I believe that there is a duty one must pay on the importation of books, but public ministers are exempt. If you had presented a memorandum to obtain a passport for the boxes that you await from England, there would have been no difficulty; in the absence of this passport, I suppose that the customs officer demanded payment of the duties. To remedy this situation, sir, you may tomorrow present to Their High Mightinesses a memorandum (which you will deliver to the president) in which you identify the boxes with books that you await and request a passport, or alternatively an order to the admiralty, allowing free passage of those items that belong to you without payment of duties, which will be granted immediately.1 I am vexed that this has caused you any inconvenience, but when one is in a foreign country, one does not always know the customary practices. I have the honor of being with much respect, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant