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Cabinet Opinion on the Polly (Republican) and the Catherine, 12 June 1793

Cabinet Opinion on the Polly (Republican) and the Catherine

[Philadelphia] June 12. 1793.

The President having required the opinions of the heads of the three departments on a letter from Governor Clinton of the 9th inst. stating that he had taken possession of the sloop Polly, now called the Republican, which was arming, equipping & manning by French & other citizens to cruize against some of the belligerent powers, and desiring to know what further was to be done,1 and they having met & deliberated thereon, are unanimously of opinion, that Governor Clinton be desired to deliver over to the civil power the said vessel & her appurtenances, to be dealt with according to law: and that the Attorney of the U.S. for the district of New York be desired, to have such proceedings at law instituted as well concerning the said vessel and her appurtenances, as against all the persons citizens or aliens participating in the armament or object thereof as he shall think will be most effectual for punishing the said offenders, & preventing the said vessel & appurtances from being applied to the destined purpose: and that if he shall be of opinion that no judiciary process will be sufficient to prevent such application of the vessel to the hostile purpose intended that then the Governor be desired to detain her by force till the further advice of the General government can be taken.

The President having also required the same opinions on the Memorial of the British minister of the 11st inst. on the subject of the British brigantine Catherine captured by the French frigate the Embuscade within the limits of the protection of the U.S. as is said, and carried into the harbour of New York,2 they are of the opinion unanimously, that the Governor of N. York be desired to seize the said vessel in the first instance, and then deliver her over to the civil power, and that the Attorney of the U.S. for the district of New York be instructed to institute proceedings at law in the proper court for deciding whether the said capture was made within the limits of the protection of the U.S. & for delivering her up to her owners if it be so decided: but that if it shall be found that no court may take cognisance of the said question, then the said vessel to be detained by the Governor until the further orders of the General government can be had thereon.3

Th: Jefferson

H. Knox

Alexander Hamilton

DS, in Thomas Jefferson’s writing, DLC:GW. Tobias Lear’s docket reads, “Opinions of the Heads of Departmts respecting the measures to be taken relative to a sloop fitted out as a privater at New York—& which had been retained by the Governor. & respecting the memorial of the British minister dated 11th June–June 12th 1793.”

1For GW’s request for this cabinet opinion, see Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 11 June (first letter). For the relevant documents that the cabinet reviewed, see George Clinton to GW, 9 June, and notes 1, 4.

2For the memorial from George Hammond, see Jefferson to GW, 11 June, and note 1. On 12 June, Hammond sent Jefferson another deposition, which Jefferson received on 13 June (ibid., 261).

3Following GW’s instructions to relay the cabinet’s opinion on the Polly and Catherine, Jefferson wrote to Richard Harison, the federal attorney for the District of New York, and Knox wrote to Clinton (JPP description begins Dorothy Twohig, ed. The Journal of the Proceedings of the President, 1793–1797. Charlottesville, Va., 1981. description ends , 169; Jefferson to GW, 12 June [second letter]; Jefferson to Harison, 12 June, Jefferson Papers description begins Julian P. Boyd et al., eds. The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. 41 vols. to date. Princeton, N.J., 1950–. description ends , 26:261–62; Knox to GW, 18 June 1793, n.1).

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