For some time, and all the more so as war becomes more likely, I have been importuned equally by Americans and Dutchmen to procure them American sea letters. It is easy for me to get rid of the latter, although they always try anew, by telling them that it is not in my power and promising them to write to your excellency about it. But it is not the same with the Americans, who complain loudly of not finding here the recourse that they have a right to expect. They say that they cannot conduct their business without being assured of receiving help immediately when they call for it, and I believe they are right. Among others who presented themselves were 351 a Mr. Christian Dutilh, merchant of Rotterdam, and John Veder, owner of a ship, accompanied by Mr. La Baussaie, an agent from France. They showed me a power of attorney from Mr. Étienne Dutilh, their parent, a merchant in business at Philadelphia, directing the said Mr. Christian Dutilh to purchase a vessel on the account of Étienne Dutilh, which the said John Veder, who showed me his certificate of residency from Philadelphia, was to command and conduct, with a cargo that he was to put aboard, to Philadelphia. After consulting our friends on this matter, notably Mr. Bérenger, who told me that it would be bad for me not to take it upon myself to help these people, I promised to give them a declaration, which could serve as a sea letter, if they would produce the vessel’s legal and authentic bill of sale, otherwise known here as the transport, and the cargo manifest. Several days later they did so, and in consequence I gave to them (n.b. free of charge, for which I have a receipt signed by the captain) a declaration, a copy of which is enclosed, in which I followed as exactly as possible the model found in the treaty of commerce concluded by your excellency. I omitted only the apostrophe to emperors, kings, etc., which would have been absurd on my part.1 This vessel is already en route to Philadelphia.

Another American, whom I promised to help under the same conditions and who any day may call upon me to keep my word to him, is Mr. Wildick, citizen and owner of lands in Pennsylvania and owner of a vessel newly built at Philadelphia, for which he showed me the legal documents, and who was recommended to me by Col. Senf. Mr. Wildick observed to me that if I did not wish to help him in this matter, then English merchants would profit from the deals that he could not make.

I have already reported on both cases in my last letters to the president of Congress.2 While waiting, as this does not cease to worry me, even though I did what I thought was for the best, I beg your excellency to be so kind as to write to me as soon as possible your opinion on this matter and, if there is some disadvantage to doing it in the future, to authorize me to refuse the thing to others who might present themselves.3

As for the Dutch, honesty demands that I should at least give them the reasons for my inability to accommodate their wishes.

For example, I do not know how to respond to Messrs. Wilhem and Jan Willink, who asked me in an urgent letter of the 12th “if I could procure for them American papers for their vessels, which are now to be found in various ports, in order to obviate the obstacles that present circumstances could give rise to, earnestly entreating me, if it was possible, to inform them of the particulars involved so that they might act without risk and forestall all kinds of impediments.” Another merchant, Mr. Beud, known to your excellency, so he says, came from Rotterdam expressly to consult me about a similar affair. Finally, Mr. Gallois, shipbroker at Amsterdam, also came to speak with me and then sent me the enclosed memorandum in order to obtain a response, as I led him to hope, from your excellency.4

Just now I received a letter from Mr. R. Wildick of Amsterdam, which 352 urges that it is not right to create difficulties for Americans here that they do not face at all in America, where they are permitted to take on as captains of their vessels able people of every nation. Mr. Brush confirmed this. He also complains of the considerable duties that one must pay in this country to legally purchase a vessel and would like to save them. To that point I respond that it does not rest with me to exempt Americans from the duties of this country, but I would not know how to give him the declaration that he asks for, unless he produces for me the bill of sale legally passed before the magistrate, which shows that the vessel is truly American property.