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Subject Area: Economics
Subject Area: Political Theory

GALLATIN TO JEFFERSON. - Albert Gallatin, The Writings of Albert Gallatin, vol. 1 [1879]

Edition used:

The Writings of Albert Gallatin, ed. Henry Adams (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1879). 3 vols.

Part of: The Writings of Albert Gallatin, 3 vols.

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GALLATIN TO JEFFERSON.

Treasury Department, 10th May, 1808.

Dear Sir,—

I enclose printed copies of the two last circulars respecting the embargo.

The only points requiring your decision which have occurred are the following:

1. Governor Harrison’s application to rent a lead-mine. If acceded to, what must be the terms? On account of the greater distance, those given to John Brown, of Kentucky, might not be acceptable to Harrison.

2. The revenue cutter of Savannah has been declared not to be seaworthy; she was an old galley. Your approbation for selling her and purchasing a new one is wanted.

3. Shee and McColloch recommend that the regular trading vessels to New Orleans, which act like packets and belong to persons of whom there is no suspicion, may be permitted generally to go and take cargoes, excepting only provisions and lumber, which are the only dangerous articles, for the West Indies.

Young Rittenhouse, who has brought Armstrong’s last despatches, and left Amsterdam on 24th March, says that there was no expectation there of our continuing the embargo; but the idea with our bankers and other well-informed merchants was that we would declare war against England, or that France, if we did not, would declare war against us. Holland, without any commerce left since the last decrees and our embargo, is in a deplorable state; her finances verging towards bankruptcy; the French every day more unpopular. The general opinion there was that Bonaparte intended the crown of Spain for himself. If true, is it not premature in him? and does he not run the risk of losing all her colonies? Will not Great Britain in that case take possession of Cuba? And what effect would that revolution have on our present situation in relation with both parties? If Bonaparte has such project at heart, I think that in almost every point of view the result must be favorable to us. The occupation of Cuba by either France or England and the transfer of our quarrel about Louisiana boundaries to France would be the only drawbacks.1

Respectfully, your obedient servant.

[1 ]See the reply to this letter in Jefferson’s Works, v. 290, dated May 17, 1808.