Globalization of the United States, 1789-1861

Click on the title to examine the digitized book

Montefiore, Joshua. The American Trader’s Compendium: Containing the Laws, Customs, and Regulations of the United States, Relative to Commerce. Philadelphia: Samuel R. Fishers, Junr., 1811.

Joshua Montefiore. The American Trader's Compendium: Containing the Laws, Customs, and Regulations of the United States, Relative to Commerce. Philadelphia: Samuel R. Fishers, Jun., 1811. Title page.

Montefiore compiled as much commercial knowledge as he could into one book, to empower American merchants to trade more effectively around the globe — with “passports” for ships.

Read a passage from the book

Passport, is a license for the safe passage of any person or vessel, from one port to another.

By act of congress, no vessel of the United States bound to any, foreign country can depart therefrom (under the penalty of two hundred dollars) until the master procures of the collector of the district where she is, a passport, the form of which as hereunder, for which the master is to pay ten dollars, and also to be bound with sufficient sureties to the treasurer of the United States, in the penalty of two thousand dollars, conditioned that his passport shall not be applied to the use or protection of any other ship or vessel If a vessel having a passport be sold or lost, it is to be delivered up to the collector who granted it, within three months if the vessel be sold or lost within the United States; or within six months if at any other place nearer than the Cape of Good Hope; and within eighteen months if at a more distant place.

Form of the Passport.

President of the United States,

To All Who Shall See These Presents, Greeting:

Be It Known, That leave and permission are hereby given to A.B. master or commander of the ship called the Maria, of the burthen of five hundred tons or thereabouts, lying at present in the port of New York, bound for Liverpool, and laden with sundries,

(As per manifest)

to depart and proceed with the said ship on his said voyage, such ship having been visited, and the said A.B. having made oath before the proper officer, that the said ship belongs to one or more of the citizens of the United States of America, and to him or them only.

In witness whereof I have subscribed my name to these presents, and affixed the seal of the United States of America thereunto, and caused the same to be countersigned by C.D. collector at New York, the 14th May, in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand eight hundred and eleven,

C.D. D.C.
E.F. D.N. Off

By the President,
Sec. State.

Most serene, serene, most puissant, puissant, high, illustrious, noble, honourable, venerable, wise and prudent, lords, emperors, kings, republics, princes, dukes, earls, barons, lords, burgomasters, schepens, counsellors, as also judges, officers, justiciaries and regents of all the good cities and places, whether ecclesiastical or secular, who shall see these patents, or hear them read, We, G.H. Notary Public, &c. make known that the master of the appearing before us, has declared upon oath, that the vessel called the Maria of New York of the burthen of about five hundred tons which he at present navigates, is of the United States of America, and that no subjects of the present belligerent powers have any part or portion therein, directly or indirectly, so may God Almighty help him, and as we wish to see the said master prosper in his lawful affairs, our prayer is, to all the before mentioned, and to each of them separately, where the said master shall arrive with his vessel and cargo, that they may please to receive the said master with goodness, and to treat him in a becoming manner, permitting him, upon the usual tools and expences in passing and repassing, to pass, navigate, and frequent the ports, passes and territories, to the end to transact his business, where, and in what manner he shall judge proper: whereof we shall be willingly indebted.

In Witness and for cause whereof, we affix hereunto the seal of
L.S.
G.H. Notary Public.