LS as secretary of state, signed “Jas. Monroe,” one page both sides, 8 x 13, July 2, 1816. Letter to the Chevalier de Onis, in full: "I have to request your attention and good offices, in a circumstance highly interesting to the United States. It appears by a representation to this Government, made on the authority of the oath of Thomas Perkins of Boston, that the Ship Charles of Nantucket, Benjamin Wirth Commander, engaged in a Whaling voyage in the South Sea, having touched at Valparaiso, in October last, was seized there, by the officers of the Spanish government, for no other cause than that she had not a Sea Letter, and that she was carried to Lima, about the 20th of a November, by a Spanish Brig who had taken possession of her papers.—It is also represented, as probably, that all the American vessels, which may arrive there, without Sea Letters, will experience the same fate, and as a considerable number had sailed for that quarter, not less than 25, very few of which have taken Sea Letters, that this measure had excited much alarm among those of our Citizens who are interested in them.
My object in this, is to request your interposition with the proper authorities in the Spanish Provinces, to obtain the discharge of the vessel which has been seized, and of any others which may be, for the same cause, to which, it is presumed, due attention to the Treaty between the United States and Spain, with a knowledge of the authority under which their owners and commanders acted, will be a sufficient inducement.
Before any of these vessels sailed, application was made by their owners, to the Department of the Treasury, for the Sea Letters specified by the 17. art. of the Treaty between the United States and Spain, of the 27th of October 1795. The application was duly considered, and a general Peace having taken place, it was concluded, that such a document was not necessary, to which effect, an answer was given to the parties by the Secretary of the Treasury. To this decision of the Government it was owing that these vessels took with them no Sea Letters. Under these circumstances I cannot doubt that you will readily interpose your good offices for the discharge of any vessels which may have been seized for this cause.
As it is important that the earliest and most effectual measures should be taken to procure the release of these vessels, the President has determined to send out a Special Messenger, in a Public vessel, who will take charge of and deliver your Dispatches." In fine condition, with light splitting to the fold and the hinge.
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