Papers of John Adams, volume 19
I do myself the Honour to transmit to Congress, a Letter from Mr Harrison, with an Account of Disbursements for Captain Erwin and his Associates on their return to Cadiz from their Captivity in Morocco.1 Situated as Mr Harrison was he had every motive of
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Humanity, and love of his Countrymen to relieve their necessities, and it would be too Severe, if not unjust, to leave the burthen upon him. He is a Gentleman of much Merit, and I beg leave to recommend him and his Claim to Congress.
With great Respect I have the honour / to be, dear sir, your most obedient / and obliged servant
RC and enclosure (PCC, No. 84, VI, f. 427–438); addressed by WSS: “His Excellency / John Jay— / Secretary of state for the Department / of foreign Affairs / at / New York—”; internal address: “His Excellency / John Jay, Secretary of / State &c &c &c”; endorsed: “Letter 24 Feby 1787 / Honbe. J Adams. / 30 July 1787 / Referred to the board / of treasury to report”; notation by WSS: “Hon’d by / Mr. Ingram.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 112.
JA enclosed a 21 Feb. letter from Richard Hanson Harrison, who sought “£72.12.8 Sterling” from the American government as compensation for the aid he supplied to Capt. James Erwin and the crew of the American brig Betsy, which was seized by Morocco in 1784 and liberated the following spring. This letter marks the commissioners’ second attempt to obtain restitution for the Alexandria, Va., merchant, who aided Barbary captives from his post in Cádiz, where he served as the unofficial U.S. consul until 1786. Acting at the recommendation of the Board of Treasury, Congress finally awarded Harrison a sum of $331.25 on 12 Oct. 1787 (vols. 17:109; 18:148;
JCC
, 33:664–665).
WSS’s notation probably indicates that this letter was carried by Bostonian Duncan Ingraham Jr., a partner in the American mercantile firm of Sigourney, Ingraham & Bromfield, which was established in Amsterdam in early 1781 (JQA, Diary
, 1:57).