Sold For $15,000
*Includes Buyers Premium
LS, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 8 x 10, January 22, 1807. Letter to James Anderson, an American resident in Havana, Cuba, sent from "Washington, Department of State." In part: "The extensive commerce carried on with the Island of Cuba renders the establishment of a Consul there of very considerable importance, but…the authorities of the Island as well as the Government of Spain have uniformly refused to give a public recognition and Character to a Consul of the United States. It has therefore been thought suitable…to vest you with the Character of Agent for Seamen and Commerce in the port of Havana…Your own regard to the public service will induce you to attend to the commercial and other interests of our Citizens in all the cases where they would fall under the patronage of a consul…
A vigilant attention to the Captures made by illegal Cruisers will form a very important object…It may therefore be proper to convey to you some Idea of the Conduct which in the Spanish Officers would be deemed reprehensible, and lead to a Claim upon the responsibility of their Government…Permitting armed vessels engaged in cruising without Commissions…to frequent the ports of the Island, or to sell prizes therein, are among the strongest cases which can occur of the dereliction of the duty one Nation owes to another. The Government of Cuba is therefore not only bound to prevent it, but to restore any prizes such Cruisers may send in…Prizes ought not to be sold before a Condemnation takes place in a regular prize Court, and the exercise of the powers of such a Court by any foreign functionary…ought not to be tolerated…It would be a Circumstance indicating a strong ground for suspicion of unwarrantable intentions, if Spanish subjects should be permitted to own or to sail in Cruisers acting under French Commissions…you will obtain the most direct and authentic evidence in your power of any considerable abuses of the Spanish ports to the injury of our Trade, and transmit it to this Department, and, if a suitable occasion should be open…remonstrate in a proper manner with the Governor, against the toleration of them."
Emphasizing the importance of Cuba to U.S. security, Madison continues: "The local situation of Cuba in relation to our Territories and its being the medium of Communication with the Spanish American possessions, as well as a depot of military preparations, it is deemed of importance that you keep a witchful eye upon and transmit to this Department an account of the occurrences, measures and appearances, which you may think deserving of attention. A Cypher for secret Correspondence is herewith handed you, which, being a Copy of that furnished Mr. Henry Hill, the Agent of the United States at Kingston, Jamaica, will enable you to communicate with him upon any Confidential subjects which may arise…In referring you to the Acts of Congress for the regulations respecting seamen, I must request that you will economize as much as possible in the aids and relief which you may administer to such of them as are in distress…I have only to add, that you will subserve the views of the President in attending to every violation of the laws prohibiting the Slave Trade, and reporting such circumstances to this Department as may be the basis of judicial animadversion upon the offenders." In fine condition, with a small clipped portrait of Madison affixed beside the salutation.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$150.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
