To James Madison from Albert Gallatin, [21 June] 1812
From Albert Gallatin
[21 June 1812]
Dear Sir
I believe the weekly arrivals from foreign ports will for the ensuing four weeks average from one to one and a half million dollars a week. To protect these & our coasting vessels whilst the British have still an inferior force on our coast appears to me of primary importance. I think that orders to that effect ordering them to cruize accordingly ought to have been sent yesterday, & that at all events not one day longer ought to be lost.1 Respectfully
Albert Gallatin
I will wait on you to morrow at 1 o’clock.
RC (DLC). Undated; date assigned here on the basis of the evidence presented in n. 1.
1. In letters dated 22 June 1812, Paul Hamilton wrote to Commodores Stephen Decatur and John Rodgers: “For the present, it is deemed expedient so to apply our public Armed Vessels, as to afford, to our returning commerce, all possible protection—nationally & individually—the safe return of our commercial vessels, is obviously, of the highest importance.” Cruising instructions for the vessels under the command of each officer were also included (DNA: RG 45, Letters to Officers).