To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 16 May 1816
From Benjamin W. Crowninshield
Navy Department, May 16. 1816.
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose to you herewith, the Kingston Gazette of the 4th: instant;1 also an Extract from a letter received by to-day’s mail, from Captain Woolsey, the Commanding Naval Officer at Sackett’s Harbour.2 I have the honour to be, with the highest respect, Sir, Your most Obedt: Servt.
B W. Crowninshield.
Letterbook copy (DNA: RG 45, LSP).
1. Crowninshield probably forwarded the 4 May 1816 issue of the Kingston Gazette containing an account of the passage of an act in the Provincial Parliament of Upper Canada authorizing the provincial administrator to suspend or regulate from time to time the trade between Upper Canada and the United States. The paper also printed a schedule of the duties to be levied on American goods after 18 Apr. 1816.
2. The extract has not been found, but it may have been from a 6 Apr. 1816 letter Melancton Woolsley wrote to Crowninshield from Sackets Harbor, inquiring whether he could convene a court-martial consisting of army and navy officers (including sailing masters). Woolsley felt he lacked the authority to decide (DNA: RG 45, Letters from Commanders).