Raynors HCA 2018-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/21/2018
Autograph Letter Signed “John S. Howard” to Rufus King (at this time King was the Minister to Great Britain), 4pp., Liverpool, July 28, 1799, self covering with British cancellation stamp. In part, “I take the liberty to address you on the following and to ask the favor of your interference. The night before last Thomas Gray 1st Lt. of the American Letter of Marque Ship Venus was impressed and yesterday sent on board His Majesty’s ship Action stationed here. As soon as I was informed of the circumstance, I waited upon my fried Wm. Muary our consul here regarding his advice and assistance. He presumed to send to the Captain of the Action the Commission wherein Gray was named an officer, would be sufficient to obtain his release. ... Late last night however we received for answerthat Gray would not be set at liberty without an order from the Board of Admiralty for that purpose. Wm Muary then advised me and the Captain to make affidavits of Gray’s American citizenship and to forward them to Col. Lenox ... that in the course of 14 days he would probably be released.this must necessarily detain the ship and delay ... will be attended with great expenses and cost. By whom will then be indemnified. So for my interest as a merchant and owner of the ship, but as an American citizen, I feel my honor wounded that an officer having a commission of the President of the United States of America should be treated with such indignity ... I deem it my duty to claim redress of the evil which is increasing and the consequence of which others of my countrymen may otherwise hereafter be involved. I conceive it an insult to our Country in the person of her consul the discharge of any American in such circumstance ... I offer no apology for this intruding upon you ...”
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