To Thomas Jefferson from James Maury, 22 August 1791
From James Maury
Liverpool, 22 Aug. 1791. In response to his application to the Treasury in behalf of vessels mentioned in his last letter, he has received and encloses their decision.—[P.S.] 9 Sep. 1791. Morning’s post brings London Gazette with information dated at Petersburg 17 Aug. of signing of preliminaries of peace between emissaries of Empress and King of Sweden, the only condition being that the status quo ante form the basis of the negotiation. Ratifications were to be exchanged in six days.
RC (DNA: RG 59, CD); 2 p.; endorsed by TJ as received 22 Oct. 1791 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Letter informing Maury that the Commissioners of the Treasury, on advice of the Commissioners of the Customs concerning the ship Hope and the brigantine Janet, then under seizure for landing cargoes at Guernsey in violation of 12 Charles ii, ch. 18, sect. 3, had ordered their release provided reasonable satisfaction was made to the seizing officers; that this was done because the petitioners had pled ignorance of the law and evidently no fraud was intended; but that Maury should make it known to all owners and masters of American vessels that the law would be strictly enforced in future (Charles Long to James Maury, 13 Aug. 1791; Tr in DNA: RG 59, CD).