To James Madison from Albert Gallatin, 18 November 1806
From Albert Gallatin
Treasury Department Nover. 18th 1806
Sir
I have the honor to enclose the copy of a letter from the collector of Boston respecting the complaint of the notaries public of that place.1 I do not find that there has ever been any provision made by law or instructions respecting the manner of certifying sea letters or any of the other custom house documents specified by the complainants. I have the honor to be with the highest respect Sir Your obedt. Sert.
Albert Gallatin
RC and enclosure (DLC: Gallatin Papers). Docketed by Wagner. For enclosure, see n. 1.
1. The enclosure is a copy (2 pp.; docketed by Wagner) of Benjamin Lincoln to Gallatin, 11 Nov. 1806. Lincoln reported complaints from notaries that merchants were obtaining passport signatures from civil justices of the peace rather than from notaries public. Lincoln confirmed that no law required passports to have a notary seal and said that he had informed the notaries that merchants could apply for signatures from either notaries or justices.