summary end 70 their
entente cordidle.
A FINE LOOKING FELLOW.
:. lie took great paths in showing the Captain and
duced him ny the latter as occr OF the Swedish
government going to America chiefly Tor the benefit 81
al no looking cordial fellow that you could not help
liking His style Of address was Of that on
hand character that takes g much with, with Amer;
about him, you people say. HIS English
was not very plain, but you took such an
that you readily understood all he said or meant to
say. he went all over the ship, taking o particular
The whole minu Of her cost for engines coal ieed Of
furnaces and all these things that man contemplat-
lug tho building Of line OF steamers might be sup
II was noticed during the voyage that Captain
Grippenberg. Mr.. Hunt and Mr.. Butler were con-
stanty together and their relations to the Russian
government such that there IS hardly DOUBT
but that tho scheme OF privateering less in
their hands.
SIGHTING HAVANA STEAMSHIPS.
What gives additional 10 the story that Russia
has been AZ work hcre with the design Of striking
blow az the vast commerce Of England, In
which sho do moro damage to her than
by any operations land, Is the fact
that Russian agent, who declined to give his namc
visited short tme ago tho otice Of AessrE Alex
andre Co., the owners OF the ine line Of boats that
ply between this city and Havana. and mado prop
osltion Tor the purchase OF such as were available
He simply said he wanted to buy class OF vessels Of
great speed. Mr. Alexandra ready to sell If the
prices offered tor his ships OF tho right figure. He
offered sell the City Of New York; 17l5 tons, the
City OF Vera Cruz, 1874 TONS the CITY OF Merida 492
TONS and the City ol Mexico, LOO tons. Tho Russian
agent agreeably disappointed IN finding Mr.. Alex
andre freely inclined 10 DISPOSE OF his ships be-
cause TO him the OF price OF small moment
ana no liked tho ships they wooden, and
he expressed IT, more easily repaired In
case or accident than II they were built
OF IRON Mr.. Alexandra said that most OF
hts vessels average thirteen knots an hour
and with slight changes would mako quite formidable
privateers-as much tho Alabama or Florida. In
regard the owned BY other companies and
smiling OF this port all that can DO said Is this,
that II there is any party In the market for stcam-
ships they will no willing sellers TO willing and liberal
buyers, without anything being INTENDED as viola.
ton OF the neutrality laws.