President Thomas Jefferson and Secretary of State James Madison Sign a Ship’s Passport For a Brig Bound For Cuba
This was just a few months before their Embargo Act halted American trade to foreign ports .
The American Brig Rajah, out of Salem, Mass. but often based at New York, was engaged in trade with Indonesia, then referred to as the Spice Islands, where it obtained pepper (which was a necessary spice in the days before refrigeration). It also sailed to Europe and the Caribbean Sea. The prime...
The American Brig Rajah, out of Salem, Mass. but often based at New York, was engaged in trade with Indonesia, then referred to as the Spice Islands, where it obtained pepper (which was a necessary spice in the days before refrigeration). It also sailed to Europe and the Caribbean Sea. The prime port in the latter place was Havana, Cuba, then under the control of Spain.
In the early years of the Republic, when American vessels engaged in foreign trade left the United States, they carried passports with them. These were large, impressive documents and contained their text written in four languages – English, Spanish, French and Dutch. The president and secretary of state both signed them. Document signed by both Jefferson and Madison, Washington, September 21, 1807, being the ship’s passport for the Brig Rajah, Bethuel Conkling, Master (captain), “of the burthen of 120 50/95 tons or thereabouts”, lying in the port of New York, bound for Havana, and laden with “dry goods, porter, looking glasses, pictures, vermicelli (noodles), lard, butter, candles, shoes, ham, fish, cheese, apples, potatoes, onions & lumber”. The Great Seal of the United States is intact, and the document is countersigned by Secretary of State James Madison. Conkling is identified in New York City directories as a ship’s master.
This is an astonishing variety of cargo, more diverse than we can ever recall seeing. It runs the gamut from mirrors, cloth goods, wine, candles, food, lumber, and the interesting (but rather vague) reference to “pictures”.
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