From James Madison to Jacob Latting, 30 July 1806 (Abstract)
To Jacob Latting, 30 July 1806 (Abstract)
§ To Jacob Latting.1 30 July 1806, Department of State. “In answer to your letter of the 23d. inst. I can only observe that until the subjects of difference between the United States & Spain shall be arranged, there will be no avenue through which you can prosecute your claim.”
Letterbook copy (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 15); Tr (MoSHi: Thomas Jefferson Collection). Letterbook copy 1 p.; addressed to Latting at New York. Tr enclosed in Latting to Thomas Jefferson, 27 Oct. 1817 (MoSHi: Thomas Jefferson Collection), requesting Jefferson’s opinion on the likelihood of Latting’s claim being paid; also enclosed was a copy of U.S. consul at Madrid Moses Young to Latting, 16 Mar. 1801, acknowledging receipt of Latting’s 28 Dec. 1799 inquiry regarding the status of his appeal of the condemnation of his brig Fox, and stating that the supreme council of war had confirmed the condemnation but the American minister had protested the decision, which left it to be addressed either by negotiation between the two governments or by “reprisals or … some other very decisive measure” on the part of the United States.
1. Jacob Latting (1764–1847), born in Lattingtown, Queens County (later Nassau County), New York, was a New York City merchant in partnership with his brother-in-law, Peter Deall, during the 1790s. Their brig Fox was captured by a Spanish privateer in 1797. Latting worked thereafter as a grocer and tallow chandler, still in New York. In 1816 he was granted a patent for the production of potash and pearl ash (, 12:142).