From Thomas Jefferson to William Higgins, 5 May 1805
To William Higgins
Washington May 5. 1805.
Sir
A wine of Marsalla in Sicily beginning to obtain credit here from it’s resemblance to that of Madeira, I am desirous of trying it, and have been advised to address myself to you as most able to furnish me of the best. I therefore ask the favor of you to send me two pipes of your best, addressing them to the Collector of the customs of any port of the US. to which the vessel on which they are shipped happens to be coming. mr Smith, Secretary of the Navy authorises me to say that your draught for the amount on the Navy department shall be passed to your credit in account, which I presume will be the most commodious negociation for you as well as myself. Accept my salutations & respects.
Th: Jefferson
PoC (DLC); at foot of text: “Mr. William Higgins, Navy Agent of the US. at Malta”; endorsed by TJ; enclosed in TJ to David Gelston, 5 May. PoC of Tripl (same) with postscript: “June 28. 05. Original by the John Adams; Duplicate by the Huntress, which being intercepted by one of the belligerent Privateers, this Triplicate is forwarded”; endorsed by TJ.
William Higgins was a British merchant based in Malta. A polyglot with numerous connections across the region, Higgins was recommended by Edward Preble early in 1804 to serve as a naval agent for the American squadron in the Mediterranean. He was instrumental in providing aid to the officers and crew of the U.S. frigate Philadelphia after their capture in 1803, and, through his correspondence, conveyed widely read accounts of the American conflict with Tripoli. He continued to act as naval agent until 1807 (, 3:237, 339, 348, 351; 4:101, 123, 230, 255; 5:267; 6:95, 547; Philadelphia Gazette of the United States, 17 Aug. 1803; New York American Citizen, 24 Nov. 1804; Newburyport Herald, 4 Aug. 1807; , 6:605; 8:90, 102, 133).