To John Jay from William Coleman, 7 July 1807
From William Coleman
New York July 7th. 1807
Sir
After all my strugglings I am compelled to submit at last & avail myself of the Insolvent Act.1 I will not trouble you with the detail of my affairs: suffice it to say that I have found this measure inevitable.
With a view to make up the necessary “three fourths” I have applied to those friends here who joined with you to advance me the $2000, ($100 each) with which I begun the paper, & they have all to whom I have yet spoken readily signed my petition. It was my intention to make the same application to you Sir, but perhaps it would be equally availing to me & much less trouble
to you, (being at a distance from town & probably from any office competent to administer the oath) to give me a receipt in full. In the expectation of receiving this favour from you I inclose a receipt2 on my part for the Herald & advertising up to Novr. 10th. when my right in the paper issued.
I need not attempt to impress to you my kind friend, the reluctance with which I make this unwilling application. I am respectfully & gratefully Sir, Your hbl servt.
Wm. Coleman
P.S. My present plan is to continue to edit the paper for the prospectors on a Salary (say $2000 per annm) & get back gradually If as I can into the profession. I hope the explanatory paragraph was at length inserted in terms that were satisfactory to you, Sir.
P.S. A letter has just arrived in town from the Secretary at War3 (as I am informed) to Mr Burril,4 inform[?] communicating that the British Commander of the squadron off the Capes has written a letter to Capt Decatur5 saying that a Proclamation similar to the former one will be considered as a Declaration of War & that he shall act accordingly. The Proclamation had issued!6
ALS, NNC (EJ: 09052). Addressed: “His Excellency Governor Jay / Bedford”. Endorsed. For JJ’s reply, see his letter of 13 July 1807, Dft, NNC (EJ: 08695).
1. The state legislature passed “An Act for giving relief in cases of insolvency,” on 3 Apr. 1801, subsequently modified, authorizing the discharge of an insolvent debtor on the petition of three fourths in the amount of all his creditors. Laws of the state of New York. Published by authority, 2nd ed. (Albany, 1807; Early Am. Imprints, no. 13233), 428–39
2. Receipt not found, but JJ mentioned in his reply that he sent payment to Coleman.
3. Henry Dearborn (1751–1829).
4. Possibly Ebenezer Burrill, Federalist merchant, shipowner, and later first president of the New York Manufacturing Company. At a meeting organized by the Federalists of New York’s Eighth Ward at Tyler Tavern on 5 Nov. 1806, Burrill was appointed to a committee with the task to “prepare and transmit to the President and both houses of Congress memorial for fortifying our city, for the erection of a naval arsenal, and the building of ships of force for our protection and force.” Commercial Advertiser (New York), 6 Nov. 1806.
5. Stephen Decatur (1779–1820), U.S. naval officer, appointed Commander of the USS Chesapeake in late June 1807, and commander of naval forces at Norfolk, Va.
6. On 22 June 1807, HMS Leopard attacked and boarded the USS Chesapeake, a frigate commanded by James Barron (1768–1851), off the coast of Norfolk, Va., killing three American sailors and executing four who were claimed as British deserters. In the aftermath of this episode, TJ issued a proclamation on 2 July demanding that all British vessels depart from American harbors and territorial waters. Newspapers in New York City reported the British naval response to TJ’s proclamation, reporting “Captain Decatur writes that the Commanders of the Ships of War say they will consider a Proclamation issued by the President similar to that against the Leander, an act of hostility, and will commence hostility against us immediately. They have threatened to take the Chesapeake.” New-York Gazette, 6 July 1807; By Thomas Jefferson, president of the United States of America. proclamation. … ([Washington, D.C., 1807]; Early Am. Imprints, series 2, no. 14037).