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In the earliest days of the Republic, the American merchant marine was both so small, and so crucial to the national interest, that no ship could sail without the express permission of the President, the Secretary of State, and assorted Port and local officials. This document, with its text in English, French and Dutch, attempts to ensure safe passage for the Schooner Polly, commanded by Samuel Davis, - out of Providence and bound for the French West Indies with a cargo of food, tobacco, and leather - by declaring “that no subjects of the present belligerent powers have any part or portion therein, directly or indirectly, so may God Almighty help him…”
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GEORGE WASHINGTON,
President of the United States of America.
To all who shall see these presents, GREETING:
IT IS HEREBY MADE KNOWN, That leave and permission has been given to Samuel Davis master and commander of the Schooner called Polly of the town of Providence, burthen Forty-six tons or thereabouts lying at present in the port and haven of Providence and bound for the French West Indies and laden with Beef, Pork, Fish, Flour, Corn, Onions, Potatoes, Butter, Tobacco, and Leather that after his Schooner has been visited and before sailing he shall make oath before the proper officer, that the said Schooner belongs to one or more of the citizens of the United States of America, the act whereof shall be put at the end of these presents ; as likewise that he will keep and cause to be kept by his crew on board, the marine ordinance and regulations, and enter in the proper office a list signed and witnessed, containing the names and sirnames [sic], the places of birth and abode of the crew of his Schooner and of all who shall embark on board her, whom he shall not take on board without the knowledge and permission of the proper officers; and in every port or haven where he shall enter with his Schooner he shall shew [sic] this present leave to the proper officers, and shall give a faithful account to them of what passed and was done during his voyage, and he shall carry the colours, arms, and ensigns of the United States during his voyage.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed these Presents, and put the Seal of the United States thereunto, and caused the same to be countersigned by Jeremiah Olney, Collector of the Customs at Providence the Seventh day of December A. D. one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three.
GEORGE WASHINGTON,
President des Etats Unis d’Amérique.
A tous ceux qui les presents, VERRONT:
SOIT NOTOIRE, que faculté et permission a été accordée à Samuel Davis maitre ou commandant du navire appellé Polly de la ville de Providence de la capacité de Forty-six tonneaux ou environ, se trouvant presentement dans le port et havre de Providence est destine pour the French West Indies chargé de Beef, Pork, Fish, Flour [sic] Corn, Onions, Potatoes, Butter, Tobacco, and Leather, qu’après que son navire à été visité, et avant son depart, il prêtera serment entre les mains des officiers, autorités à cet effet, que le dit navire appartient, à un ou plusiers citoyens des Etas Unis d’Amérique dont l’acte sera mis à la fin des presents ; de meme qu’il gardera et sera garder par son equipage les ordonnacnes et réglements maritimes, et remettra une liste signee et confirmée par temoins, contenant les noms et surnoms, les lieux de naissance et la deméure des personnes composant l’equipage de son navire, et de tous ceux qui s’y embarqueront, lesquels il ne recevra pas à bord sans la connoissance et la permission aux officiers autorités à ce ; et dans chaque port ou havre où il entrera avec son navire, il montrera la presente permission aux officiers autorités à ce, et leur sera un rapport fidèle de ce qui s’est passé durant son voyage, et il portera les couleurs, armes et enseignes des Etats Unis durant son dit voyage.
EN TEMOIN DE QUOI, nous avons signé les presents et y avons fait apposer le sceau des Etat Unis, et les avons fait controsigner par Jere’h Olney, Collector of the Customs à Providence le Seventh jour de December de l’an de grace le three.
G. WASHINGTON
By the President
Countersigned.
JERE’H OLNEY
TH JEFFERSON
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GEORGE WASHINGTON,
President van de Vereenigde Staaten van America.
Aan alle de geenen die deeze teegen woordige sullen sien SALUT:
DOEN TE WEETEN dat by deezen vryheiden permissilie gegeeven werd aen Samuel Davis Schipper en Bevelhebber van het Schip (of vaartuig :) genaamt Polly, van Providence groot 46 Tonnen of daar omtrent, leggende teegenswoordig in de Haaven van Providence gedestineert naar French West Indies en beladen met Beef, Pork, Fish, Flour, Corn, Onions, Potatoes, Butter, Tobacco, and Leather omte vertrekken, en met zyn voornoemd Schipper of Bevelhebber onder Eede, voor den daar toe gestelden officier verklaart hebbende dat het gemelde Schip of vaartuid aan een of meerder onderdanen, volk, of Ingezeetenen van de Vereenigde Staaten van America, toebehoort, enaan hem (of hun :) alleen.
IN GETUIGENIS WAAR VAN ik deeze teegenswoordige met myne naam hebbe onderteekent, en bet Zeegel van onse Vereenigde Staaten van Amerika daar aan gebegt, en bet Zelve doen contrasigneeren door Jeremiah Olney, Collector of the Customs tot Providence den ____ [sic] dag van December in het yaar onzes Heeren Christi, een duyfend seven hondert en three negentig Seventh [sic]
GEORGE WASHINGTON,
President of the United States of America.
To all who shall see these presents, GREETING:
BE IT KNOWN, That leave and permission, are hereby given to Samuel Davis master or commander of the Schooner called Polly, of the burthen of Forty-six tons or thereabouts, lying at present in the port of Providence bound for French West Indies and laden with Beef, Pork, Fish, Flour, Corn, Onions, Potatoes, Butter, Tobacco, and Leather to depart and proceed with his said Schooner on his said voyage, such Schooner having been visited, and the said Samuel Davis having made oath before the proper officer, that the said Schooner belongs to one or more of the citizens of the United States of America, and to him or them only.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have subscribed my name to these Presents, and
affixed the Seal of the United States thereto, and caused the same to be countersigned by Jere’h Olney, Collector of the Customs at Providence the Seventh day of December in the Year of our Lord Christ, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three.
I certify that there have been since taken onboard the said Schooner Polly, One piece of Divinity, and One piece of Muslin
JERE’H OLNEY
G. WASHINGTON
By the President,
Countersigned.
JERE’H OLNEY
TH JEFFERSON
ALDER Doorluchtigste, Doorluchtigste, Doorluchtige, Grootmachtigste, Grootmachtige, Hoogh ende welgeboorner, wel Edele, Erentseíte, Acht baare, wyze, voorsienige, Heeren, Keizeren, Koningen, Republiquen, Princen, Fursten, Hertogen Graeven, Baronnen, Heeren, Burgemeesteren, Scheepenen, Raden, mitsgaders, Rechteren, Officieren, Justicieren ende, Regenten aller geode steeden en plaatzen, het zy geestelyke ofwaereldlyke die deeze opene Letteren zullen sien ostehooren leezen : Doen wy Burgemeesteren en Regeerders der Stad of Providence te weeten dat Schipper Samuel Davis van Providence (voor ons compareerende) by solemneelen Eede verklaart heeft, dat het schip genaamd The Polly groot omtrent Twenty three lasten t’welk hy thans voert in de Verenigde Staaten van America t’huys behoord, en dat geen onderdaanen vandenteeegen woordige oorlogende moogendheedendaar in direct of indirect eenig deel of gedeelte hebben : Soo waarlyk helpen hem God Almagtig: En terwyl wy den voorz. Schipper gaarne gevorderd zagen in zyne wettigen zaaken zoo is ons verzoek, aan alle voornoemde en een yder in’t byzonder alwaar den voornoemde schipper, met zyn schip en lading aankomen zal hem alle bystand gelieven te verleenen, en behoorlyk te behandelen vergunnende hem ophet betaalen der gewoonlyke Tollen en ongelden in het heen en weeder vaaren der havenen stroomen en gebied te laaten passecren vaaren en frequenteeren, omme zyn handel te driven alwaar en in wat manner hy zig zal geraadenvinden en best oordeelen zal, war aan wy ons gaarne willen schuldig agten.
[…]es t’oirconde hebben het zelve bekragtigt met het zegel van den.
Sam. Chase the first Justice of the Town & County of Providence in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
MOST Serene, Serene, most Puissant, Puissant, High, Illustrious, Noble, Honourable, Venerable, wife and prudent, Lords, Emperors, Kings, Republics, Princes, Dukes, Earls, Barons, Lords, Burgomasters, Schepens, Counsellors, as also Judges, Officers, Justiciaries and Regents of all the good cities and places, whether Ecclesiastical or Secular, who shall see these patents, or hear them read, We Sam. Chase […] make known, that the master Samuel Davis of Providence appearing before us, has declared upon oath, that the vessel, called the Polley [sic] of the burthen of about Forty Six tons, which he at present navigates, is of the United States of America, and that no subjects of the present belligerent powers have any part or potion therein, directly nor indirectly, so may God Almighty help him. And, as we wish to see the said master prosper in his lawful affairs, our prayer is, to all the before-mentioned, and to each of them separately, where the said matter shall arrive, with his vessel and cargo, that they may please to receive the said master, with goodness, and to treat him in a becoming manner, permitting him, upon the usual tolls and expences, in passing and repassing, to pass, navigate, and frequent the ports, passes and territories, to the end to transact his business, where, and in what manner he shall judge proper: Whereof we shall be willingly indebted.
IN Witness and for cause whereof, we affix hereto the Seal of
Sam. Chase the first Justice of the Town & County of Providence in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
SAM: CHASE
