1From Thomas Jefferson to Elias Boudinot, 29 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
As it is desireable that we should receive from our Consuls an exact report of all our vessels with their cargoes which go to the countries of their residence, such fees appear necessary as may induce them to be watchful that every such vessel is noted. At the same time the fee should not be so large as to induce them to connive at foreign vessels reporting themselves as American, merely to...