Beautiful Ships Passport Signed by John Adams During the Quasi-War With France, Permitting Trade with France’s Ally, Spain

After the toppling of the French crown during its revolution, the United States refused to continue repaying its debt to France on the grounds that it had been owed to a previous and now unseated regime. Then the U.S. signed the Jay Treaty with Britain which was a treaty of friendship and trade. French outrage led to a series of attacks on American shipping, and by the time John Adams became President in March of 1797, the French had seized nearly 300 American ships bound for British ports. This led to the Quasi-War, which was an undeclared war between the U.S. and France that lasted from July 1798 to 1800. During this period, Spain and France were allies.

Any ship carrying goods for trade between the US and foreign ports required a passport, which had to be signed by the President and Secretary of State.

Document signed, December 5, 1798, a ships pass for the Schooner Juno, under Captain Ammi Smith, “lying present in the port of Newburyport bound for Bilboa and laden sugar, coffee, oil, fish.”  The document is countersigned by Timothy Pickering as Secretary of State. It is fascinating that even as the U.S. was in a conflict with France, the President was willing to allow trade with one of France’s allies.

This may be the same Schooner Juno, or a successor one, that was taken by France in 1796. Captain Smith had at least one run-in with the French: in 1800 his Brig Venus, with him on board, was seized by the French. He spent over $600 in France trying to overturn the seizure, but to no avail.

Ships passports from Adams Administration are increasingly uncommon.