25 January 1804, Department of State. “I have recd. your letter of the 12th [not found], enclosing an account for taking a protest relative to the impressment of two seamen: but on recurring to my circular of the 1st. Octr.,1 you will find that it does not assume to pay for evidences of impressments; on the contrary the law imposes it upon the masters of Vessels from which they are made. The accot. cannot therefore be paid.”