PRINTED TYPESCRIPT DOCUMENT, SIGNED IN INK BY COMPTROLLER JOHN STEELE, 8 MAY 1798: IT BEING PRESUMED THAT THE RETURNS OF THE EXPORTS OF THE UNITED STATES UP TO THE 30TH OF SEPTEMBER 1797, HAVE BEEN MADE WITH REFERENCE TO THE POSSESSSION AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PRESENT WAR OF THE ISLANDS AND PORTS IN THE WEST INDIES AND ELSEWHERE, BY SEVERAL OF THE EUROPEAN NATIONS; BUT SOME OF THE COLLECTORS HAVING SINCE RENDERED SUCH RETURNS ACCORDING TO THE POSSESSION OF THOSE ISLANDS AND PORTS, AT THE TIME OF EXPORTATION, I HAVE TO REQUEST THAT YOU WILL BE PLEASED TO CONFORM YOUR RETURNS FOR THE PRESENT AND ALL FUTURE QUARTERS TO THIS MODE OF ARRANGEMENT; IT BEING CONCEIVED THAT ACTUAL POSSESSION FURNISHES THE ONLY RULE.
[Philadelphia: 1798. [4]pp bifolium, printed on first page only, and signed in ink, "Jno. Steele | Comptrr" at bottom of page. Inner leaves blank. Folded, and addressed for mailing on page [4], to William Tuck Esquire, Collector, Gloucester Massachusetts. Signed again by Steele next to his "Free" frank ink stamp;..... More