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Capt. George Davis

Ship Arctic

New Orleans

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Norfolk 6 June 1809

Capt George Davis

Dear Sir,

I have just received a reply to my Petition to the Secretary, Copy of which you have at foot, he cannot do any thing to relieve you but recommends our applying to the President of the U. States which cannot be done by me, before I know possitively that the ship has been seized, therefore should that unfortunately be the case when you receive this, you must have a Petition sent to the President immediately stating the nature of your voyage in as favorable a point of view as possible, - Such as the passengers being forced on board your ship by the Governor of Cuba, and their certain death had you not have taken them from the Island - The Mohawk is seized, and several vessels. I understand in Baltimore that the release of one will be that of the whole, and I do hope nothing worse than detention will be the result but if you are likely to be detained any length of time you had better discharge all your men, your great attention must be paid to economy, and that your ship is not run to useless expense, which will be ruinous

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ruinous to the voyage and injurious to all concerned. Capt [Cowper?] has assured me that you have taken an indemnifying bond from the Person to whom you charterd the ship of $1200. - I trust this is the case, which I however much doubt, from your never having mentioned the like to me in any of your letters and it being of too great a consequence to be so often forgotten by you. I fear your vessel will be seized from which you will get into much trouble. It is always best to be cool and deliberate, and not to act with too much haste. I must recommend your taking on all occasions advice and act prudent in all cases. - If you apprehend the Ship will be condemned, the more you can strip her of the better. - so as to render her of little value - I hope you would find no person to bet against you in case she was sold - all friends are well.

I am your

Obed Serv

William Dickson

[page 4: copy in Dickson's hand of a letter from Albert Gallatin]

Treasury Department

May 29th 1809

Sir,

On the subject of your petition of the 18th Inst. I beg leave to observe that the authority of the secretary of the Treasury to remit forfeiture, and penalties, does not extend to cases arising under the act prohibiting the importation of Slaves, and that if in the instance you mention, any infraction of the law has been committed, the only mode of processing relief will be by an application to the President of the United States - for either a nolle prosequi or a pardon. -

I am very respectfully

Sir,

Your Ob Servt

[Signed] Albert Gallatin

W. William Dickson Norfolk