§ Jacob Wagner to John Stephen. 14 September 1806, Department of State. “Some time past, Genl. Turreau the French Minister wrote a letter to the Secretary of State,1 complaining that by the tardiness in taking effectual steps against the persons concerned in the outrage against a French Privateer, mentioned in the Secretary’s letter of the 19 July,2 one of the Vessels, charged with having committed it, had been cleared at Baltimore and proceeded to Sea under the same Captain who commanded her at the period when the complaint arose. The Minister adds that the same means, which, from the inaptness of the French expression, to denote ideas relative to the Custom house or the police of the port, I do not exactly comprehend, an unwarrantable concealment of the time & manner of her sailing was practiced or countenanced at the Custom House.3 Having immediately on the receipt of the letter forwarded it to the Secretary of State, it is not now in my power to send a copy of it: but I hope what I have above stated from memory may be found a sufficient explanation of the object of the Secretary in desiring that you will be pleased to recapitulate to him the steps, which have been taken, with a view to satisfy the Minister’s complaint. It is also desirable that the Collector should make his statement: will you therefore have the goodness to communicate the substance of this letter to him.”