To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 21 December 1806
From Fulwar Skipwith
Paris. 21 Decr. 1806
Sir
In company with this is a Copy of my letter to the Minister of the United States, & statement, of the 4th. Inst., concerning persons & Mariners detained as British prisoners of war in France, who declare themselves Citizens & Inhabitants of the United States, & who, having claimed the protection and pecuniary succour of our Minister, have been by him referred to me with respect to the article of supplies.1 But having given me no regular or specific instructions on the subject, other than what is contained in his letter, a Copy whereof is here also inclosed,2 & being unauthorized for the want of some law or instructions from your Department to act as a regular Agent for Prisoners, is the motive with me for offering this subject to your consideration. It is reasonable to apprehend, under the extraordinary aspect at this moment of the War, that a much greater number still of the Citizens of the United States may fall into the same calimitous situation of those already mentioned. I shall from time to time forward a list of such as do; whereby information more certain, than from mere Certificates, which often fall into different hands, may be obtained of their real national characters & residence. If it be the desire of the President that I should continue to act in this business, I shall expect to be regularly authorized so to do, & that the rules & principles of my proceedings will be regularly explained. I have the honor to be with great consideration Sir Your Mo. Ob. Servt.
Fulwar Skipwith
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, CD, Paris, vol. 2). Skipwith’s enclosure dated 23 December 1806 (see n. 1) suggests that he delayed sending this letter for at least two days. For enclosures, see nn. 1–2.
1. The enclosure is a copy of Skipwith to John Armstrong, 4 Dec. 1806 (2 pp.), in which Skipwith transmitted a list of prisoners of war in France claiming to be U.S. citizens and requesting “pecuniary Succour.” Skipwith asked for permission to employ someone “at the expence of the U. S.” to visit the detained men “in their respective prisons” to ascertain the validity of their claims and recommended John J. Pacaud, chancellor of the U.S. commercial agency at Paris, for the job. Skipwith also requested 3,000 francs to supply relief to the prisoners. Skipwith enclosed “A List of Individuals detained in France as Prisoners of War, and Claiming the Protection of the United states as inhabitants and Citizens of the said States” that provided details on sixty-six prisoners (5 pp.; docketed by Brent). On the final page Skipwith signed a 23 December 1806 certification that the list was “a true and accurate statement” of the individuals who had applied to him for assistance to that date.
2. The enclosure is a copy of Armstrong to Skipwith, 9 Dec. 1806 (2 pp.), instructing Skipwith not to send an agent to the French prisons because only “legal evidence, or regular Certificates of Citizenship” would enable pecuniary aid from the United States for that purpose. Armstrong did, however, authorize 3,000 francs in prisoner support as requested.