To James Madison from Hugh Lennox, 9 August 1806 (Abstract)
From Hugh Lennox, 9 August 1806 (Abstract)
§ From Hugh Lennox. 9 August 1806, Kingston. “I had the honor of writing you the 4 & 17 July to which beg to be refered.1 An embargo on foreign vessels laid on the 25th Ulto. previous to the sailing of the July fleet, was in consequence of some French Squadrons having appeared in these seas, it is expected to be taken off tomorrow.
“But few impressments of American Seamen in this port have taken place since my last, and those on application immediately liberated, a fortnight ago I applied for Several, and this morning received from the Admiral the enclosed letters which I send for your information.2 Captain Dashwoods letter to Adml. Dacres, corroborated what I noticed in mine of the 4 June,3 these american protections purchased at market, does much injury and lessens the weight of application for real Americans, and that too of the influence of my Public situation, I shall hower pursue my purpose of doing all in my power, by every discreet and prudent measure, to the best of my Judgement.
“I shall make up my accounts at the close of the quarter, as formerly noticed, but these will be nothing but the expence of stationary office rent and some triffles. As hitherto no expence incurred by distressed Seamen stands against the United States—men of that description having been generally provided for by procuring them berths to the UStates on wages.
“I beg leave to submit to you the Copy of a letter I have wrote to William Littlejohn Esqr. of Edenton North Carolina,4 if the abuse herein pointed out can be corrected, either by the State, or General Government it will be well, I have done what I deem my duty.
“I expressed a wish to possess the Laws of the United States—this might be useful sometimes in my public situation particularly in claims where American vessels are detained—a constant line of Intercourse is carried on, between the Contractors here, and Mess. 5 of Alexandria, that will afford you opportunities of forwarding to me, any instructions or advices you may be pleased to honor me with.”
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, CD, Kingston, Jamaica, vol. 1). 2 pp.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by Lennox. For enclosures, see nn. 2 and 4.
1. These letters have not been found.
2. Lennox enclosed copies of letters to him dated 20 July 1806 from J. H. Jackson (1 p.) and Joseph Watson (2 pp.; docketed by Wagner), both claiming U.S. citizenship and requesting Lennox’s aid to procure their release from British naval service; a copy of Lennox’s 23 July 1806 letter to Charles Williams (1 p.; docketed by Wagner), forwarding Jackson’s letter, mentioning the cases of Watson and two other men, and asking that Adm. James Richard Dacres have them investigated; and a copy of Capt. Charles Dashwood to Dacres, 26 July 1806 (3 pp.; docketed by Wagner), stating that Jackson, Watson, and several other self-proclaimed Americans that he had impressed at the same time were actually British subjects, and observing that British officers were well advised to be suspicious of such claims because of “the very extraordinary and very easy manner in which a Seaman who can speak the English language, can procure a protection in America, without even the form of an oath, but simply getting a Householder to say, that he believes him to be an American citizen, which one Dollar can always procure, and another for fees of office, and he instantly becomes a true American.”
3. The letter has not been found; however, Lennox also discussed the ease with which American protections could be obtained in his 17 June 1806 letter to JM.
4. The enclosed copy of Lennox’s 1 Aug. 1806 letter to Littlejohn (3 pp.) recommended that Littlejohn ask the North Carolina legislature to regulate the size, quality, and packing of fish barrels, owing to Lennox’s observation that those arriving in Kingston from North Carolina were inferior in all three aspects to fish barrels from other states. These deficiencies perpetrated a fraud upon the U.S. government, Lennox wrote, by rendering his attestations “for the landing of so many hundred barrels of fish, which entitles the shipper to the United States Bounty” inaccurate, because “in reality they fall one fourth or one fifth short.”
5. Left blank.