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pilot on her who will bring her out as soon as she can come down. There is a much larger force of hands on the two vessels here than is necessary to protect them, but there is due them some three thousand ($3000..) dollars that must be paid. This must come from the Bureau. Cannot Col. Wright come down and pay these men off? The collector informs me that there is a party here who will give for the three vessels, where they are now lying, two of them here, and the Mary up the river, if they can get possession immediately, forty thousand ($40,000) dollars cash and pay all claims against the boats for advances made by him, some twelve or fifteen thousand dollars, or in other words fifty odd thousand dollars.

I am unable to say whether this is as much as they would bring at Public sale or not, as everybody I have asked as to their value say they are good for running Blockade, but not good for, or suitable for Commercial purposes, without a great outlay of money in reorganizing them for that use.

There is some Leather here in the hands of Col Montague, but in bad order. I will take an invoice of it tomorrow. The sooner it is disposed of the more will be realized from it. What action, if any shall I take in the matter? There is a lot in the hands of Capt. Boyd. A.Q.M. some captured property consisting of old Wagons, Horse & Mule shoes, Bar Iron, &c., &c.

Col. Wickersham has ordered it turned over to the proper officer of our Bureau. Capt. Boyd is now having sales, would it not be well to have this property sold with his, and the proceeds turned over to Col Wright? Please instruct me.