Amos T. Akerman to J. C. B. Davis, 9 August 1871

Aug. 9, 1871. Hon. J. C. B. Davis, Acting Secretary of State. Sir: In answer to your letter of the 5th instant, requesting copies of correspondence between this Department and the District Attorneys of New York, or with certain other parties, in regard to the building of the "Grande Admiral," from the year 1853 to 1856, I regret to inform you that it is out of my power to furnish you with the desired copies, for the reason that there is an unexplained hiatus in the records of the Attorney General's office from the year 1850 to 1857. This deficiency in our records is a frequent cause of annoyance and inconvenience. But we have no means of supplying it. Very respectfully, A. T. Akerman, Attorney General.