To James Madison from James McGreggar, 13 August 1807

I had the Honor of addressing you on the 21st. ulto [infor]ming you of my arrival here, a Triplicate of which is enclosed [I] have several times visited the Officers of this Government [with] a view of cultivating a good understanding with them. I find [that] a Consul cannot be acknowledged here untill he is first [ac]knowledged in Denmark, which might be easily accomplish[ed] by informing his Danish Majestys Charge D’Affaires [of the] appointment and requesting him to notify his Govern[me]nt of the same.

The Commerce of the United States is [ma]terially affected by the very enormous Charges of Protests and Surveys, which are not permitted to be executed by me. A Protest [wil]l cost from Thirty two to Sixty four Dollars. The Notarys fees [] not authorised to administer an oath. It will cost nearly [the] same sum if sworn to before the Judge, he being the [only] person authorised to administer an oath. To call a [Su]rvey & extend a Protest regularly with the necessary [do]cuments, will amount nearly to the value of a small Vessel.

The situation I am at present placed in, is extremely disag[ree]able, not having it in my power to make a remonstrance [to] this Government if necessary, as I am not considered as a Public Character.

A circumstance took place yesterday w[hich] much excited my sensibility, an American Seaman, w[ho] had been impressed in the British service on board the B[rig] Geolan, Lieutenant Clement Commander, being on sho[re] with the Boat of said Brig, came to my Office, produc[ed] his protection (of which the enclosed is a true Copy) an[d] claimed my interference in getting him released from Brit[ish] Slavery, I immediately waited on Commandant Von Scholten with the protection, and informed him of [the] Circumstance, assuring him that the said Seaman was American, and regularly protected by the United Sta[tes] and requested him to be surrendered to me. The Commandant informed me that he had already given th[e] Commanders of British Men of War on this Station the assurance, that every deserter, of whatever Nation he mig[ht] be (except Danes) should not only be given up when demanded, but that he had ordered the Police Officers to arrest & put them in Confinement till called for, and tha[t] as I had already acknowledged to him, that the Deser[ter][ was] in my possession, he should consider me responsible for [the] delivery of him on board his Vessel. I returned much [cha]grined, took a Copy of his protection, and requested him [to retur]n to the Boat, assuring him that I would see his [Com]mander, and make a demand of him, the Seaman [went] to the Wharf, where he left the Boat, but she was gone [I] went in search of the Officer, and on my return to my [Office] I found the said Seaman there in custody of a Police [Offic]er; who took him out of my Office, and conducted him [to the] Fort. Lieutenant Clement came on shore in the afternoon I was the first who gave him information respecting said [Sea]man, and at the same time I made a demand of him as a [Citizen] of the United States, he made use of the expressions that Officers of the English Navy are accustomed to, that he [knew] him to be an Englishman, and that he had bought [the pr]otection since he came on shore, that he could purchase [as ma]ny as he pleased for Two Dollars, &Ca, and that I might [ask] a higher price, for by God he would not deliver him up.

I then waited on the Commandant with Lieutenant [Clem]ent & there had the mortification of seeing an Ameri[can] Citizen delivered up to a British Officer as a Deserter

I assure you, that nothing but strict observance [of] my standing instructions, and your Circular of the 1st: July 1805, prevented me from expressing the Sentiments that flowed from my heart on the occasion

This day Captn: Tallman of the Schooner Governor McKean of Philadelphia, lately captured and carri[ed] to Tortola for adjudication, called and informed me that he had three of his Seamen impressed at Torto[la] Vizt Thomas Maccumber, John Galeway and Pete[r] Lewis, who were all Citizens of the United States, an[d] that they were on board his Britannic Majestys [] Port. I have the Honor to be very Respectfully Sir Your M. Obt. St.