To James Madison from Thomas Bulkeley, 2 February 1802
From Thomas Bulkeley, 2 February 1802
Lisbon the 2nd. Febry. 1802
Sir
I have the honor to enclose my dispatch to His Excellcy. Dn. Rodrigo & his answer on the subject of the American Schr. Hope Asa Hooper Master, laden with salt fish detained at Faro by the Collector of the Customs there on a demand for the full duties on his Cargo. The determination on this point is left to the Conselho da fazenda or Court of Exchequer; this tribunal has ordered the Administrator General of the Customhouse to inform, who has given in a very favorable one, but the attorney for that department has ordered the said Collectors to transmit to him a decree mentioned in his Remonstrance wh. ⟨o⟩rder have forwarded by express to Faro. I am sorry there should be so great a delay in this business, but as I have very little doubt of obtaing a decision in favor of this vessel, it will establish a precedent whereby such steps will in future be avoided by the Collectors at the outports to the prejudice of our trade in similar circumstances. If I can ⟨o⟩btain a copy of the whole transaction will have the honor to forward it to you, if not shall send the decree when issued by that tribunal. I have the honor to be &ca.
The preceding is the full transcription of a document that was previously abstracted in The Papers of James Madison, Secretary of State series. The original abstract contains additional annotation and source information.