To James Madison from William Pinkney, 28 October 1808

I have received the Paper sent to me from [the] Department of State in the Case of the Little William.

It appears from a Report of the Proctors, of the [] Instant, made at my Desire, that the Furs were []ly claimed for the U. S. by Mr. George Salkeld, [] Agent of the other Claimant, that the Cause [came] on to be heard before Sir Wm. Scott on the [] Septr. 1807, that the Judge took Time to [deli]berate, and on the 20th. of Novr. condemned the [Vessel] and on the 23d. the Cargo, on the Ground of a [contin]gent Destination to Hamburgh, then blockaded, [] the Blockade of that Place shd. be found to [be re]moved on the arrival of the Ship (otherwise [consign]ed to Tonningen) off the Eyder, which contingent [destin]ation “the Court held to be a Violation of the [Princ]iples established on such Subjects & in such []", that the Property was delivered to the [Proc]tor on giving Bail to return the Proceeds [] if the Decree shd. be reversed on [appe]al, that an Appeal has recently been [pro]secuted, through the Agency of Mr. Salkeld, [which] will include & protect the Interest of the U. S. with that of the Individuals concerne[d] in the Vessel & other Parts of the Cargo, that [the] U. S. need not make any other Claim; but that, if a special Claim shd. be thought [ad]viseable, it will not be improper or inc[on]venient, and may have a good Effect.

As the Case is judicially pending (after a Condemnation) I had not suppo[sed] that an application to this Government [would] at present be proper; but, being persu[aded] that the Interposition of the Public Agent, u[nder] Instructions to that Effect, founded up[on] the Interest of the U. S. in a Portion of th[e] Lading, is likely to have a salutary Influence upon the Case as respects al[l] the Claimants, and that it may, more[over,] be expedient in other Views, I have requ[ested] Genl. Lyman in behalf of the U. S. to ent[er] a special Claim for the Furs, and to prosecute the Appeal in Concert with Mr. Salkeld.

I will not fail to do whatever else may [be] in my Power for the Advantage of [th]e Parties. I have the Honour to be, with the highest Consideration, Sir, your most Obedient Humble Servant