The
Napoleonic Wars in Europe had a global impact. In the Atlantic, Royal Navy
ships seized American merchant ships bound for France and French forces
likewise seized American ships headed to Britain. Privateers joined in the fun, The United States sought to
demonstrate its neutrality with an 1807 Embargo Act which basically forbade the shipment of any goods to the European powers; an 1809 act (the Non-Intercourse Act)
removed the embargo except on shipping destined to France or Great Britain. As
the letter transcribed below indicates, both Acts were ignored when possible
(as it often was) but they were nonetheless disruptive of commerce. At the end of the year
1812 in which this letter was written Great Britain brought matters to a head
by declaring war on the United States, creating an armed conflict which lasted
for three years.
As
the letter illustrates, Great Britain in this period imported goods, notably
cotton and tobacco, produced on slave plantations not only in its own Caribbean
colonies but also in the USA; the transactions recorded in this letter are for
very large sums: £3000 in 1812 equates to about £190 000 today. “Nisbet” would have been one of a family of
merchants of Scottish origin; some of their business papers are held by the
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. “Hindley and Gregorie” was a
prominent firm of cotton brokers which supplied raw cotton to British textile
manufacturers. George Mitchell was (Chief) Cashier of the Royal Bank of
Scotland from 1808 to 1816.
I
cannot find anything which clearly relates to the George Keith who wrote this
letter.
Datelined:
Charleston S. Carolina 13th Janry 1812
Postmarked
on arrival with an illegible oval Ship Letter mark in black and illegible date
mark in red
Docketing
note: Geo Keith 13 Janry 1812 Rec’d 20th Febry 1812
Sir
I
beg leave to refer you to my Letters inclosing A Forbes bill on Nisbet for
£1056 & my other Inclosing Hindley & Gregories for £3000, and now
advise you that since receiving the last they have likways failed in this
place, and beg you that if there bill be not Accepted, that the Cotton here is
shipped to order in Liverpool & the proceeds to be paid to you, I do hereby
authorise you in Case it does not amount to as much to pay the Whole £3000
pounds you are at full liberty to receive what may be paid over to you on Acct
[Account] and in all and every Case you may allow time in Case of any of
my Bills sent to your Care and protection to do the best you can for me as there
is no probability of any things to be recovered here as every Merchant in this
place almost without exception is in a
State of Bankruptcy, you will particularly Oblige me by giving the earliest information of there fate
– you will please to allow Nisbet time if wanted and at any rate receive
whatever he can pay. I am tottally sick of Bills & shall send no more for
the present.
I
remain respectfully
Sir
your Obt. & Humble Servt. Geo
Keith
George
Mitchell Esqr.
References
https://rylandscollections.com/2023/09/18/mcconnel-and-kennedy/
Wikipedia:
Embargo Act of 1807
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