EXHIBITS.

EXHIBIT A.

BOSTON, September 13, 1865.

Frederick C. Schmidt, Esq., New York:

DEAR SIR: Owing to absence from my desk yesterday, I could not reply to your favor of the 11th. The Meteor is for sale, but I have not offered her, because she needs cleaning up and painting after her late experiences carrying troops and cargoes. She can be bought for much less than cost, and much less than she can be built for to-day. I cannot name a price until I consult the other owners. I am open to an offer. Am I to understand that you are acting as a broker, and, if So, whether you expect to earn a commission out of us, and how much, if you should buy her? She was designed to carry one heavy pivot amidships on gun deck, or two 10-inch, or other guns at the same point, namely, just before the mainmast; forward of this are four ports (two on each side) where 8 or 9 inch Dahlgrens would have been mounted had she been taken by the United States Navy Department, and abreast of the engine-hatch, aft, there are two ports on each side where she could have mounted short 32s, or 24 pound howitzers, and on upper deck there are beds for two 30-pound Parrots, making one pivot, 11-inch, or two 10-inch; four broadside, 8 or 9 inch; four 32 or 24 pound howitzers, on gun deck; two light chase guns on upper deck. She has two 621 by 36 inch cylinders; four tubular boilers; propeller of brass, 13 feet diameter and 23 feet pitch. The motive-power, boilers, &c. were imported from Scotland at a very large cost, and are first quality.

The ship was built by myself and a few friends, to cruise after British pirates, and she would have been taken over by the United States, had not Fort Fisher fallen just as it did. She was first under steam at sea last December, and was tried under the auspices of the Navy Department, at the measured mile, below New York, on the 5th January, when, according to the report, she attained a rate of speed said to be superior to that of any propeller tried over that ground by the United States.

Since April 1 she has been three trips South with troops, and one to New Orleans with cargo.

H. B. Cromwell & Co. loaded her out, and wrote that she was the most capable ship they had loaded, being full of heavy cargo on 16 feet 4 by 14 feet draught.

I am, very faithfully,

R. B. FORBES.

EXHIBIT B.

IN PURSUANCE OF AN ACT OF THE CONGRESS
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, EN-
TITLED "AN ACT concerning the registering
and recording of Ships or Vessels," approved
December 31, 1792, and of an "Act to reg-
ulate the admeasurement of Tonnage of Ships
and Vessels of the United States," approved
May 6, 1864. Edwin Kemble of Boston, State
of Massachusetts, having taken or subscribed
the oath required by the said Act, and hav-
ing sworn that Robert B. Forbes owns, with
John M. Forbes, of said place, are the only
owners of the Ship or Vessel called the Me-
teor of Boston, whereof Edwin Kemble is at
present Master, and is a citizen of the United
States, and that the said Ship or Vessel was
built at Portsmouth, State of New Hampshire,
in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-four,
as per Enrolment No. 303, issued at the Port
of Boston, December 6, 1864, now cancelled.
Vessel registered and readmeasured.

And G. H. Shirley, Deputy Surveyor of
this Port having certified that the said Ship
or Vessel has two decks and three masts,

REGISTER OF VESSELS.

[SEAL.]

Under tonnage deck,

Between decks above ditto,
Enclosures on upper deck,

And that she measures twelve hundred
twenty-one tons; that she is a steamship,
has a round stern, round tuck, and no head.
And the said Edwin Kemble having
agreed to the description and admeasure-
ment above specified, and sufficient security
having been given according to the said.
Act, the said steamship has been duly regis-
tered at the Port of New York.

JOHN J. SHAW,

GIVEN under our hands and seals, at the Port of New York, this 12th day of October, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.

Naval Officer.

EXHIBIT C.

ENROLMENT.

No." Three Hundred and Three."

No. 303.

PERMANENT.

Enrolment in conformity to an Act of the Congress of the United States of America, entitled "An Act for enrolling and licensing ships or vessels to be employed in the coasting-trade and fisheries, and for regulating the same."

Robert B. Forbes, of Boston, in the State of Massachu[SEAL.] setts, having taken or subscribed the oath required by the said Act, and having sworn that he, together with John M. Forbes,

rich,

of said Boston, are citizens of the United States, and sole owners of the ship or vessel called the Meteor, of Boston, J. Z. Good- whereof Alfred Drew is at present master, and, as he hath Collector. sworn, is a citizen of the United States; and that the said ship or vessel was built at Portsmouth, State of New Hampshire, A. D. eighteen hundred sixty-four, as per certificate of Stephen Tobey and Daniel Littlefield, the builders, on file in this office. And J. S. Walker, Assistant Deputy Surveyor for this District, having certified that the said ship or vessel has two decks and three masts, and that her length is two hundred and sixty feet, her breadth, thirty-three feet, her depth, twenty-three feet, and that she measures fourteen hundred forty-three tons, ths, that she is a steamship, has a round stern, no galleries, and a straight head.

[SEAL.]

A. Tuck, Naval Officer.

And the said Robert B. Forbes, having agreed to the description and admeasurement above specified, and sufficient security having been given, according to the said Act, the said steamship has been duly enrolled at the Port of Boston and Charlestown.

Given under our hands and seals, at the Port of Boston and Charlestown, this sixth day of December, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.

[Indorsed.]

The Meteor having been built for sale to Government, and about to undergo an inspection for acceptance, this enrolment has been issued without inspection certificate from steamboat Inspector, for purpose of such government inspection and acceptance.

BOSTON, December 7, 1864.

J. Z. GOODRICH, Collector.