From James Madison to Franklin, Robinson, and Company, 7 May 1804
To Franklin, Robinson, and Company
Department of State, May 7th. 1804.
Sir.
I duly received your letter stating the case of the Ship Hunter.1 The circumstances of the proceedings with respect to her in the Spanish tribunals, and within the Spanish territory, may be considered as distinguishing it from those excepted in the 6th. Article:2 but of this and the coincidence of your claim, in other respects with the stipulations of the Convention, the Board to be organized under it, is to judge officially. I am &c.
James Madison.
Letterbook copy (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14); Tr (DNA: RG 76, Preliminary Inventory 177, entry 143, France, Unbound Records Relating to Spoliation Claims, ca. 1885, folder “Claimant: J. Lopez Diaz”).
2. For Article 6 of the Convention of 1802 between the U.S. and Spain, see , 2:494–95.