To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 9 June 1792
From William Heth1
[June 9, 1792. “The French Consul at Norfolk2 has lately adopted a practice of taking the registers of vessels from such Masters belonging to his Nation, as called there to report on their passage to this district. If he has a right so to do, I shall not be surprized, if some Masters should depart from hence without paying tonnage.” Letter not found.]
Extract, letterpress copy, Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress; extract, LC, Papers of the Continental Congress, National Archives.
1. This extract was enclosed in H to Thomas Jefferson, June 20, 1792.
2. Although Charles François Adrien le Paulnier, Chevalier d’Annemours, was French consul for Maryland and Virginia, Heth is presumably referring to Martin Oster, vice consul of France who resided at Norfolk at this time.