To James Madison from Peder Pedersen, 3 December 1804 (Abstract)
§ From Peder Pedersen
3 December 1804, Philadelphia. “By the Ship Hardware Capt. Wataik [Matlock] who arrived at the 30th ulto. at New York is come a Four wheels Couch and couch Harness marked and numbered as in the margin1 ordred by me and shipped for my account, permit me therefore on this occasion to request of you Sir, the favor to procure a permit for the landing of said Couch and Harness at New York, that I may be enabled to get it sent round to this port while the river still is open.”2
RC (DNA: RG 59, NFL, Denmark, vol. 1). 1 p.; docketed by Wagner as received 6 Dec.
1. Written in the margin is “(P. P.) / P. / (1 to 9).”
2. JM’s 17 Dec. 1804 reply to Pedersen has not been found, but is listed in the index to the notes to foreign legations (DNA: RG 59, Notes to Foreign Ministers and Consuls, vol. 1). On 7 Dec. 1804 Albert Gallatin wrote New York collector of customs David Gelston that Pedersen was entitled “to the same exemption of duty … as other foreign Ministers” and instructed Gelston to permit the duty-free entry of the coach and harness (DNA: RG 59, ML).