From James Madison to Anthony Merry, 16 January 1806
To Anthony Merry
Department of State January 16. 1806
Sir,
In the Month of October 1804 the British Cartel, Norfolk Hero, sailed, by Order of Admiral Duckworth, from Jamaica, with 170 French Prisoners of War and 30 British Invalids, for Morlaix, with an ulterior Destination for England, but soon afterwards the Prisoners took Possession of and carried her into the Mississippi. As there was no British Consul or Agent at New Orleans or near it, Humanity devolved upon the Government, the Care of the 21 Invalids who remained.1 The deplorable Condition of some of them will appear from the enclosed Statement. Under these Circumstances, Governor Claiborne incurred the Expense of $41.20⁄100 for supplies furnished them; and Doctor Rogers of the American Navy has lately transmitted the inclosed Account for 500 Dollars for his Attendance upon them in a Period of Seven Months: It is also probable that other Reimbursements may be hereafter claimed from other Quarters. In the mean Time the Agent of Dr. Rogers (Mr. Wm. Chandler of George Town) is desirous of receiving Payment for his Account (which with Governor Claiborne’s Certificate is inclosed) if you find it reasonable and are authorized to pay it.2 I have the Honor to be &c.
(signed) James Madison
Tr and Tr of enclosures (UkLPR: Foreign Office, ser. 5, 48:20–21v); letterbook copy and letterbook copy of enclosures (ibid., ser. 115, 15:7–8v). Tr and Tr of enclosures enclosed in Merry to Mulgrave, 31 Jan. 1806 (ibid., ser. 5, 48:18–19). For enclosures, see n. 2.
1. For the British invalids on the Hero (also Norfolk Hero), see 8:304 nn. 1–3, 380, 383–84, 415, 416 n. 3, 476.
2. The enclosures (3 pp.) are copies of (1) an unsigned bill for $500 for “attending and dressing the Invalids of the Norfolk Hero, in New Orleans, from the 23rd December 1804 to the 30th. July 1805 inclusive”; (2) the 11 Nov. 1804 statement of Dr. Williamson, the garrison physician at Plaquemine, countersigned by John Calver, master of the Hero, that of the British prisoners there, six required “immediate Amputation 4 of whose Lives depend upon the Operation being performed immediately,” two required “amputation of small Limbs,” and three were sick with fever; and (3) William C. C. Claiborne’s 1 Nov. 1805 certification that at his request Dr. William Rogers of the U.S. Navy attended the invalids aboard the Norfolk Hero for “about Seven Months.”