Collection title devised by cataloger.

Two identical form letters printed only on recto, with blank spaces for information specific to the ship for which the letter is being issued, completed in ms. for two different ships.

First line of each letter: James Madison, president des Etats Unis d'Amerique, a tous ceux qui les presentes verront.

First sea letter, with ms. title "Brig Ceres, sea letter, Dec'r 5 1809" on verso, completed for ship commanded by William L. Clark, berthed in New Haven and bound for Madeira [?]. Autographs: Ab[raham] Bishop, coll'r.; James Madison; R. Smith, Secretary of State; Elizur Goodrich [mayor of New Haven].

Second sea letter, with ms. title "Brig Triton, sea letter, Sept. 29th 1810" on verso, completed in ms. for ship commanded by William Brown, berthed in New Haven and bound for Barbados. Autographs: Sam. B. Marshall, dty. coll'r.; James Madison; R. Smith, Secretary of State; Elizur Goodrich [mayor of New Haven].

Letters have been folded, resulting in some minor loss of text where creases have torn.

Each letter has parallel text in French, Spanish, English, and Dutch.

James Madison, president des Etats Unis d'Amerique, a tous ceux qui les presentes verront

Brig Ceres, sea letter.

Brig Triton, sea letter.

Passports > United States > Specimens.

Safe-conducts > Specimens.

Merchant ships > United States.