MADISON, JAMES, President. Partly printed document signed ("James Madison") as President, where the Secretary of State usually countersigns is the note "The office of Secretary of State vacant at the signing by the President," Washington, D.C., 30 March 1809. 1 page, oblong folio, 375 x 496 mm. (15½ x 19¾ in.), accomplished in manuscript, with Great Seal of the United States, a few clean marginal tears and fold separations, matted with gilt borders and enclosed in a fine giltwood frame..FOUR-LANGUAGE SHIP'S PAPERS for the vessel The Polly, commanded by James Wingate, sailing from Portsmouth to Portuguese Collony [sic], "laden with Fish, Lumber, Staves, Beef, butter..." Ship's papers, with text in French, Spanish, English and Dutch, attempted to insure safe passage for American ships (which had been subject to seizure by France and England) by affirming their neutral ownership, declaring that "no subjects of the present belligerent powers have any part or portion therein, directly nor indirectly."