To James Madison from John Read Jr., 9 January 1805 (Abstract)
§ From John Read Jr.1
9 January 1805, Philadelphia. “J. F. Eckard of this place, prior to his departure for Europe in the latter end of the last spring, duly appointed me the Attorney in fact of Messr. Rucker and ⟨W⟩estphalen and others, merchants of the City of Hamburg, under an authority of ⟨su⟩bstitution from them, to act in their behalf respecting a claim, for the cargo of the Vessel called the Henrick Peter Scheel master,2 captured by an American Frigate ⟨o⟩n her voyage from Hamburg to Cape Francois, and carried into St. Christophers. This business has been before Congress, and as I learned from Mr. Eckard is fully understood by you. I have delayed Sir, addressing myself to you on the ⟨part⟩ of those Gentn. from an expectation that Mr. Eckards return would render it unnecessary; By the last letters from him however it is now ascertained, that this will not now take place before the adjournment of Congress.
“I now feel it my duty, to do all in my power for the interest of those Gentn. more especially as they are the subjects of a Foreign nation, and my anxiety is the greater, least Mr. Eckards absence should unfortunately be the ⟨o⟩ccasion, of adding to the heavy losses they appear to have sustained. These ⟨anxi⟩eties are the inducements for this letter, and in addressing myself to you Sir, I hope you will pardon the trouble I may give, in requesting from you, the information necessary for my government in this business.”3
RC (DNA: RG 59, ML). 1 p.; docketed by Wagner.
1. Philadelphian John Read Jr. had been the American agent for the claims commission under Article 6 of the Jay treaty (Moore, International Adjudications, 3:22; , 4:488).
2. For the case of the Hendrick, see Richard Söderström to JM, 10 June 1801, ibid., 1:293–95, 296 n. 8.
3. On 19 Jan. 1805 JM replied: “I have received your letter of the 9th. instant, and for the circumstances of the case of the Danish Brig Henrich refer you to the enclosed report and message to Congress. The affair is, I understand, still unprovided for by Congress, after having twice passed the House of Representatives” (1 p.; DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14). JM presumably enclosed copies of Jefferson’s 23 Feb. 1803 report to Congress on the Hendrick and may have enclosed documents he himself sent in the following session (, 4:337–38 and nn., 6:245).