1To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 24 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose to you, a general recommendation, for the place I have Solicited (and which applies to any other of the Same kind) Signed by a number of Gentlemen of the first Commercial reputation in the City of New York, received by yesterday’s Mail. For five years past I have not had it in my power to Visit Boston, Massachusetts where I passed the first twenty years of my life....
2To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 21 July 1801 (Madison Papers)
A Variety of Circumstances respecting Mr. Yznardi the Son, of public notoriety here, it is Supposed must necessarily operate a Vacancy in the Consulate at Cadiz. I leave the detail of those Circumstances to those who are less interested than myself and have only to request you will give to my application for that appointment all the advantage which may belong to priority. You have had the...
3To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 11 November 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 November 1801, New York. Informs JM that he and his brother are suffering bankruptcy proceedings but believes that investigation will reveal fairness of all his transactions. Is confident that this situation will cast no shade of disqualification over his application for a consular appointment. Expects to receive his certificate of discharge on 19 Dec. Has heard that Orr has declined the...
4To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 7 December 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 December 1801, New York. Informs JM that Dobell, in a 3 Oct. circular letter to his mercantile friends, announced his acceptance of the consular post at Le Havre. This limits Forbes’s hopes for appointment to Lisbon, Càdiz, or Hamburg. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Hamburg, vol. 1). 1 p. A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.
5To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 7 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
The Sole object of this is most respectfully to Communicate to you the determination of Mr. Dobell to accept the Commercial Agency of the United States at Havre de Grace in France. This determination and his Consequent establishment there, have been announced to his mercantile friends by a Circular letter of the 3rd. October last. By Mr. Dobell’s acceptance my hopes and expectations of a...
6To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 28 December 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 December 1801, New York. Announces that he has obtained the consent of every one of his creditors to his discharge under federal bankruptcy law and is now ready to go to any of the posts he named to which he may be assigned. Is unwell at present but will be able to go to Washington in a few weeks if necessary. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Hamburg, vol. 1). 1 p. A full transcription of this...
7To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 28 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have now the pleasure to announce to you the accomplishment of that which I always Confidently expected—having obtained the Consent of every Creditor, without an exception, to my discharge under the Bankrupt Law of the United States. This Circumstance (without a Precedent in this City) while it Consoles me under my Past misfortunes, assures me that the friendly aid of a numerous and...
8To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 19 February 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
19 February 1802, Philadelphia. Thanks JM for encouraging his application for a consular appointment and accepts the nomination to the post at Hamburg—“in time of war, unquestionably the first Commercial situation under the Government of the United states—in time of peace, highly respectable and inferior to few, if any.” Will embark at New York for England in the first vessel that sails after...
9To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 19 February 1802 (Madison Papers)
I can never too often nor with Sufficient Warmth, acknowledge my obligation to you for the Characteristic manner in which you received and have always encouraged my application for a Consular appointment. My wishes and those of my friends are fully gratified in my nomination to the Agency at Hamburg, in time of war, unquestionably the first Commercial Situation under the Government of the...
10To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 16 March 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
16 March 1802, New York. “I have now the honor to enclose, duly executed, one of the Bonds forwarded from your Department, having retained the other agreeably to your instructions.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Hamburg, vol. 1). 1 p. Enclosure not found. A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.
11To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 16 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have now the honor to enclose, duly executed, one of the Bonds forwarded from your Department, having retained the other agreeably to your instructions. I am, very respectfully, Sir, Your obedient Servant The preceding is the full transcription of a document that was previously abstracted in The Papers of James Madison , Secretary of State series. The original abstract contains additional...
12To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 10 May 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 May 1802, New York. Plans to embark for London on the ship Iris “on or before Sunday next.” Offers to carry dispatches to U.S. ministers in England or France. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Hamburg, vol. 1). 1 p. A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.
13To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 10 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
Having just returned from Boston, I take the earliest opportunity to announce to you my intention of embarking in the Ship Iris for London. This Ship will certainly Sail on or before Sunday next. Should you have any dispatches for our Ministers in England or France, I shall be happy in paying the merited attention in delivering them or forwarding them by the best Conveyances—and have the honor...
14To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 6 July 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 July 1802, London. “I have this moment learned that the French Government have refused an Exequatur to Mr. Cathalan who was appointed American Consul for the Port of Marseilles. You may, perhaps, recollect the apprehensions I have frequently expressed of the effects of the Climate of Hamburg on my health.… It will be particularly gratifying to me … to be appointed to the Agency at...
15To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 6 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment learned that the French Government have refused an Exequatur to Mr. Cathalan who was appointed American Consul for the Port of Marseilles. You may, perhaps, recollect the apprehensions I have frequently expressed of the effects of the Climate of Hamburg on my health. Without any experience to justify, or remove those apprehensions, it will be particularly gratifying to me,...
16To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 20 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 August 1802, Hamburg. “I have at length the satisfaction to announce to you my arrival here and recognition by the Government of this City as Consul of the United States of America. Having announced my establishment here to a very extensive Circle of mercantile friends, I prefer encountering all the severities of this Climate to incurring the inconveniences which would attend a Change of...
17To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 20 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have at length the satisfaction to announce to you my arrival here and recognition by the Government of this City as Consul of the United States of America. Having announced my establishment here to a very extensive Circle of mercantile friends, I prefer encountering all the severities of this Climate to incurring the inconveniences which would attend a Change of residence. I beg leave,...
18To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 28 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 August 1802, Hamburg. Calls JM’s attention to “a Subject which has been frequently urged upon the former Administration, without effect, by my Predecessor Mr. Pitcairn. From the great variety of petty Sovereignties which divide the Circumjacent Country and particularly the Shores of the Elbe, a general imbecility in the execution of the Consular functions and, in many instances, Serious...
19To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 28 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have now the honor to inform you of my arrival here and Recognition by the Magistracy of this City as Consul from the United States of America. Having written you from London, requesting to be appointed to the Agency at Marseilles, but having Since announced my establishment here to a very extensive Circle of mercantile friends, I beg leave to relinquish my application, to be removed to...
20To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 5 October 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 October 1802, Hamburg. Notes that he last wrote on 28 Aug. Reports that “another and, it is to be hoped, the last Revolution has taken place in Switzerland, 24,000 Men having entered Bonne, annulled all the existing authorities and reestablished the order of things as it existed prior to the dissolution of the Confederacy by the French invasion in 1798.” Whether Napoleon will support this...
21To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 5 October 1802 (Madison Papers)
My last respects were under 28th. August. In Compliance with your Circular’s instructions, I feel it incumbent on me to Communicate to you Some great events Rumoured to have recently taken place in this Part of Europe. Should more Satisfactory information Come to hand before the Vessel sails, I shall not fail to add it. It seems that another and, it is to be hoped, the last Revolution has...
22To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 20 December 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 December 1802, Hamburg. “My last Respects were under 5th. October, Since which no direct opportunity offering I have not thought it necessary to address you by the way of England.” The political state of Europe is still uncertain. The king’s speech and subsequent parliamentary debates are “the best materials for a Correct judgement” of the mutual dissatisfaction existing between Great...
23To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 20 December 1802 (Madison Papers)
My last Respects were under 5th. October, Since which no direct opportunity offering I have not thought it necessary to address you by the way of England. The Same uncertainty in the political State of Europe Still exists. Every Day affords new proof of mutual dissatisfaction between England & France. On this Subject, the best materials for a Correct judgement are the King’s Speech and the...
24To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 2 April 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 April 1803, Hamburg. Last wrote on 20 Dec. 1802 . “Our River being at length cleared of Ice I avail myself of the first opportunity to transmit to you the Semi annual Report of Arrivals &c of American Vessels ending in December A.D. 1802 [not found]. The present is a most interesting moment with us. We have a new and very Serious alarm of a great probability of recommencement of hostilities...
25To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 2 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
My last Respects were under 20th. Decr. Our River being at length cleared of Ice I avail myself of the first opportunity to transmit to you the Semi annual Report of Arrivals &c of American Vessels ending in December A.D. 1802. The present is a most interesting moment with us. We have a new and very Serious alarm of a great probability of recommencement of hostilities between France & England,...
26To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 5 April 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 April 1803, Hamburg. Last wrote on 2 Apr. via Boston and New York enclosing a report of American vessels in port to December 1802. Transmits a triplicate copy of the report. “I wish it was in my power to Communicate any thing Correct on the important discussion between France & England which excites, at this moment, such universal interest.” The latest letters of 28 Mar. from Paris and 29...
27To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 5 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to address a few lines to you under 2d. Inst. by different opportunities Say—via Boston & New York—accompanying Copies of the Semiannual Report of Entries &c American Vessels in this Port, ending with Decr. 1802. Herewith you have Triplicate of this Report. I wish it was in my power to Communicate any thing Correct on the important discussion between France & England which...
28To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 28 May 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 May 1803, Hamburg . Encloses George III’s “declaration of the Causes of War,” given to him “yesterday by the British Chargé d’Affaires here.” Believes “Hanover will be [the] first object of hostility on the part of France.” Hamburg’s inhabitants “are much alarmed and with great reason,” as it is rumored that Prussia “will take no part whatever, even in renewing the line of demarcation which...
29To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 28 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
The great question of Peace or War is at length decided. The inclosed declaration of the Causes of War on the part of His Britannic Majesty, was transmitted to me yesterday by the British Chargé d’Affaires here, it will appear in all our papers, but as this is an official document I thought it my duty to forward it. Should the War on the Continent be renewed it will certainly brought into our...
30To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 7 June 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 June 1803, Hamburg . Announced his intention of going to Great Britain in his last of 28 May . Postponed his trip because of “the rapid and unopposed advance, of the French Army into our immediate vicinity.” Was convinced that “in Case of General inquisition” during an occupation, only he could give “efficient protection to the American property” in the city. A part of the French army has...