[Document, 1797 December 27]
- Title
- [Document, 1797 December 27]
- Library Location
- Name
- Varick, Richard, 1753-1831 (Author)
- Jay, John, 1745-1829 (Addressee)
- Format
- correspondence
- Digital Project
- Papers of John Jay
- Date
- December 27, 1797
- Language
- English
- Physical Description
- 2 pages
- Subjects
- United States--History--Constitutional period, 1789-1809; Jay, John, 1745-1829
- Summary
- John Underwood, an impressed American seaman on board the British Sloop of War Hunter in New York harbor, was released through a writ of habeas corpus. Writs were then issued against the Captain (Tucker) for false imprisonment, and against two other American seamen for supposed debts. The seamen were believed detained under duress and writs of habeas corpus were accordingly issued. All three were served but the captain refused to go ashore or let one of the prisoners go. Varick wrote Sir John Temple and Captain Frye to prevent the sailing of the vessel until the law was submitted to. Tucker promised to comply but sailed anyway. Something should be done by the U.S. or disastrous consequences will result from such behavior.
- Identifier
- columbia.jay.04475