I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER XX.—­TO MR. VANDERKEMP, March 31, 1799

TO MR. VANDERKEMP.

New York, March 31, 1799.

Sir,

The letter has been duly received which you addressed to th(C) President of the United States, praying his interference with the government of the United Netherlands, on the subject of property you left there on coming to America.  I have it in charge to inform you that the United States have at present no minister at the Hague, and consequently no channel through which they could express their concern for your interests.  However willing, too, we are to receive and protect all persons who come hither, with the property they bring, perhaps it may be doubted, how far it would be expedient to engage ourselves for what they leave behind, or for any other matter retrospective to their becoming citizens.  In the present instance, we hope, that no confiscation of the residuum of your property left in the United Netherlands having taken place, the justice of that government will leave you no occasion for that interference which you have been pleased to ask from this.

I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER XXI.—­TO GEORGE JOY, March 31, 1790

TO GEORGE JOY.

New York, March 31, 1790.

Sir,

I have considered your application for sea-letters for the ship Eliza, and examined into the precedents which you supposed might influence the determination.  The resolution of Congress, which imposes this duty on the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, provides expressly, ’that it be made to appear to him by oath or affirmation, or by such other evidence as shall by him be deemed satisfactory, that the vessel is commanded by officers, citizens of the United States.’  Your affidavit satisfies me that one of the officers is a citizen of the United States; but you are unacquainted with the others, and without evidence as to them, and even without a presumption that they are citizens, except so far as arises on the circumstances of the captain’s being an American, and the ship sailing from an American port.  Now, I cannot in my conscience say, that this is evidence of the fact, satisfactory to my mind.  The precedents of relaxation by Mr. Jay, were all between the date of the resolution of Congress (February the 12th, 1788) and his public advertisement, announcing the evidence which must be produced.  Since this last, the proceedings have been uniform and exact.  Having perfect confidence in your good faith, and therefore without a suspicion of any fraud intended in the present case, I could have wished sincerely to grant the sea-letter; but besides the