From — de Walterstorff (unpublished)
Paris July 26th. 1783.
Sir.
According to Your desire I have the honour of sending You an
abstract of the last ordonnace concerning the Trade of the Islands
of St. Thomas and St. Johns.
As to the Island of St. Croix I must observe to You Sir that all
american Vessels are also received there, and although the Suggars
of said Island are to be exported only to His Majesty’s Dominions
in Europe, yet there is an Exception in favor of american Vessels,
thus, that half the value of the Cargo imported, when consisting
of provisions, lumber, or such things that are to the use of the
Plantations or their cultivation, may be exported to America in
Suggars. Any quantity of Rum may be exported to America from St.
Croix as also all Kind of Europeen or east indie goods. I have the
honour to be Sir Your most obedient and most humble Servant
The right honble Benjamin Franklin
p.s. It may perhaps be of some service to the Gentlemen merchants
in America to know the principal merchants in Denmark as also in
the Danish Westindie Islands. I therefore can recommend the
following.
at Copenhagen
The Royal westindie Company, which also has an Administration at
St. Thomas.
The Baltic and Guinee Company
The Carsal Company, of which I am one of the Directors, and
which also has an Administration at Altona
Messrs. Jost von Hemmert & Sons
Niels Ryberg
—— Cramer
Conrad Pabritius & Wawer
John Brown.
at Altona
The Royal Canal Company
Daniel Lawaety
Conrad Mathiesen.
at St. Croix
| Nicholas Cruger | Cornelius Stevenson |
| Behagen & Flaye | John Rengyen |
at St. Thomas
Messrs. Detleson and Limpricht
John DeWint & Co.
The Royal Westindie Company
Mathias Kragh.
at Christiania in Norway
The Widow Karen Anker & Sons (has the most considerable
Iron Works.)
Endorsed: Waterstorf July 26 1783.
Abstract of the Royal Ordonnance dated Nov 4th. 1782.
Art. 1.
The use of stamp’d paper abolish’d in the Islands of St. Thomas
and St. Johns, except the passeports given to vessels in those
Islands, in order that such passeports in every respect may
resemble passeports that are given in other places of the Kings
Dominions.
Art. 2.
All Danish Vessels of any Denomination or size whatsoever and
whether they are built in the Kings Dominions or whether they are
foreign built may be employ’d in the Trade, not only to and from
any place in the Westindies, but also to go from any place in
Europe to St. Thomas or St. Johns and vice versa.
Art. 3.
The Trade between St. Thomas or St. Johns and every place in the
Westindies and America entirely free and open to Vessels of all
Nations.
Art. 4.
But the Trade between St. Thomas or St. Johns and any place in
Europe only permitted to Danish Vessels the principal owners of
which must be settled in his Majestys Dominions in Europe.
Art. 5.
| a. | of Coffee, Tobacco, Indigo, Cacao, Logwood, Suggar, Rice, which |
| b. | If on the arrival of any American Vessel to St. thomas or St. |