At the Request of my good friends Messrs. Nicklin & Griffith I take the liberty of incloseing to you a statement of a Claim which they have now depending in france the Acuracy of which may be Relyd on.1 The Case is so hard and the amount so considerable as to Induce them to hope that Government will grant them such Assistance in obtaining Restitution (either by recommending it to their minister or by such other means as it may Judge effectual) as the nature of it will admit. It is believed that if the instances in which this government has complyd with the 4th. article of the Convention2 were enumerated it would be usefull and if any such have occurred I have to request that you would direct a List to be furnished.

It will be observed that the Sole pretence for Condemning this property was the want of a Role de Equipage the neccessity for whic⟨h⟩ was not known when the ship sailed from America in all other Respects Every document was fair & regular the American ownership unquestionable.

If under these Circumstances the interposition of Government Can be obtained there is no doubt it will be highly usefull & as such will be acknowledged by the Gent Concerned. With respect I am sir Yr. Mo hble servt