Letter from owners of the Christopher Mitchell objecting to the expenses charged by A. Bathurst for the care of Rebecca Ann.

Nantucket 22 September 1849

Sir,
The ship Chrostopher Mitchell, Captain Thomas Sullivan, sailed from this port on the 9th Dec 1848 on a whaling voyage to the Pacific Ocean.   On the 4th July 1849, then off the port of Payta in Peru one of the crew was taken sick whereby it was discovered that he was a female.  The Captain immediately put into Payta to deliver the sick sailor into the hands of the American Consul, but he would not receive her until he had exacted from the Captain a draft on the owners of the ship for $300 which he said was to cover all expenses of sending her to the United States.   To save the penalty of the Seamen’s bond the Captain signed the draft.  And then the Consul, under the name of A. Ruden & Co., went to an expense of $84 for clothing, $19 for board and washing, $100 for a cabin passage to the United States; paid the girl $20 for traveling expenses, charged $2 for postage and $11.25/100 for commission amounting to $236.25/100 and made a draft in the name of A Ruden & Company on the owners of the ship for that amount, which draft has been presented and protested.   We have asked the opinion of the Hon. Attorney General, but have not yet obtained it, whether the owners are under obligation to pay such extravagant demands for the discharge of a sick sailor on the ?? of being a female.  Considering such gross and unwarrantable official conduct sufficient to warrant a dismissal from office we submit to the Executive Department whether it is not a case that would justify removal from an office where the power to do so much injury to the whaling-interest resides.
    The Consul had very cunningly kept his official signature out of the case and done all the business in the name of A Ruden and Company.   Should the Executive Department differ from us in opinion in regard to removal, we have this to request that such instructions may be given to the Consul as will prevent his giving any detention to that ship or the master if she again comes within his reach.

Very respectfully your ??
C Mitchell & Co.

Hon. John M Clayton
         Secretary of State
         Washington, D.C.