KOHNE, FREDERICK

Autograph Letter Signed, from Frederick Kohne of Charleston, to Messrs. Low and Wallace of New York. 2 pages, 8vo, with integral address leaf and red wax seal. Charleston, 30 January 1806 A remarkable document. In the first part of the letter Mr. Kohne explains that he "could make no enquiry... about the ship Fabious... The Columbia had no special permission but carried Negroes from the Coast of Guinea which will always admit a vessel." He continues by explaining that he will be unable to change the ship's manifest regarding her cargo, "... but as for changing of property I can't do it, in fact my name ought not to appear in it at all for if the Beef [instead of slaves] was reshipped for the Havana and sent in by British cruisers for adjudication I should be called upon to be obliged to explain the whole business and probably to give up your letter copy of my answer, which of course would condemn the whole...".