1. See Jones to JM, 7 June 1787 and n. 2.

2. The revenue appropriation law of 1786 authorized the council “to direct the treasurer in the mode of selling the tobacco paid for taxes” (Hening, Statutes description begins William Waller Hening, ed., The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619 (13 vols.; Richmond and Philadelphia, 1819–23). description ends , XII, 329). See also the “act to enable the citizens of this commonwealth to discharge certain taxes, by the payment of tobacco” (ibid., XII, 258–60). The sale was to take place on 12 July, “one fourth of the purchase to be paid in specie and three fourths in military interest Warrants” (JCSV description begins H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds., Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia (4 vols. to date; Richmond, 1931——). description ends , IV, 115). Jones doubtless sent JM the Va. Independent Chronicle description begins Virginia Independent Chronicle (Richmond: Augustine Davis, 1786–90). Beginning on 13 May 1789 entitled, Virginia Independent Chronicle, and General Advertiser. description ends of 27 June 1787, which announced the sale. The “State price” of tobacco was that set by the legislature at the October 1786 session as the rate at which tobacco would be receivable in taxes. The price ranged from eighteen to twenty-eight shillings per hundredweight, depending on the location of the warehouse (Hening, Statutes description begins William Waller Hening, ed., The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619 (13 vols.; Richmond and Philadelphia, 1819–23). description ends , XII, 258–59). Military interest warrants were issued by the state auditors for interest due on “military certificates” that had been paid to the officers and soldiers of the state and Continental lines (ibid., X, 462).

3. James Mease McRea (1765–1809), who was appointed 7 June 1786 (JCSV description begins H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds., Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia (4 vols. to date; Richmond, 1931——). description ends , III, 557). His letter to Governor Randolph of 26 June 1787 is in CVSP description begins William P. Palmer et al., eds., Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts (11 vols.; Richmond, 1875–93). description ends , IV, 301.

4. See JCSV description begins H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds., Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia (4 vols. to date; Richmond, 1931——). description ends , IV, 119–20, 122. McRea’s letter describing the rescue of the schooner Dart, commanded by a Captain Dodds, was followed on 29 June by a lengthy report from Charles Lee, naval officer of the South Potomac district. The searcher’s first attempt to seize the vessel was resisted by the captain and crew, “who were on deck armed with handspikes, &c.” McRea then summoned help from “sundry persons … who all refused.” The searcher and naval officer were later permitted to board, but after the two officials left the schooner Captain Dodds and his men, assisted by several persons on shore, overpowered their guards and set sail for Georgetown on the Maryland side of the river. Lee attempted to have the captain arrested at Georgetown, but the Maryland authorities were uncooperative (CVSP description begins William P. Palmer et al., eds., Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts (11 vols.; Richmond, 1875–93). description ends , IV, 308–9). Shortly thereafter the Dart sailed down the river and slipped by Alexandria at night. The state boat Patriot, which had been dispatched to intercept the Dart, was forced to return to Hampton for repairs after losing her main mast “in a gale of Wind.” The delay enabled the Dart to make a clean escape (McRea to Beverley Randolph, 2 and 11 July 1787, ibid., IV, 311, 314; Beverley Randolph to McRea, 16 July 1787, and Beverley Randolph to Capt. Michael James, 27 July 1787, Executive Letter Book description begins Executive Letter Book, 1786–1788, manuscript in Virginia State Library. description ends , pp. 131, 140). To prevent similar incidents in the future the Council of State ordered the other state boat, the Liberty, to cruise the Potomac constantly between Georgetown and Quantico, “and chiefly near the Town of Alexandria.” The Liberty was not ready for duty until August, however, after undergoing repairs for a “bottom much eat with the worm” (JCSV description begins H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds., Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia (4 vols. to date; Richmond, 1931——). description ends , IV, 137; Michael James to Beverley Randolph, 22 July and 1 Aug. 1787, CVSP description begins William P. Palmer et al., eds., Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts (11 vols.; Richmond, 1875–93). description ends , IV, 323, 325).

Smuggling was a chronic problem in Virginia, the inevitable result of restrictive trade laws and the lack of an effective means of enforcement. In the case of the Dart the searcher’s attempts to carry out the law were forcibly resisted by a hostile populace thirsty for cheap rum. At least one prominent Alexandria merchant, Robert Townsend Hooe (1743–1809), openly encouraged the resistance to the seizure of the Dart. When McRea attempted to board the vessel, Hooe shouted, “Knock the Damn’d Imperious Raskal down and don’t suffer him to make Seizure, &c.” McRea noted that Hooe’s behavior would have great influence “among the lower class of people, who wou’d think they wou’d thereby be justified in commiting every outrage” (McRea to Beverley Randolph, 11 July and 24 Aug. 1787, ibid., IV, 314, 335).

5. A Citizen of Philadelphia [Pelatiah Webster], Seventh Essay on Free Trade and Finance.