The Appointment of Commercial Agent which I have the Honor to hold from the President of the United States by your Letter of 13th May ⟨1⟩805 has I trust in a great measure answered the purposes for which it was made1—⟨A⟩merican Seamen have not been so frequently impressed as formerly and when im⟨p⟩ressed have been immediately released except where I have been too late informed ⟨o⟩f their situation and the Impressing Vessel have sailed instantly.

Having discovered a disposition here to recognise—this Appointment ⟨(a⟩t least as far as regards records in the Court of Vice Admiralty) I take the liberty of ⟨r⟩equesting that should my continuance in the Office meet the approbation of the President and yourself I may be honored with a Commission in the usual Form with the seal of your department affixed. In the Island of St. Kitts particularly a mode of t⟨r⟩eatment has been adopted towards detained American Vessels which calls loudly for the Appointment of some person there who feels an Interest in protecting the property & persons of Americans. Captain Lander of the Ship Trent belonging to Mr. Gray of Salem was wantonly detained in that Island attempts were made to induce him to file a Claim there before even the property was libelled which in all probability would not have met the Circumstances of the case and when he was at length ⟨a⟩cquitted here he was Obliged on his return to St. Kitts to pay unauthorised & supernumerary charges of which I was not informed untill after he had sailed. The Brig Rolla of New York belonging to Mr. Longuimaire has been detained in that Island seven Weeks a claim has been unecessarely filed there for the Kings Ad⟨v⟩ocate declares that he is ready to give up the papers upon proper application being made therefore the expence of a Claim and all the damages of detention has been wantonly incurred.

Under such circumstances having already made myself acquainted with the Character of Persons to whom this important trust might be safely delegated in other Islands as agreable to your Letter of the 23 rd May 18062 I should have appointed perticularly in St. Kitts a Vice Commercial Agent but the Court of Vice Admiralty conceive that the addition of the Seal of your department should be given to the document confering the situation of Commercial Agent. I trust therefore that this application will not appear to you unnecessary bu⟨t⟩ that you will agree with me in conceiving this additional sanction is requisite ⟨to⟩ give a full and efficient authority to my appointment. May I take the liberty of mentioning that any dispatches you may have to forward will get to hand by enc⟨los⟩ing them to Messrs. David I. & Charles W. Greene Merchants New York. I have the honor to be Sir Your most Obedient & Humble Servant