To James Madison from James Leander Cathcart, 20 August 1806 (Abstract)
From James Leander Cathcart, 20 August 1806 (Abstract)
§ From James Leander Cathcart. 20 August 1806, Boston. “By the above copy of my letter to Mr. Smith of this date1 you will be inform’d of an uncontemplated embarrassment which has occur’d since my last letter to you; I have no other opinion to offer upon the subject but what is therein contain’d, & as the transaction & its result seems to depend in some measure upon both departments, I await with much anxiety both yours, & Secretary Smiths decisions, & the necessary instructions deducive therefrom, requesting your answer as soon as possible.”
RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, CD, Tunis, vol. 3). 1 p.; docketed by Wagner. For enclosure, see n. 1.
1. The appended copy of Cathcart to Robert Smith, 20 Aug. 1806 (3 pp.) acknowledged receipt of Smith’s of 13 Aug. (see Jacob Wagner to JM, 19 Aug. 1806, n. 1), and stated that Cathcart had informed Soliman Melimeni of the situation with the debentures, whereupon Melimeni’s “phrenzy lead him to every species of insolent observation,” including declarations that he was not subject to U.S. revenue laws and would impose the same requirements on U.S. citizens in Tunis after his return. Cathcart reported that the Franklin’s cargo had actually been transferred to the Two Brothers on 19 Aug., added that he would await orders on the matter, and recommended that the U.S. government pay the debentures as compensation for the $3,500 in freight charges for which Melimeni would become liable by not sailing in the Franklin. If not thus pacified, Cathcart opined, Melimeni would probably ensure that the bey of Tunis exacted double the amount from the U.S. chargé there.