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Transcript of Clark Document

October 30, 1817

Territory of Missouri JP:

County of St. Louis

I, Joseph V. Garnier, a notary public, in and for the County of St. Louis, at the request of René Paul of the town of St. Louis in the Territory of Missouri merchant, who states that on the thirtieth of June last past, he addressed to Messrs. Gilly and Pryor of the City of New Orleans, Merchants, the following letter:

Messrs. Gilly & Pryor                                      Missouri Territory

Commission Merchants, New Orleans        St. Louis, June 30, 1817

Gentlemen

Wanting some supplies from Orleans, and being desirous of engaging your services in making purchases for me, I will thank you to send me by the Steam Boat which will leave your port in August next, the articles contained in the Memorandum herein enclosed.  I was about sending you the money for that purpose, but my brother-in-law, Fleury Generelly, being determined to come to this country, and having funds belonging to his children, which as natural guardian, he wants to deposit with me for them, he will remit you those funds for my account.  Should I have been misled into an error in not sending you the money, or should Mr. Generelly give up the idea of coming to this country, I would thank you to let me know it, and however send me, if possible, the coffee and sugar and so much of the other articles as my credit with you will extend, observing the proportion of each article as contained in the Memorandum and regularly succeeding the coffee and sugar, for which purchases the money will be sent to you immediately in Bank notes or draughts if they can be procured.

I will also thank you to advise me of the exchange of Bank notes [in Your place] and of the current price of lead, shot [peltries/ pellets] & Furs of all descriptions, that is to say, such as our country affords.  So doing, you will most oblige your most Obedient Humble Servt., Rene Paul.

Which said letter is thus identified.  County of St. Louis by:

Gabriel P. Cerré, of lawful age, being duly sworn, maketh oath and saith, that he has confronted the above with the original as posted and entered in the letter Book of René Paul merchant of St. Louis and that in said copy is an exact and correct transcript of the letter contained in said letter Book, purporting to be a copy of a letter addressed by said Rene Paul to Messrs Gilly & Pryor at New Orleans and bearing date the 30^th June 1817.  That the original letter was by him the depouaunt [deponent], copied into the letter of the said Rene Paul and was also by him put into the letter box at the Post office in the town of St. Louis, on the day the same bears date.  Sworn to & subscribed this 13^th day of October 1817 before me,

J.V. Garnier, N.J.P.

(Signed, Gabriel P. Cerre)

That in consequence of his instructions contained in his said letter to Messrs Gilly & Pryor, on the arrival of the Steam Boat “Constitution” at this port of St. Louis, he made application for the goods expected by her, but was informed that none had been shipped for him.  That a few days ago he did received from said Gilly & Pryor, a letter dated Orleans 19^th September 1817 advising him of goods having been shipped by them on his account, on board of The Kiel Boat – Nancy, John Crawford, Master, amounting to the sum of three thousand, seven hundred and twenty four dollars and ninety three cents, which said invoice or parcel of goods is thus described in a Bill of Lading (signed triplicate) by the said John Crawford, the Master of the said Boat – Nancy, dated at New Orleans, 10^th September 1817 and entered in the margin – Rene Paul, St. Louis, 8 crates queens ware, 12 barrels coffee, 12 barrels sugar, 6 cases sugar, 5 cases ditto [ditio/diteo]; 8 barrels loaf sugar; 2 baggs pepper; 1 barrel rum; 1 barrel mackerel; 3 barrels alum, 1 keg indigo; 1 barrel Port wine; 1 box sweetmeats; 1 barrel Madeira wine; 2 barrels brandy; 10 baggs corks, 1 barrel shales, 1 half-barrel Geuerittiorue; 1 cash Malaga do; 4 cases Claret do; 40 boxes Segars [Cigars]; 4 do Olives; 7 baskets Bottles; 3 boxes wine; 5 barrels rice, 1 cash claret wine, 3 cases Frontiguac wine, 1 barrel pitch, 1 barrel copperas 3 trunks & eight cases of dry goods [due] 158.

Which said invoice of goods thus described, being in open contradiction and opposition to the said instructions of the said Rene Paul to them, the said Gilly & Pryor, whereby the said Rene Paul is exposed to disappointment in his calculations of the profits he had right to expect from a supplement shipment of a Laurie of goods made contrary to his said intent and moreover, is exposed to great damages by reason of the delay experienced or to be experienced in the receipt of the same, and loss incalculable as well by the dangers of the water and the unsound and unfit condition of the Keel Boat – Nancy.

Wherefor in order to guard the said Rene Paul against all damages and losses which he may be exposed to by the reasons aforestated, and to secure him his remedy in the premises against the said shippers of the Laurie of goods thus described as aforesaid.

I the said notary at the request of the said René Paul as aforesaid have and do solemnly protest against the said Gilly & Pryor the shippers of the said goods and all others concerned, for not having forwarded the said Invoice of goods in pursuance of the said instructions of him, the said René Paul, as well as for the costs, damages and losses to which the said Rene Paul is now or may hereafter be exposed for want of complying with his said instructions.

This done and protested at the Town of St. Louis, this thirteenth day of October in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and seventeen and of the Independence of the United States, the forty second.

In Territory whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my private seal, having as yet no official seal.

The word Pryor interlined before signing

(Signed) J.V. Garnier, N.J.P.~

[Notary Public & Justice of the Peace]

St. Louis County. ~

Territory of Missouri ~

I William Clark, Governor of the Territory of Missouri, do certify that Joseph V. Garnier, the person before whom the a foregoing protest is entered, was at the time of making the same, and now is, a Notary Public in and for the County of St. Louis, duly commissioned and that due faith and credit is and ought to be given to his official acts as such.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused, the Seal of the Territory to be annexed to the same.  This done at St. Louis, this thirteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States, the forty second.

(Signed) Wm. Clark

By the Governor

Frederick Bates [witness]

Terr. Of Missouri 1817