a threat to the executioner, that if he did not do his duty well, he
should take the place of the sufferer. At length he discharged him
on the 17th, without the means of subsistence for a single day. To
establish these facts, I enclose you copies of papers communicated to
me by Mr. Cutting, who laid the case of Purdie before the board of
admiralty, and who can corroborate them by his personal evidence. He
can especially verify the letter of Captain Young, were it necessary
to verify a paper, the original of which is under the command of his
Majesty's ministers, and this paper is so material, as to supersede of
itself all other testimony, confessing the orders to discharge Purdie,
that yet he had whipped him, and that it was impossible, without giving
up all sense of discipline, to avoid whipping a free American citizen.
We have such confidence in the justice of the British government, in
their friendly regard to these States, in their respect for the honor
and good understanding of the two countries, compromitted by this act of
their officer, as not to doubt their due notice of him, indemnification
to the sufferer, and a friendly assurance to these States that effectual
measures shall be adopted in future, to protect the persons of their
citizens while in British ports.

By the express command of the President of the United States, you are
to lay this case, and our sense of it, before his Britannic Majesty's
Minister for Foreign Affairs, to urge it on his particular notice by all
the motives which it calls up, and to communicate to me the result.

I have the honor to be, with great esteem, your most obedient, humble
servant,

Th: Jefferson.