LETTER LXV.--TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, May 16, 1791


TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.

Philadelphia, May 16, 1791.

Sir,

Mr. Swanwick informs me, that the house of Morris, Willing, and Swanwick
have suffered a very considerable loss in the port of St. Andero, by an
abuse of office, in having a cargo of corn thrown overboard, as being
bad, when it was in fact perfectly good. I know that in some countries
of Europe it is often difficult to obtain justice against persons
protected by court favor. In this, as in all other instances where our
citizens shall have occasion to seek justice in the country of your
residence, I would wish you to interfere just so far, as by the
influence of your character to counterbalance the undue protection of
their opponents, so as that equal and impartial justice may be done
them.

The regulation by which they suffer, in the present instance, is, in its
nature, extremely susceptible of abuse, and prevails, as I am told, only
in the ports of the Bay of Biscay. The patronage of our commerce being
the chief object of our diplomatic establishments abroad, you would
render that an essential service could you obtain a repeal of this