To James Madison from Tobias Lear, 13 February 1807
From Tobias Lear
Tunis, February 13t: 1807.
Sir,
In consequence of the arrangement made with this Regency, in pursuance of the Instructions which I have had the honor of receiving from you under date of the 7t. of June 1806. &c.1 (a particular detail of which negotiation and arrangement is given in my letter to you of the 25t of January) I have found it necessary to draw upon Wm. Higgens Esqr. of Malta, for money to pay the reimbursement made to the Bey for his Cruizer and her two Prizes—The freight & demurrage of the Ship two Brothers, Chartered at Boston by order of the Government of the United States, and to furnish funds for the Expences of the Consulate here, as well as at Tripoli, during the residence of Dr. Ridgely at that place.
In order to cover these drafts upon Mr. Higgens, and to leave some money in his hands for future contingencies in these Regencies, I have this day drawn upon you, in his favor, for ten thousand Dollars, in two Setts of Exchange of five thousand dollars each,2 dated February 12t. & 13t: 1807.—each set in Six bills—Vizt. 1t. 2d. 3d. 4t. 5t & 6t.3—which I pray you will honor, and pass the same to account. With Sentiments of the highest resp⟨ect⟩ and most Sincere Attachment, I have the honor to be Sir Your most Obedt Servt.
Tobias Lear.
RC, two copies (DNA: RG 59, CD, Algiers, vol. 7, pt. 2); Tr and Tr of enclosures (owned by Stephen Decatur, Garden City, N.Y., 1961). First RC in a clerk’s hand, signed by Lear; docketed by Brent as received 6 September. For enclosures, see n. 3.
1. PJM-SS, 12:22–24. For additional instructions sent to Lear, see JM to Lear, 15 May 1806, ibid., 11:568–69.
2. The Tr omits “in two Setts of Exchange of five thousand dollars each.”
3. Lear enclosed copies of bills of exchange dated 12 and 13 February 1807 (2 pp.). The former was addressed to JM as the first of six bills of exchange to pay $5,000 to the order of William Higgens; the latter was to Francis Baring & Co. of London in favor of Higgens for £1,000 sterling on account of the United States and in favor of Lear for the same amount “in Conformity with the Credit given to me, on your House, by the Honble. the Secret⟨ary⟩ of the Treasury of the United States.”