Beschreibung:

ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY President. Document signed ("John Quincy Adams"), as Secretary of State, to the "Vice Roy of Canton and Kwang," minister of "his Majesty the August Emperor of the Celestial Empire of China highly favoured by Heaven"; countersigned by Daniel Brent, Chief Clerk of Department of State. Washington, D.C., 3 May [1817] ("in the Forty Sixth year of the United States and in the second year of Taou Kwang"). 4 pages, folio, 375 x 247 mm. (14¾ x 9¾ in.), papered Secretary of State seal, two red was seals, some marginal defects and splitting along folds (repaired with archival tape); with address portion of original envelope (bearing papered Secretary of State seal). PROTEST TO CHINA IN 1817 A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT DURING ADAMS'S BRIEF 1817 TENURE UNDER PRESIDENT MONROE, SEEKING JUSTICE ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. IN THE CASE OF THE U.S. SHIP PRESIDENT ADAMS , COMMANDED BY JOHN ADAMSON A U.S. CITIZEN. WHILE ON A VOYAGE FROM BOSTON TO THE PORT OF CANTON, CHINA, AND AT ANCHOR, THE SHIP WAS "DRIVEN...BY A VIOLENT GALE ONTO A SMALL ISLAND CALLED, "BY THE CHINESE PILOT THEN ON BOARD," FUMO-CHOW, BELONGING TO THE DISTRICT OF KWAN CHOW-FOO AND WITHIN THE VICEROY'S JURISDICTION. SEVERAL HUNDRED "CHINESE FISHERMEN" CAME ABOARD AND LOOTED THE CARGO OF SPECIE AND COTTON WHILE THE SHIP WAS IN A "DISASTROUS SITUATION." AFTER THE LOOTING, THE SHIPWRECK DISAPPEARED. VARIOUS INVESTIGATIONS BY THE CHINESE ARE RECOUNTED, SUGGESTING THAT CORRUPT OFFICIALS CONCEALED THE SHIPWRECK AND REFUSED REDRESS. ADAMS SEEKS REDRESS FOR THE PRESIDENT ADAMS AND CARGO IN AMOUNT OF SOME $208,300 AND, "ACTUALLY WORTH MORE AT THE TIME OF THE ROBBERY." THE "WICKED AND UNFAITHFUL IN THE CHINESE AGENTS EMPLOYED BY THE MANDARINS" REFUSED TO ASSIST IN OBTAINING "VISIBLE EVIDENCE."