To James Madison from Robert Wilkinson, 15 January 1806 (Abstract)
From Robert Wilkinson, 15 January 1806 (Abstract)
§ From Robert Wilkinson, 15 January 1806, Smyrna. “You have no doubt been informed Sir, that William Stewart Esqre. Consul of The United States at this City, departed in the Month of November 1803, for Philadelphia, and that he had appointed me to act as Pro Consul in his absence.
“Conformable to the Instructions left with me by said Gentleman, I have the honor to inclose Copys of the Manifests of six American Vessels, that have arrived here, and departed, from December 1804, to November 18051—no others have arrived here since Mr: Stewarts departure.
“A Consul of The United States at this City, cannot act with that necessary vigour, towards the protection and assistance of American Citizens and Vessels, as Consuls of other Nations are authorized to do towards Their Subjects; because The United States have no Treaty with The Ottoman Porte, so that The American Citizens that come here (or to any part of Turkey) with their Vessels and Cargoes, are compelled to take the immediate protection of some European Consul; and do not consider themselves depending on the Consul of The United States, to whom they only apply to swear to the Certifficates of their Cargoes.
“Thus far They have been protected by the British Consul, on the same footing as British Subjects and Vessels, which he has been authorized by the British Levant Company in London to grant; and he has certainly shewed the same attention towards the Interest of the Citizens of The United States, as towards that of The Subjects of Great Britain.
“I have recieved the honor of Sundry Circulars from The United States, but in order to enable me to effectuate the Instructions they contain, it is necessary to recieve a publick Order from You Sir, to all Citizens of The United States that come this way, to acknowledge my authority.
“Should The United States have in contemplation to make a Treaty with The Ottoman Porte, it might be very easily effectuated, thro’ the means of a European Minister at Constantinople, and I could at Your desire Sir point out to You, the one that might be preferred, and who from his long residence at Constantinople, has great personal influence with The Ottoman Ministry; the employing a Minister of a great Nation, the Expences would be very considerable; whereas the Business might be compleated for the Value of about twenty eight, to thirty thousand Spanish Dollars. The annual Expences attending the Salarys of a Chargé d’Affaires, Interpreters, Guards &ca. would be about ten to twelve thousand Spanish Dollars.
“From a long experience of thirty four Years in this Country, I can assure You Sir, that a very advantageous Trade can be carried on between this Empire and America, provided it is properly attended to; and I have furnished many Houses of Trade in The United States with plans thereof.”
RC, two copies, and enclosures, two copies (DNA: RG 59, CD, Smyrna, vol. 1). Tr and Tr of enclosures (DNA: RG 46, President’s Messages 25A–E3). First RC 4 pp.; marked “Duplicate”; docketed by Wagner as received 3 Sept.; transmitted in Wilkinson to JM, 29 Apr. 1806. First copy of enclosures certified by Wilkinson on 15 Jan. 1806; second copy certified by Wilkinson on 15 Apr. 1806; both copies docketed by Wagner as received in Wilkinson’s 15 Jan. 1806 dispatch. For enclosures, see n. 1.
1. The enclosures (8 pp.; printed in Public Documents Printed by Order of the Senate of the United States, Third Session of the Twenty-Fifth Congress, … December 3, 1838 [5 vols.; Washington, 1839], Doc. No. 200, 3:83–85) are the manifests of the brig Hibernia, Capt. William Morrison, the brig Sylph, Capt. Samuel Clarke, the schooner Hazard, Capt. John Williams, the brig Spartan, Capt. Charles Chamberland [sic], the brig Eutaw, Capt. Christopher L. Gantt, and the brig Pennsylvania, Capt. Hugh McPherson which arrived at Smyrna between December 1804 and October 1805. Four of the ships were from Philadelphia and two from Baltimore; three were bound for Canton, two for their home ports of Philadelphia and Baltimore, and one for Batavia. Opium, dried fruits, and Spanish dollars made up the bulk of the cargoes from Smyrna.