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without horror at this period of our national struggle.
We beg leave, also, to inclose an extract from the Commercial Advertiser, of the twenty-sixth instant, and to request your attention to the paragraph marked.
We are, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servants,
Richard Lathers, President Great Western Insurance Company. J. P. Tappan, President Neptune Insurance Company. F. S. Lathrop, President Union Mutual Insurance Company. M. H. Grinnell, President Sun Mutual Insurance Company. Robt. L. Taylor, Merchant Ship-Owner. C. H. Marshall, Merchant Ship-Owner. A. A. Low & Bro., Merchant Ship-Owners. Grinnell, Minturn & Co., Merchant Ship-Owners. Wilson G. Hunt, Merchant. Chas. Newcomb, vice-President Merchants' Mutual Insurance Company. Brown Bros. & Co., Bankers. W. T. Frost, Merchant Ship-Owner. Bogert & Kneeland, Merchants. Duncan, Sherman & Co., Bankers. Buckltn & Crane, Merchant Ship-Owners. E. E. Morgan, Merchant Ship-Owner. Wm. Whitlock, Jr., Merchant Ship-Owner. Geo. Opdyke, Mayor of New-York City. August Belmonts & Co., Bankers. Jas. G. King's sons, Bankers. Archibald Gracie, Merchant. Howland & Frothingham, Merchant Ship-Owners. Williams & Guion, Merchant Ship-Owners. John H. Earle, President New-York Mutual Insurance Company. Isaac Sherman, Merchant Ship-Owner. W. A. Sale & Co, Merchant Ship-Owners. Thomas Dunham, Merchant Ship-Owner. Spofford, Tileston & Co., Merchant Ship-Owners. Babcock Bros. & Co., Bankers. J. P. Morgan & Co., Bankers. E. D. Morgan, United States Senator. New-York, October 28, 1863.
Secretary Welles's reply.
Navy Department, Washington, November 14, 1863.
gentlemen: The Department duly received your communication of the twenty-eighth ultimo, in reference to the depredations committed upon American commerce by the Alabama and other rebel cruisers.
The pursuit and capture of these vessels is a matter that the Department has constantly in view, and swift steamers have been constantly in search of them, and at times very close on to them.
They are under orders to follow them wherever they may go. The only vessel that had the impudence to attack our flag at the entrance of our harbors — the Tacony — was promptly pursued and her career was soon terminated.
The Department had about thirty vessels after her.
I thank you for your expression that energy and ability have creditably marked the administration of the Department in all other channels of official duties.
A rigid blockade of the coast has been demanded, and its accomplishment has required all the available force that the Department could bring to bear.
To do this, it could not well despatch a larger force than it has in search of piratical rovers.
It will continue to give this subject its attention, and hopes, as the avenues to the insurrectionary region are becoming closed and the navy is enlarging, to be able to have a larger force to pursue the pirates and secure the safety of our commerce abroad.
Very respectfully, 