51To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 10 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
For information Shews—1. that as been stated from Crowninshield & another quarter, Cross the collector of Newbury-port is a very incorrect officer if nothing worse. 2. how difficult with our judiciary to carry the law into effect. The judge of Maine is said to be honest tho’ federalist, but is evidently governed by the prevalence of party feelings in that quarter DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
52From Albert Gallatin to William Brown, 7 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of August 26th has with its enclosures been laid before the President who has directed that the prosecutions which may have been instituted in relation to a supposed infraction of the embargo laws by the English brig Union should be discontinued. I enclose his instruction to that effect to the district Attorney; which you will be pleased to deliver to him. I am respectfully Sir...
53To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 5 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Brig Hiram had sailed from Providence to Martinique with permission & is sent, with several others to New York by Decatur for having articles on board beyond what had been allowed by collector. The parties have on giving bond received back the vessel: and now apply for leave to proceed on their voyage, stating that the smuggled articles were put on board by seamen without their knowledge....
54To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 5 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
In the case of the Hampden & Sidney , for which permission had been granted by Govr. Langdon, the affidavits do not appear to me to justify the detention. In the case of the Unanimous there is no affidavit whatever; but only Banks’s information. This however is one of Govr. Sullivan’s permissions for 2000 barrels. I believe flour to be cheaper in Boston than Richmond. The only ground on which...
55To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 5 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
B. Crowninshield wishes change of collectors in Boston; Newbury port & some where else—either Salem or perhaps district attorney; anticipates a non execution of the embargo in Massachussets by acquittals or prosecutions. This I think probable; &, if so, do not perceive any remedy. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
56To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 5 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I am clearly of opinion that the issuing of certificates is unnecessary & improper. The monthly consumption by Mr. Lincoln’s computations is 15,000 barrels of flour, or 130,000 a year; which is certainly beyond the truth. Flour is now cheaper at Boston than at New York, Philada. or the Chesapeak. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
57To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 5 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The conduct of the Naval commandant (Porter) is not intelligible. There has already been some conflict between him & the collector. As relates to the prosecution, the President may direct the dist. attorney to discontinue it: or I may write that the party should apply to the Treasury for remission by petition to dist. judge, in the manner pointed out by law. The last mode is the most regular,...
58To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 22 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have answered a letter from this man, a few days ago, stating that the bills would not be paid unless Congress ordered it, & that to that body he might apply MHi : Coolidge Collection.
59To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 16 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I am again compelled to address you on the subject of Governor Sullivan’s certificates, which he continues, as I am informed from several quarters, pertinaciously to issue Whether he still sends duplicates to the Treasury I do not know, but from the new form which he has adopted, rather think that he does not. I write however to the principal clerks in my office to send to you along with this...
60To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 14 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of 2d & 5th I received only on the 12th instt.—I intend leaving this on the 21st & expect to reach Washington about the 27th. Any letter therefore written subsequent to the receipt of this should be directed to Washington. If, in the mean while I hear of the arrival of the St. Michael, I will hasten my departure & travel faster, so as to be ready to receive any communication...
61To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 10 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a letter from Mr. Soderstrom contesting the construction put on that part of the embargo laws which relate to foreign vessels, together with sundry legal opinions in support of his construction. Considering that an acquiescense in that opinion would defeat the intention of the Legislature, I laid the papers before the Attorney General whose opinion, which coincides...
62To James Madison from Albert Gallatin, 9 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of 31st. ulto. is just receive’d. Permission had been given for the Batavian to sail from Baltimore with French sailors. Gen. Turreau shifted the application to New York & applied for two more vessels from Baltimore. I waited, before I would instruct the collector of New York, until the general decision of the President on those vessels for Sailors was ascertained. The permission has...
63To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 8 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose the following papers. 1. Application to Havannah at particular request of the parties. 2. A letter from Soderstrom. Shall the collector of Baltimore be directed to give him the certificates he requires? The object is to subject to penalties Swedish or Americo-Swedish subjects trading to this country contrary to certain regulations of the Swedish Government, & to enforce on those...
64To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 3 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a statement shewing the situation of collection of the arrears of direct tax & internal revenues in the several districts, together with some notes on the subject by Daniel Sheldon the principal clerk on that branch in this Department. And I beg leave respectfully to submit the propriety of abolishing from and after the 1st. day of October next the offices of...
65To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 2 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of 26th ulto. was received yesterday. together with that of Mr Madison advising that a vessel must be dispatched from Philada. for France & England: which will be attended to, only making her to sail on 20th. instead of 15th. instt., in order to give full time & avoid the expense of demurrage. My circular of 1st August precluding the departure of vessels after the 16th did not reach...
66To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 2 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Since closing my letter of this day, I have received the two enclosed from Mr Penniman. I have immediately answered, approving his conduct & the expense. But I presume that some notice of his conduct, that of the militia, &c. communicated by you or in your name, may be expected, & would produce a favorable affect. Deeply as the murder is to be lamented, such excesses will, I hope, bring all...
67To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 23 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
There is one application which I had referred to you & to which you have given no answer. It is that of one Coquerel to go to Isle of France; the vessel’s name is either Calypso or Mentor. He had prepared his vessel under an alledged verbal permission of the Collector. Both he & his captain have repeatedly called for an answer. The war department, in Gen. Dearborn’s absence, suspends the...
68To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 17 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I return Lowry’s papers. I do not exactly recollect what had passed on the subject, & only remember that there was a statement of facts obtained from the district attorney in which the species & degree of resistance to the deputy marshal were represented as greater than is done by themselves & Mr Smith. In every other respect the representation of Mr Smith is I think correct. The conduct of...
69To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 9 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Governor Tompkins transmits to you a letter from Oswego announcing an insurrection there. The particulars I know not, as, if the collector has written, his letter has gone to Washington. The accounts are I presume somewhat exaggerated; & there is no more insurrection than has been on Lake Champlain or Passamaquoddy; but certainly a forcible violation of the embargo by such combination as...
70To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 6 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your’s of 29th ulto., & will examine the question of increasing the bond. I will only observe that I would have thought an order to the collectors to limit the cargoes of provisions to ⅛ th of the bond illegal, & that I only wrote to them that when they did not exceed that proportion. I did not perceive that there could be any ground of suspicion. This was written as a...
71To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 5 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I forgot to enclose in my last the letters from Barnstable & Boston respecting the violations of the embargo: they are now enclosed. I have not heard whether the navy departmt. had, after receiving Gen. Dearborn’s & my letter, made any arrangements to send cruising vessels & gun-boats to the northward. The enclosed letter from Mr Woolsey gives a better account of the violations along our...
72To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 3 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Finding that several of the collectors considered that provided applications to send vessels in ballast had been made & permissions had been granted in time, the vessels might delay their departure as much as they pleased; a construction which altogether defeated the object intended by the restriction in point of time & by the decision not to permit any distant voyages; I wrote a circular to...
73To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 29 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent yesterday to the Secy. of the navy, and he will transmit to you a letter from Gen. Dearborn & another from Gen. Lincoln shewing the violations of the embargo. As these are now effected by vessels which go off without clearances, with intention either of putting their loads on board of vessels at sea, chiefly British, or of sailing over to Nova Scotia or the West Indies, the danger is...
74To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 27 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Towards the end of the last session of Congress, & after your interview with Hoge on the subject of the western road, I had suggested that from respect to the State of Pennsylvania & considering the manner also in which the subject had been treated last winter in the legislature of that State, it would be expedient to instruct the Commissioners to survey & locate from Brownsville westwardly...
75To James Madison from Albert Gallatin, 15 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
The collector of New London has been authorised to charter on account of Government a vessel for the purpose of bringing from a desert island in the Southern Atlantic Ocean six American seamen unavoidably left there by the Ship Leonidas lately returned from a whaling voyage on the coast of Patagonia. This voyage being undertaken on account of Government, solely from motives of humanity, &...
76To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 15 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Governor Sullivan’s certificates received at the Treasury to this day amount to 49,800 barrels of flour, 99,400 bushels of corn, 560 tierces of rice & 2000 bushels of rye; and in addition there to he has given certificates giving permission for either 7,450 barrels of flour or 30,000 bushels of corn; so that the whole quantity of flour may be 57,250 barrels & the whole quantity of corn may be...
77To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 15 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose, to be returned, five certificates from Gov. Sullivan received since this morning & not included in the account transmitted, amounting to 6,200 barrels flour & 9,000 bushels corn. Of the flour, one certificate for 5000 barrels may be converted into 10,000 bushels corn. I also enclose a letter announcing the death of the Comr of loans of Georgia & recommending a successor. It is one...
78To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 9 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Geo. Warfield wants a greater tonnage than has been allowed by the general regulations. One ton is now allowed for 45 dollars of property: he wants one ton for 15 dollars. He has been informed that no alteration would take place, but still insists that his enclosed application should be laid before the President. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
79To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 7 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose for your signature a proclamation for the sale of certain lands under the law also enclosed. I have filled the days so as to be at the most favorable season of the year for sales & not to interfere with the State elections. Respectfully Your obedt. Servt. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
80To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 29 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I send a list of 96 applications made subsequent to 1 May for permission to send vessels in ballast. Two of these being for taking passengers & not to bring property are not embraced by the law & ought not to have been included. I enclose a general recapitulation; and as it may be proper to adopt some general rules, will not expect a decision till we have waited on you to morrow according to...
81To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 28 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed letters from Lake Champlain shew that we have not been properly supported by the people & that the love of gain & British agency had rendered the stoppage of intercourse so unpopular that even Sailly & others truly friendly characters were afraid to act. I have of course written to the dist. attorney to institute prosecutions &a.—But although the waters are low & nothing more can...
82To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 23 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed letter from Mr Woolsey contains our last accounts from Lake Champlain; & that from Mr Astor the amount of supplies expected in Canada from Champlain & St Lawrence. I fear that the want of energy & resignation of Sacket will facilitate the evasions in the last district. On Champlain I believe that every thing that could be done has been done. The mail travels so slowly from...
83To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 16 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose the application of Fanning, Coles & others to send a vessel in ballast on account of a new question on which I have doubts. Those gentlemen have with much perseverance & enterprize discovered a large quantity of Sandal wood on one of the Friendly islands in the Pacific Ocean. One cargo they took to China & have brought the proceeds within a few days. They had previously heard from...
84To James Madison from Albert Gallatin, 10 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
Mr Rittenhouse arrived yesterday from Amsterdam, which he left 24 March, with Mr. Armstrong’s dispatches. He could give me no political information, but gave me a letter from the Bankers to him, by which it appears that there has been an order, subsequent to Mr. A.’s dispatches, to suspend for 2 months any decision on American vessels. Is this a preliminary to an exception in our favour? or a...
85To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 10 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose printed copies of the two last circulars respecting the embargo. The only points requiring your decision which have occurred are the following— 1. Gov. Harrison’s application to rent a lead mine. If acceded to, what must be the terms? On account of the greater distance, those given to John Brown of Kentucky, might not be acceptable to Harrison— 2. The revenue cutter of Savannah has...
86To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 5 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
We have no collector at Vienna, Eastern shore of Maryland, Mr. Stanford having positively resigned. The embargo will certainly be evaded there unless one is appointed. You have recommendations for a successor, which you suspended on account of his politics & in expectation of some other from Judge Polk. None have come. Would it not be better to appoint the person recommended? His commissions...
87To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 5 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not perceive any alteration necessary in the letter, except that the Governors do not generally know who are the importers of flour, shipments of that article, particularly to the Southward, being commonly made by merchants residing in the northern ports. Perhaps it would be better that the Governors should merely state from time to time the quantity of flour which may be wanted,...
88To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 5 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
N. Orleans As several similar applications may be made during the absence of the President some general rule should be adopted. I would submit that in cases which may be recommended by the collectors, particularly regular packets or traders, the permission to sail should be given provided that provisions & lumber make no part of the cargo; reserving the permissions for flour for the...
89To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 30 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
These instruments are not wanted for the Surveyor General; but may be wanted for the Surveying of the coast. The question is respectfully submitted to the President by his obedt. Servt. The quadrant is the finest that ever was imported into this country, and the time keeper I have had an opportunity of knowing well from mr Brigg’s always comparing it with my clock when he comes here. as they...
90To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 27 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to enclose the result of the enquiry into the conduct of Nathaniel Ewing Receiver of public monies, in relation to the public sales of lands at Vincennes. It appears that both Mr. Ewing & Governor Harrison who acted according to law as Superintendents of the sales, were concerned in companies formed for the purpose of purchasing public lands; that offers of money were made to...
91To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 22 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed papers put in my hands by the British Minister are transmitted for the President’s decision previous to any instructions being given to the Collector of Philada.— The following questions present themselves 1. Under the 1st proviso of the 2d Section of the Act of 5 June, 1794, (Vol. 3. page 89) had not the Master a right to enlist British subjects 2. Does the President’s...
92To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 21 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The office of Surveyor of Richmond is worth about 350 dollars a year DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
93To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 20 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The only application I had for Richmond was a recommendation in favr. of Wardlaw by, I believe, Wilson Nicholas— On reflection I agree with Mr. Madison that Mr. Erskine’s representation respecting W. Florida claimants should be sent to Congress for information, but without recommendation. Respectfully Your obedt. Sev. “Surveyor for the port of Richmond & inspector of the revenue for the same”...
94To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 19 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Penniman’s letter was 18 days on the road: it is probable that every thing will be over before our answer. At all events nothing will be useful that cannot be executed immediately. I can by this day’s mail authorise the collector immediately to arm boats (& under that name we may take vessels) to any extent of force in men or guns within his reach. In addition to that, there are but two means...
95To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 15 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The facts as stated in the West Florida memorial, so far as related to the Acts of Congress are correctly stated. I think that the only reasonable ground of complaint is that the claimants were induced by the act, which declared that the transcripts of records deposited in the office of State should be received in evidence, not to cause their claims to be recorded: and that the time afterwards...
96To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 14 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I send 35 applications for dispatching vessels in ballast referred by the collectors. They are principally either for greater tonnage, or because the proofs are not complete. In support of the first class it is urged in some cases that the applicants own no vessel of a smaller size; and in almost every instance that rum & molasses are the only articles which can be brought from the British...
97To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 13 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed is an application for a regular packet on Lake Champlain from Vermont to Canada during the embargo. It is embraced by no law but the first general act which excepts vessels authorised by the President. The permission may facilitate the evasions of the embargo. Mr Newton is slow & I have been very unwell. He has however my bill as amended & containing 9 Sections. Whether reported...
98To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 12 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I received last night the enclosed letter from John Smith of Ohio respecting Biggs’s loan to him. I am sorry for Biggs because I believe him otherwise honest & harmless & because he had been a good officer. But I am under the same impression with yourself—that he ought to be removed. I have had no intercourse with him except in his official capacity, but have always understood that his...
99To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 7 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
It appearing that Mr Zaccheus Biggs receiver of the public monies at Steubenville did not make his remittance as promptly as he had been directed; a peremptory order was given to make every month a payment in the Pittsburgh bank of the monies collected during that month. This brought him here, when he acknowledged a defalcation of about eighteen thousand dollars, partly arising from the...
100To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 4 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose Van pradelle’s application for the office of Register of the land office of New Orleans. I think for that office his claim the best as he is commissioner which is a temporary appointment & has been faithful. Mr. Robertson who has already a permanent office, might be then appointed commissioner. Two applications for the Baltimore collectorship are enclosed. Brice the deputy collector...