213 years ago, the year was 1807, Thomas Jefferson was president, Alexandria was in D.C., not Virginia, as many as 40 ships were loaded and unloaded per day in Alexandria, and there was trouble emerging on the high seas. War had erupted between France and England, and tensions spilled over into a still-young America.
America did not take sides but was pulled into the dispute after a series of hostile acts on both sides. Napoleon, on behalf of France, had decreed that ships carrying British cargo were subject to seizure. England, for its part, seized four crew members, deserters from the British navy, from the USS Chesapeake and hung one of them. Americans were incensed. President Jefferson wrote, "Never since the Battle of Lexington have I seen this country in such a state of exasperation as at present, and even that did not produce such unanimity."
In response, Congress quickly passed, and President Jefferson signed into law the poorly-thought-out Embargo Act. Instead of doing damage to France and England as intended, it dealt a devastating blow to America‘s emerging economy.
Wikipedia describes the results of the Embargo Act this way:
The embargo effectively throttled American overseas trade. All areas of the nation suffered. In commercial New England and the Middle Atlantic, ships sat idle. In agricultural areas, particularly the South, farmers and planters could not sell crops internationally. Scarcity of European goods stimulated American manufacturing, particularly in the North, but with manufacturing in its infancy and with Britain still able to export to America particularly through Canada, that benefit did not compensate for the loss of trade and economic momentum. A 2005 study by the economic historian Douglas Irwin estimates that the embargo cost about 5% of America's 1807 gross national product.
The embargo went into effect two days before Isaac Robbins wrote this letter. The last line reads, "Every thing is in confusion here owing to the Embargo." I'm a little surprised by the speed at which that news traveled and by the clumsiness of Jefferson's actions.
I could find very few references to Brown and Ivy of Providence. I could find some references to and Isaac Robbins in early Alexandria. See here, here, and here.
The full letter from the OurHistoryMuseum collection and transcription follow:
Transcription (It's not perfect, so please leave any suggestions for improvements in the comments):
Alexandria December 24, 1807
Messrs. Brown and Ivy
Providence
Gentlemen
Your favors of 16th + 18th -___ are this moment at hand covering your first and second bills on Messrs Peyton and Smith of Baltimore for $1500 – say Fifteen Hundred Dollars – which we gratefully accept.
The Lydia has not yet arrived except our insurance to afford Captain Holden all the assistance in our power - or he may want - we shall with pleasure study your interest with regard to the consignment made. Everything is in confusion here owing to the embargo.
We are sir yours
Respectfully
Isaac Robbins
Flour 24/
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