§ From William Walton Jr. 8 September 1806, Baltimore. “Tho’ it is unusual to correspond on a Subject like the one which forms the contents of this letter directly with the Hble Secretary of State; I regret that my commercial engagements are Such as to hinder my personal application.

“Whilst in the city of Santo Domingo I had the honor of addressing you on the Subject of the U.S. naming a Consul or Commercial Agent for that place & its dependancies;1 on the Same I now presume to add the following lines.

“The many vessels that have been lost by illegal capture for want of Such representation to claim them; the distressed State of Seamen on such occasions many of whom die by the effects of the climate or want of care, added to vessels papers not being properly regularized; are motives that forcibly urge this nommination; & my long intimacy with these facts makes me bold in this address.

“As I am again on the point of returning to that place to continue my pursuits of trade; I am Sollicited by Several of the Insurance Offices in New York, Philadelphia & Baltimore; whose interests I have defended; & whose property I have Saved; as well as my commercial friends generally again to make this application to the Hble Secretary of State; more particular⟨ly as⟩ I have it in my power to vouch that it will be highly pleasing to General Ferrand, the Commander of that Island, & also to General Tureau the French Minister with whom on my landing in New York I had a conferrence on the subject; & who assured me that he would no longer object to; but promote any thing of the kind.

“The late Decrees of this govt. prohibiting a Trade to the revolted part of that Island; have been attended with the most beneficial consequences; & the Step now proposed would Serve to bind the regard of its Commander more to the American name: it would be Singularly congenial to his wishes.

“Mr Samuel Sterrett, president of the Union Insurance Compy of this town addressed you on the subject,2 & if thought requisite I could forward to you other Certificates from other Insurance Compies. backed by the Signatures of the first merchts. in any of the Commercial Towns.”