James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Thomas Bulkeley, 2 February 1802

From Thomas Bulkeley, 2 February 1802

Lisbon the 2nd. Febry. 1802

Sir

The enclosed documents consisting of

N 1. 2. & 3 My letters to His Excy. Dn. Joao de Almeida de Mello Castro, Minister & Secretary of State for the foreign & war Departments

4 & 5 His Excellcys. Note’s to me

6 Captn. Peleg Barker’s memorial

⟨w⟩ill inform you of the capture & seizure of two of our vessels by the Governor of Pará in the Amazons & of the treatment & confinement of their Crews on suspicion of contraband trade.

I have written Messrs. John Murray & Son who am informed are ⟨U⟩nderwriters on the Brig Aurora, as well as Messrs. William L. Vandervort ⟨ow⟩ner of the Schooner Four Sisters, both of New York acquainting them of this unfortunate transaction, and have desired them to lay in their claims against this Government with you, to be transmited to me to be demanded of them, in the manner His Excy. the President shall judge proper.

Captn. Peleg Barker, & the five seamen are released from Prison, [. . .] and one of the seamen’s ill health (having caught a fever in the pri⟨son⟩ here) prevents his proceeding. He is much better and almost recove⟨red.⟩ I have the honor to be with the greatest respect Sir Your most obedt. Servant

Thomas Bulkeley

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