A Protest to the Viceroy of Canton for the Plundering of an American Trading Vessel

Washington, D.C., May 3, 1822. Fine four-page manuscript document, signed by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams and Chief Clerk of the Department of State Daniel Brent, to the "Vice Roy of Canton and Kwang", minister of his "Majesty the August Emperor of the Celestial Empire of China", being an official letter of protest on behalf of President James Monroe and the crew of the ship President Adams, seeking justice in relation to the looting and sinking of the President Adams. Two red wax seals intact on fourth page. Creasing from old folds, separations along same, some repaired with tape; portion of original address envelope present, with Secretary of State waxed paper seal.

Secretary of State John Quincy Adams sends an official protest to the Chinese viceroy of Canton and Kwang, seeking redress on behalf of President James Monroe and the crew of the U.S. merchant ship President Adams, in relation to its plundering by Chinese fisherman near Macao in September of 1812.

Commanded by John Adamson, on September 29, 1812, the U.S. ship President Adams, sailing from Boston to the port Canton, was shipwrecked on the shores of Shangchuan Island, southwest of Macao. The ship carried specie valued at $170,000 as well as a substantial quantity of Turkish opium and other cargo. As the ship sat anchored due to strong gales, "several hundred Chinese Fishermen, taking advantage of the disastrous situation of the Ship come on board and plundered her of her Specie and cargo.--Their number was so great that the American captain and his crew could make no resistance.--He and his Crew and the Supercargo were obliged as their only means of escape and safety to hire at an enormous expense one of the Boats of these marauding Fishermen to carry them to Canton. When they were in this Boat leaving the Rock on which they had taken refuge they saw that the Piratical Fishermen had already taken away a large part if not all of the Money and of the cargo and were actually employed in destroying the vessel herself..."

As Adams recounts in this document, following the ship's plunder, an investigation by Chinese officials was undertaken. The Chinese officials refused to properly search for evidence of the shipwreck and ignored the redress sought by the ship’s crew, leading Adams to suggest corruption: "there is reason to believe hitherto successfully exerted their influence with subordinate agents, to prevent a fair investigation of the transaction from being made, and a just representation of it from reaching his Excellency..." Adams then seeks compensation for the lost specie and cargo, valuing it at $208,000, or more (about $6 million in 2026 dollars).

It is unclear if any indemnity was gained as a result of this letter.