RC (DLC); at head of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr. President of Congress”; endorsed by TJ as received 7 Sep. and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures: (1) Harvey to Earl St. Vincent, Pleasantfield near Cork, 27 June 1803; Harvey begins by stating that his character is known to their mutual friend, the Marquess of Landsdowne, that he corresponded with Colonel Isaac Barré during the American Revolution, and that he received the thanks of George Washington and Congress in 1783 for his efforts on behalf of American prisoners at Cork; Harvey proceeds to call St. Vincent’s attention to the excesses of British press officers against American vessels at Cork, few of which escape without losing at least one or two, or as many as five, crew members; Harvey feels these actions are especially severe since these men carry no protections because they entertained no idea of war between Great Britain and France, and thus had no need for sea letters; Harvey believes that “limitted conduct” toward American vessels would benefit both America and Britain; Harvey’s continued attachment to America animates him “to wish well to her Citizens & to hope that nothing should ever cause a misunderstanding between Great Britain & the United States,” and he asks St. Vincent to order the regulating officer at Cork, Captain Chilcott, not to treat Americans harshly; Harvey adds that an American from Portland named Reuben Mitchell, who carried a protection, was nevertheless taken away and detained overnight, and was not liberated until his captain made oath that he was born in America; after visiting Chilcott, Harvey was told that the incident was caused by “some ill Language between American Seamen & the Press Gang” (Tr in same). (2) Lord Gardner to Harvey, Dryad in Cork Harbor, 9 July 1803, acknowledging the receipt of copies of Harvey’s correspondence with Earl St. Vincent on the subject of American seamen “indiscriminately impressed” at Cork; Gardner replies that Harvey will always find him “exceedingly disposed” to keep up good relations between Great Britain and the United States, and that he would attend to “any well founded representations of any improper Conduct of those officers appointed at this Crisis to superintend the Impress Service, within the Limits of my Command, and that I Shall pay due Attention to all such Seamen as can produce fair & clear documents of their being Citizens of America” (Tr in same).