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THE Cowes Consuls
Auldjo's main role was the "patronage of commerce and its liberation from embarrassments in the British dominions": he was charged with the task of protecting the interests of all American citizens engaged in trade and thereby reducing, as far as possible, any disadvantage or loss from British interference. Beyond these official duties Auldjo was also involved in intelligence. He was enjoined to send "from time to time regular information from you of whatever occurs within your notice interesting to the United States." Much of the language of the communications with Auldjo is couched in these guarded, neutral terms, suggesting that Auldjo's real value to Jefferson was as a source of strategic information on economic, commercial or maritime matters.
Whatever the published role of the Cowes consuls there was probably much activity we will never know of. Merchants could frequently find themselves in difficult situations in a world of international trading restrictions and embargoes. Overcoming such restrictions on behalf of their merchants may well have involved consuls in both official and unofficial activities.
