That her machinery has rusted, and is deteriorated in other respects by

GENTLEMEN,I have this day carefully and thoroughly examined the steamer Meteor, now lying at pier foot of Nineteenth Street, East River, and find the ship's plank is sunk and dried very much, and, having laid at the dock since the 23d December last, the seams are open, and the oakum is coming out near the water and causing the ship to leak badly, full twelve inches in twenty-four hours; the decks are very much dried, open, and leaking the whole length of the ship, and is ruining the panelwork of the cabin, and letting in fresh water on the beams, which is very destructive to the frame. The whole outside of the ship, from the copper line over, needs immediate attention, and will require extensive and heavy repairs. The March and April months, you are well aware, are the worst in the year for the outside of a vessel, especially one lying up at the pier. The rails, combing, skylights, and bulwarks outside are in need of immediate repairs. I have been on the steamer Meteor several times since she has been lying up at the pier, and have seen the oakum hanging out of the seams near the water, and, in my judgment, a part of the cargo will have to be taken out, and the ship probably will have to go on the dry dock.

Respectfully,

(Signed)

A. H. BERRIAN,

Shipwright.

Due and timely service of within notice and papers is hereby ad

mitted.

SAMUEL G. COURTNEY,

United States District Attorney.

NEW YORK, June 22, 1866.

Hearing of within motion adjourned by consent to Monday, June 25, at 10.30, A. M.

Dated June 23, 1866.

S. G. COURTNEY,
United States Attorney.

At a stated term of the District Court of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, held at the City Hall, in the city

of New York, on Monday, the second day of July, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.

Present:

Honorable Samuel R. Betts, District Judge.

The United States

vs.

The Steamship Meteor, her engines, &c., materials and cargo.

On reading and filing the affidavits of Joseph H. Choate and Edmund Kemble, and on motion of Evarts, Southmayd, & Choate, proctors for the claimants, after hearing Mr. Courtney of counsel for the libellant, it is

Ordered, that Moses Taylor, of the city of New York, merchant, named by the Court, and Cornelius H. Delamater, of the city of New York, merchant, named on the part of the claimants, and Marshall O. Roberts, of the city of New York, merchant, named on the part of the libellant, be, and they are hereby appointed, appraisers to appraise the value of the steamship Meteor, her engines, &c. materials, and cargo. And it is further ordered, that the clerk of this Court give notice to the said Moses Taylor, Cornelius H. Delamater, and Marshall O. Roberts of their appointment as such appraisers.

SAMUEL R. BETTS.

At a stated term of the District Court of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, held at the City Hall in the city of New York, on Friday, the thirteenth day of July, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.

Present:

Honorable Samuel R. Betts, District Judge.

The United States

vs.

The Steamship Meteor, her engines, &c., materials and cargo.

Marshall O. Roberts, one of the appraisers appointed by the order made herein on the second day of July instant, being unable to act by

reason of illness and absence from the city, on motion of S. G. Courtney, District Attorney, with the assent of Evarts, Southmayd, & Choate, for claimants, it is ordered that Captain Peter Lefever, of the city of New York, shipmaster, be, and he is hereby appointed, appraiser herein in the place and stead of said Marshall O. Roberts, with like effect as if he had been originally named in place of said Roberts in said order of 2d of July instant.

And it is further ordered, in pursuance of the motion made herein on the 25th June last, and then decided, that, upon the completion of such appraisement, the said steamship Meteor, her engines, &c. materials, and cargo, be delivered to the claimants upon the usual stipulation for value, in the amount of such appraisement, notwithstanding the decree for condemnation passed herein.