James Madison Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-01-02-0062

To James Madison from William Jarvis, 17 March 1809

From William Jarvis

Lisbon 17th. March 1809

Sir

I had the honor to address you the 25th. Ulto. by the Brig Vestal of Hull, Lennant Jones, Master, acquainting you that in consequence of your instructions, I shipped on board the Brig Hetty Captn Morehouse in Octr. 1807 a pipe of port Wine say Lisbon Wine a pipe of Bucellos & a quarter Cask of port, which vessel being captured carried into England & herself with the rest of the Cargo condemned, and in consequence of some Water being mixed with your Wine, it being sold, & the proceeds appropriated to the Use of my House, I have taken the liberty to ship another pipe of Lisbon, one of Bucellos & a quarter Cask of port by the said Brig Vestal, which I hope will prove agreeable & to your satisfaction. There also goes by the same vessel a couple of small boxes of Citron for your Lady.

For the amount I have taken the liberty to draw a Bill on you in favour of the Department of the Treasury, in which is also included a pipe of Wine formerly shipped, as you will see by the inclosed Account Current. That now shipped is addressed to David Gelston Esqr Collector of the Port of New York.1 With entire Respect I have the honor to be sir Yr Mo: Ob: servt

William Jarvis2

RC and enclosure (DLC: Rives Collection, Madison Papers). Docketed by JM. The enclosure is a duplicate of the bill of lading Jarvis sent in a 25 Feb. 1809 private letter to JM (DLC).

1David Gelston was active in New York state politics during the Revolution and served in the last Continental Congress in 1789. He was president of the Democratic Society of the City of New York, 1794–95, and collector of the port of New York, 1801–20. As a merchant, he supplied JM with wines (BDC description begins Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774–1971 (Washington, 1971). description ends , p. 993; Philip S. Foner, ed., The Democratic Republican Societies, 1790–1800: A Documentary Sourcebook of Constitutions, Declarations, Addresses, Resolutions, and Toasts [Westport, Conn., 1976], pp. 184, 198).

2Jarvis had been the American consul at Lisbon since 1802 (Senate Exec. Proceedings description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America (3 vols.; Washington, 1828). description ends , 1:406, 407).

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