Report on a Letter from the President of New Hampshire ( John Sullivan), 5 August 1786
Report on a Letter from the President of New Hampshire
(John Sullivan)
Office for foreign Affairs 5th. August 1786
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs to whom was referred a Letter of 20th. July 1786 with the Papers enclosed from the President of New Hampshire to his Excellency the President of Congress1
Reports
That on attentively considering the Facts stated in these Papers, it is not clear to him that Congress should interfere—2 He thinks however it might be well to direct Copies of them to be sent to the Honorable Mr. Adams, with Instructions to take such measures on the Subject, and to afford the Claimants such Aid, as Circumstances and further Information may render proper and adviseable—3 All which is submitted to the Wisdom of Congress.
John Jay
DS, DNA: PCC, item 81, 2: 141, 144 (EJ: 3905). Endorsed: “Report of Secy. for forn. affrs. / on letter of Prest. Sullivan. / Entd read 7 Aug. 1786. / Aug. 8. 1786 / Referred to the Secy. / for foreign Affairs / to take Order—/ Chas. Thomson Secy. / Returned from the office / for f: Affairs, Augt. 18th / 1786—” LbkC, with enclosures, DNA: PCC, item 124, 2: 199–207 (EJ: 4577); LbkC, NNC: JJ Lbk. 3. Enclosures: John Sullivan to President of Congress, 20 July 1786, LS, DNA: PCC, item 64, 283; LbkC, DNA: PCC, item 124, 2: 199–201; Petition of James and William Sheafe to President of Congress, 19 July 1786, LS, DNA: PCC, item 41, 9: 407, LbkC, DNA: PCC, item 124, 2: 202–4; Protest of Commander John Fraser and mariners George Marshall and Andrew Staves notarized 16 March 1786, LbkC, DNA: PCC, item 124, 2: 205–7.
1. The Sheafes’ 19 July 1786 petition seeking restoration of their brig and cargo seized by British naval captain Horatio Nelson at Barbados was transmitted to Congress by John Sullivan, president of New Hampshire, on 20 July. See 30: 446n.
2. The facts given in the Sheafes’ petition revealed that when the brig Jane and Elizabeth, owned by James and William Sheafe of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and commanded by Captain John Fraser, was seized en route to the British colony of Tobago with a cargo of lumber, Fraser falsely told Nelson he was from Nova Scotia and gave him an old British register.
3. JJ transmitted the correspondence on this case to JA on 18 Aug. 1786, stating: “The Conduct of the Captain of the Boreas as stated in these Papers appears very exceptionable, but unfortunately for the Brig, her Attempt to pass as a british Vessel by means of false Papers was equally so. This Business therefore must be submitted to your Discretion, for as on the one Hand it would be improper to support the cause of the Brig further than it may appear just, so on the other it ought to be asserted as far as it may be right. The owners doubtless have Correspondents in London who will probably apply to you on the Subject; and it is intended by this Report to leave you at perfect Liberty to give them such Advice and such official Countenance and Aid, as may appear to you to be proper.” Dft, NNC (EJ: 5859); LbkC, , 198–99 (EJ: 2466).