Outward Foreign Manifest. Report and Manifest of the Cargo laden at the Port of New York, on Board the Steamship Meteor, whereof Kemble is Master, Bound for Panama, 1,221 tons, 57 Crew. NEW YORK, January 22, 1866. EXHIBIT I. 56 SOUTH STREET, NEW YORK, December 14, 1865. Messrs. J. M. Forbes & Co., Boston : – GENTLEMEN, We have your favor of yesterday. We will arrange all matters with Mr. Cary, according to your request. Some matters of detail have prevented us from making an offer for a day or two, but we are quite confident that we shall shortly be in shape to close with you. (Signed) We are, very truly, CHARLES L. WRIGHT & Co. EXHIBIT K. NEW YORK, December 26, 1865. Messrs. Cary & Co.: DEAR SIRS, Will you please name lowest price, cash, for the Meteor, subject to a commission of five per cent to us? We hope to be in position to-morrow to make you a positive offer. The price named by Mr. Forbes to our Mr. H. H. Wright, say $350,000, is above the views of our purchaser. Yours truly, (Signed) CHARLES L. WRIGHT & Co. EXHIBIT L. NEW YORK, December 27, 1865. Benjamin Vicuna Mackenna, commissioned confidential agent for the Republic of Chile, and George M. Ramsay, inventor and owner of certain boats called "Torpedo Boats," and also of torpedoes, agree as follows: The said George M. Ramsay agrees to sell and deliver, in some accessible port of Chile, to any agent of that Government authorized to receive them, two (2) of the said torpedo boats, whose dimensions shall be not less than thirty (30) feet in length, five (5) feet in breadth, and four (4) feet in depth, and shall be capable of use and navigation in rivers, bays, and in the open sea; that they shall be thus delivered in perfect order and ready to operate, and that he will deliver with them ten (10) torpedoes of sufficient size to destroy any vessel. The said George M. Ramsay further agrees to go in company with and to provide the necessary skilled men to assist him to efficiently operate said two torpedo boats against the enemy's vessels of war and transports, for and in behalf of the Government of Chile, for a period of one (1) year from the delivery of the said torpedo boats, as herein provided; but with the proviso, that should the present war with Spain terminate before the expiration of that year, then his term of service also expires, so that in no case can he be expected to serve the Government longer than the said year. The said George M. Ramsay still further agrees that he will deliver the said torpedo boats and torpedoes, as herein specified, within the term. of ninety (90) days from the date of this contract, unless unavoidably delayed by accident or otherwise on the passage to the place of delivery. As an inducement to the most energetic execution of the plan hereby proposed, it is the understanding and belief of the said George M. Ramsay, assured and encouraged by the said Benjamin Vicuna Mackenna, that the Government of Chile will pay him a premium for the destruction of any and all Spanish vessels of war or transports which he may accomplish; and that such premiums will be on a scale as liberal as those published and circulated by the agents of the Government of Chile, under date of about October, 1865, for certain vessels therein mentioned; but that the exact amount of such premiums must be arranged at the port or ports where such destruction is proposed to be made, between the said George M. Ramsay and the Government authorities; as well as the time, place, and manner of payment. The said Benjamin Vicuna Mackenna, for the Government of Chile, agrees to pay to the said George M. Ramsay, or his assigns, at the expiration of the herein stipulated term of service, the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the said torpedo boats and torpedoes. The said Benjamin Vicuna Mackenna further agrees that, should the present war between Chile and Spain terminate within ninety (90) days from the date of this contract, and therefore before the said George M. Ramsay is obliged by this agreement, and, perhaps, before it is possible for him to deliver the said two torpedo boats and torpedoes, to still receive the said torpedo boats and torpedoes in any port of Chile, and to pay the twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for them, on delivery, if in the condition specified. He still further agrees to furnish the said George M. Ramsay, and his associates, such commissions as they may require to show that they are legally authorized by the Government of Chile to perform such service as is herein implied and expressed, with the mutual understanding that the local and general authorities at all ports and places upon the coast and in the country shall afford him and such associates all requisite facilitions, material, and aid in the performance of their important service. GEORGE M. RAMSAY, BENJAMIN VICUNA MACKENNA, Confidential Agents of the Government of Chile in the United States of America. As an appendix to this contract, it is understood by the parties, that, should peace be declared between Chile and Spain before the 21st of January, 1866, and the torpedo boats and torpedoes shall not have started for their destination on or before that date, that this contract become null and void. GEORGE M. RAMSAY, BENJAMIN VICUNA MACKENNA, Confidential Agents of the Government of Chile in the United States of America. I certify that the one Benjamin Vicuna Mackenna, now in this city, is duly and fully authorized by his Government, the Republic of Chile, to execute contracts and sign any and all agreements for the said Govern ment that, in his discretion, may promote her interests, and that in my presence he did sign on the 27th inst. a contract with George M. Ramsay, respecting the sale and the operating of torpedo boats. DECEMBER 29, 1865. STEPHEN ROGERS, Consul for the Republic of Chile in New York, &c. &c. I certify that the following is an exact translated list of the premiums offered and published by the Government of the Republic of Chile, for the capture or destruction of Spanish vessels of war and transports in the Pacific Ocean or elsewhere: Published and distributed by the agents of the Republic, in October, 1865. In case of destruction of the said vessels, one half the amounts will be paid that are herein offered for their capture and delivery to the Govern ment. Any other Spanish vessel of war which may be destroyed will also be paid for by the Government according to special appraisal. STEPHEN ROgers, Consul for the Republic of Chile in the port of New York and dependencies. DECEMBER 29, 1865. |