To James Madison from William Hull, 2 January 1807
From William Hull
Detroit 2d. Jany 1807.
Sir.
I have recd. your letter, inclosing Michonce’s pardon.1 He had before been tried, and acquitted, by the verdict of a Jury. I will however inform him of the clemency of his great Father towards him.
I have directed the Secretary, to forward by this mail, a copy of the law, providing for the erection of a bank at this place, and the other laws which have been adopted, this summer, as soon as possible.2 I have the honor to be very respectfully your most obedt. Servt.
William Hull
RC (DNA: RG 59, TP, Michigan, vol. 1).
2. For the correspondence, see Stanley Griswold to JM, 5 Jan. 1807. On 19 September 1806 the governor and judges of the Michigan Territory incorporated the Bank of Detroit (Laws of the Territory of Michigan [4 vols.; Lansing, Mich., 1871–84], 4:7–9). The establishment of this bank caused consternation in the Jefferson administration. Albert Gallatin submitted his “Observations” to Thomas Jefferson in an undated document in which Gallatin expressed concerns that the bank “must be either a landed or a swindling speculation & I think that some enquiry should be made respecting the motives of the Govr. He may certainly be written to on the subject; the objections arising both from want of apparent utility & from the charter of the Bank U.S. stated & an explanation asked” (DLC: Jefferson Papers; docketed by Jefferson as received 25 November 1806).