Madison, James, as Fourth President, and James Monroe, Fifth President, as Secretary of State

Two printed ship's passports for the brig Ohio accomplished in a clerical hand, signed ("James Madison" and "James Monroe"), one on vellum (15 ¼ x 10 ½ in.; 388 x 267 mm), woodcut view, top edge scalloped; tears on each side affecting one printed letter, portion of papered seal, folded), the other on paper printed in four languages (16 ½ x 21 ¼ in.; 420 x 540 mm), 2 papered seals; a few tiny stains, folded, Philadelphia, 2 & 4 November 1812. Together with: 12 printed documents accomplished in a clerical hand, and 2 manuscript documents, the entire collection forming the ship's papers for the Ohio, under the master James Johnstone, en route to Corunna, Spain with a cargo of sundries, Philadelphia, 2-4 November 1812. In a blue cloth portfolio.

Two printed ship's passports for the brig Ohio accomplished in a clerical hand, signed ("James Madison" and "James Monroe"), one on vellum (15 ¼ x 10 ½ in.; 388 x 267 mm), woodcut view, top edge scalloped; tears on each side affecting one printed letter, portion of papered seal, folded), the other on paper printed in four languages (16 ½ x 21 ¼ in.; 420 x 540 mm), 2 papered seals; a few tiny stains, folded, Philadelphia, 2 & 4 November 1812. Together with: 12 printed documents accomplished in a clerical hand, and 2 manuscript documents, the entire collection forming the ship's papers for the Ohio, under the master James Johnstone, en route to Corunna, Spain with a cargo of sundries, Philadelphia, 2-4 November 1812. In a blue cloth portfolio.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The dangers of international trade during the war of 1812.

The brig Ohio was built in 1810 at Cleveland as a merchant ship, but was sold to the government in 1812, converted to a warship by Henry Eckford, and commissioned prior to 13 June 1813. She then served as a supply ship in Admiral Perry's squadron at the Battle of Lake Erie.

The present papers derive from one of her merchant voyages, and provide examples of the astonishing variety of papers a captain had to carry just to accomplish one voyage. Included are American passports, Spanish passports signed by the Spanish consul to Pennsylvania Bartolome Renguenet, a "List of the Persons composing the Crew," a bill of health from the Collector of the Port of Philadelphia, a list of the crew with their wages "as required by an act of Congress", and a letter from the Spanish envoy Luis de Onis assuring safe passage for the Ohio on its voyage to Spain.

On this last point, there is also a copy of a letter from H. Sawyer, the British Vice-Admiral at the Halifax Station assuring Sr. Onis that ships flying flags of neutral parties and carrying non-military cargoes will not be harassed by the British Navy. This is of particular importance as the Ohio was captured, according to still another document included here, as a prize by the British ship Atalante and ordered to repair to Bermuda for adjudication. She was evidently ransomed and released, to appear at Lake Erie in the following year.