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that he was enabled to escape from custody. I call upon you, therefore, even apart from the greater question, to have him arrested and delivered up to me in fulfilment of this contract of shipment.
I have reason to believe that this whole affair was a settled and arranged plan, to which Officers of your Colony lent themselves, if they did not even concert it, to enable this man "Madison" to escape from his obligations to the Ship, and his contract of service legally entered into. It is even said that he has been already taken into the service of the Government. If such things are allowed to go uncorrected, there will be no safety for American Ships in British harbours, no assurance of their being able to enter their cargoes, attend to necessary business, and retain their crews to get to sea again. The safety of American Ships, and the interests of American merchants, seem to be at the mercy of any petty Magistrate or low police officer.
In this case is involved too, more or less deeply, I conceive, an important question, a vital principle, fraught with serious consequences to both Great Britain and the United States. No one would deprecate more deeply than I any misunderstanding between the two Countries, any disturbance of the amicable relations now existing between them. I concur cordially with you in the sentiments you express on this subject.
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