1To John Adams from Joel Barlow, 12 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
My friend M r Trumbull has done me the honour to mention my name to you in a letter which is herewith enclosed. The Poem which he mentions is likewise forwarded thro’ the hands of Col—Humphrey to Doct Price with an assgnment of the Copy Right. I have requested the Doctor to use his discretion in procuring an impression & disposing of the copy-Right. Out of the first impression I wish to have...
2To John Adams from Joel Barlow, 14 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
Some months have elapsed since I recieved your very obliging favour of May 1786. I have followed the advice of you & your friend Doct Price in bringing forward a publication of my Poem in America. The Edition is nearly disposed of. I take the liberty of addressing to your care a bundle of the Books, one of which be pleased to accept, & the others I wish to have conveyed to the persons to whom...
3To George Washington from Joel Barlow, 24 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Marquis de Marnasia, who will do me the honor to wait on your Excellency with this, is a gentleman of great respectability, a member of the national Assembly, & enjoys considerable fortune. He & many others are transfering their property to the United States, and are going to settle themselves on the Ohio near the Scioto. He requests me to take the liberty to announce to your Excellency...
4To George Washington from Joel Barlow, 2 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
On hearing of your late nomination as commander in chief of the American Armies I rejoice at it, not because I believe the war which that nomination contemplates is yet inevitable and that it will furnish an occasion for a farther display of your military talents, but because it may enable you to exert your influence to a greater effect in preventing the war. By becoming more the centre of...
5To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 10 February 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Joel Barlow. 10 February 1806. “Permit me to ask you to read the enclosed Prospectus, & if its principle meets your approbation, to encourage it among your friends in the legislature. “I may mistake the true interests of the country. But it appears to me that this subject embraces one of the most essential of them.” RC ( InU-Li : Lafayette Mss). 1 p. Yale graduate, lawyer, and “Hartford...
6To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 13 May 1806 (Madison Papers)
I think you will pardon my solicitude if I offer a few words more on Barbary affairs before I leave this place. There are several reasons which would induce me to advise freighting a private ship rather than sending a public one to Tunis with the presents & the Ambassador. 1. It is cheaper by many thousand dollars. 2. She might be fitted away much sooner; as I understand that it is impossible,...
7To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 26 July 1806 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Lee, supposing me at Washington, has addressed to me the enclosed papers, to lay before you. They will explain the demand of two French Merchants of Bordeaux for a certain sum said to have been deposited for them under the control of our government, and the documents in your office may decide whether their claim is well founded or not. I would thank you for an answer at your convenience,...
8To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 18 September 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Joel Barlow. 18 September 1806, Ballston Springs. “The enclosed letter from William Lee is to ask leave of absence to come to the U. S. for a few months. It has been a long time arriving. If his request should be granted I know it would oblige him very much to have the answer dispatched as soon as convenient, & if not too much trouble, by duplicate, as many letters miscarry.” RC ( DNA :...
9To James Madison from Joel Barlow, April 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
April 1809. Sends on letter “from Mr. Lee” recommending William Bass for the consulate at Antwerp and mentions that Walter Livingston, Jr., may deserve consideration for the secretary’s post at the Paris legation, if a vacancy occurs. “I dont know but I ought to make an apology once for all for consenting sometimes to be the organ of such applications. It is a business I very much dislike but...
10To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 9 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I observed with pleasure in your inaugural speech that you still keep in view the immense importance of public improvements, the advancement of science, & the general diffusion of information, as essential to the happiness of our country. And I cannot but hope that the time is now approaching when some portion of the attention of Congress may be fixt on these objects. The ample scope of your...
11To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 9 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
The Encyclopedie methodique which I have to dispose of is complete as far as the 58th. livraison, and I shall agree to complete it as soon as the intercourse is open, as I presume the impression is finished. I have on hand in text 93 whole vols. bound 14 half vols. in boards. in plates 12 whole vos. bound & 15 half vos. in boards The price, as I find by a note stuck into one of the vols. &...
12To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 9 June 1809 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Latrobe has informed me that you wished to have the Encyclopedie sent to your house with the bill. I now send them by the Bearer of this. I take the liberty at the same time to offer you some other books, of which I enclose a notice. Your very obt. Mr. Madison bo’t of J. Barlow The french encyclopedie methodique—incomplete, consisting as follows 93 vol. bound & 14 half vol. unbd. letter...
13To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 13 June 1809 (Madison Papers)
I send you the books you marked. Likewise a work I before forgot, of which I have a duplicate. It is the French Biographical Dictionary in nine volumes . This however you can give back to the man if you dont choose to take it—no harm is done except your trouble of looking at it—as he can bring it back in the carriage. Yr. obt. Sevt. RC ( DLC ). Probably [Louis Mayeul Chaudon], Nouveau...
14To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 6 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
Col. Swan has desired me to hand you the enclosed letter. It seems as if it should have been addrest to the Secy. of the Treasury. But he asks only for a suspension of a decision, and as that cannot be final without you, it may not be improper. With great respect— RC ( DLC ). Enclosure not found. James Swan emigrated from Scotland to Boston in 1765, served in the Revolution, and engaged in...
15To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 25 April 1810 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Carey who is probably well known to you desires an interview with you on the subject of Mr. Tench Cox whose present office will probably be vacated by the passing of the Bill respecting a quartermaster’s department. Mr. Cox’s political character, his official talents & his mode of conducting the office he now holds are doubtless much better known to you than to me. But his domestic affairs...
16To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 5 December 1811 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty of recommending to your particular friendship & protection Mr. Corea, a Portuguese of great learning & Science whom I have known for many years a most amiable & honorable man. He is member of most of the learned Societies in Europe, & of that of Philadelphia. He has now chosen the United States for his country, & I feel an interest in his finding friends & other comforts...
17To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 19 December 1811 (Madison Papers)
As an additional apology for detaining the Frigate as well as for believing that an answer somewhat satisfactory is to be given to my note of the 10th. Novr. I ought perhaps to state to you more fully than I have done in my official letter what past at the diplomatic audience to which I there alluded. It was on the 1st. of Decr. the anniversary of the Coronation. The court was uncommonly...
18To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 30 December 1811 (Madison Papers)
In my private letter to you of the 19th. I took the liberty to intimate that I might address you by the frigate on the subject of connecting the indemnities due to our citizens with a convention of boundaries of Louisiana. I have had many hints on this subject both from Spanish & French authority. I have always discouraged the idea by a declaration as general & vague as might be, that I am not...
19To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 1 January 1812 (Madison Papers)
You will perceive in my dispatch to the Secretary of State, that a treaty of commerce is to be the depot in which we are to collect and consign such principles as we can agree upon, and that I conceive myself well grounded in believing that most if not all the points I have discussed in my note of the 10th November will be accorded. But when I turn to my instructions it seems doubtful whether...
20To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 3 March 1812 (Madison Papers)
I rather think that Mr. Serurier mistakes the temper of his government if he thinks to recommend himself by a zeal so intemperate & a stile of writing so little suited to the dignity of his station as is observed on every occasion that he has for indulging his favorite talent of complaint. I may be decieved, but I believe he will get a reprimand instead of praise for his manner of treating...
21To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 5 March 1812 (Madison Papers)
I believe I forgot in my hasty letter of the 3d. to mention that I had recd. yours of the —— by the Hornet, & have endeavoured to make as much impression as possible with observations it contains relative to the conduct of France since the repeal of the decrees. I particularly notice what you say of the affair of E. Florida. The hint will be sufficient to induce me to reject any proposition...
22To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 22 April 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have interested myself a good deal (not officially) in aid of General Lafayette for the sale of his Pointe Coupé lands. He has now sold them all & we think very well, but for the last two thousand acres he cannot recieve the money till he delivers the patents. He doubts not that you will send them as soon as convenient & will doubtless write you by this conveyance. But knowing the interest...
23To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 2 May 1812 (Madison Papers)
It is impossible to form a satisfactory opinion at this time as to the result of the propositions contained in my letter of yesterday to the minister, a copy of which I herewith send to the Secretary of State. You will have perceived that the polestar from which I have all along graduated my compass was to remove the cause of war with England. The object of this government being directly...
24To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 12 May 1812 (Madison Papers)
Since the date of my last letter I have by dint of scolding, got the answer which I communicate by this occasion to the Secretary of State. The evasions used on this occasion were curious. In the notes to the prince Regents declaration, which I enclose herewith in the Moniteur of the 8th., you will see the only answer they intended to give to my demand of the 1st. of May. The reference made in...
25To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 14 July 1812 (Madison Papers)
The Bearer of this Mr. Nancrede a naturalized citizen of the U. S. will be passing thro Washington on his way to the western country. I have desired him to solicit the honor of an interview with you to impart what he knows of the conduct of Aaron Burr while in this place. Mr. Nancrede had occasion to see him much & perhaps became as well acquainted with his projects as any individual, without...
26To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 22 July 1812 (Madison Papers)
The copy of the encyclopedie in the president’s library goes no farther than the 56th. livraison inclusive. I take the liberty to enclose herewith a moniteur which will give you the present state of that work & the promise of its continuance & completion. There is no doubt but it will be when done a most complete & useful set of Dictionaries, on all the sciences. If you will please to let me...
27To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 26 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of Aug. 11. has excited serious reflections in several eminent men to whom I have communicated in confidence its principal points. I had many times lately explained to them the same ideas. It is very useful to have it in my power to inforce them by your authority. I have never yet despaired of obtaining such an arrangement as would be acceptable to you both as to the past & the...
28To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 30 October 1808 (Madison Papers)
Should you want a messenger for another dispatch to Europe I am desired to mention to you William Vandeursen Junr. of Middleton Cont. who desires to be sent. He is a young man of good principles, lately addmitted to the Bar, but has bad health & thinks a voyage would be beneficial. He informs me that Alexr. Wolcott has written you in his favor. Wolcott knows him better than I do as they are of...
29To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 7 February 1809 (Madison Papers)
It is impossible for me to express the veneration I have for your talents & your political principles. The pleasure therefore I have felt at your election to the presidency has been without alloy. That office could not in my opinion be placed in better hands. But it must be considered that the moment which brings you into office is eventful beyond any example since the adoption of the present...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Joel Barlow, 15 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Your character in the literary as well as political world has induced me to request your acceptance of the Poem herewith forwarded to the care of the Marquis de la Fayette. What is said in it of the french king and nation may perhaps occasion it to be translated into that language. Should this ever be done, I would wish it might be in a manner that the work may not appear to disgrace that...