1To James Madison from Charles Peale Polk, 18 July 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 July 1802, “near the Old Bridge,” Washington. “I take the liberty of writing a few lines soliciting your Patronage to procure a Clerkship, as Copyist, in the Office of the Treasurer .… I am told that the duties are extremely easy, and can be performed by a Common Capacity.… I have long depended on Your humanity for being placed in a Situation more permanent than Painting for my Support.” RC...
2To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 28 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I send you my account for the last three months. The only charge of consequence is for the Post Office which is to me a very disagreeable one because they will give no Voucher. I have applied to them repeatedly & they always say they never do. While almost every American who has friends or Business in Madrid incloses his letters & packets under cover to me & particularly while large Bundles of...
3To James Madison from John Steele, [19 July] 1802 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to put into your hands the enclosed letter from General Davie recommending Mr. Barnet and Mr. Montflorence to the notice of Government. As I am not at all acquainted with the former, and but slightly with the latter, I wish to be understood as not offering an opinion concerning the pretensions of either: Indeed I would not have put you to the trouble of even reading the letter but...
4From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
I now return the letters to you from Mr. Purviance & Cambaceres, with an acknowledgment of those in which they were inclosed. The papers last recd. from you in relation to Mr. Skipwith will be of use in establishing one or two material points. His case has been a hard one, but it may be questioned whether he be well founded in the extent of his claims for interest & Agency for Claims. The...
5To James Madison from Stephen Sayre, 6 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have requested it as a favor, to know, whether I may, or may not expect, some appointment from Administration. If you conceive the refusal of an answer ought to be conclusive, you are not perfectly acquainted with my character—for—since I am compel’d to pass the line of delicacy, you must pardon me, if I draw some just & natural conclusions, and presume, that others have been provided for,...
6From James Madison to John Rodgers, 28 June 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have received and laid before the President your narrative dated June 1802; of the outrages committed on you in St. Domingo, under the administration of that Island. The proper use will be made of the facts stated in this document, to support the remonstrances to the French Republic, and to urge the satisfaction due from it to the United States, and which ought equally to flow from its own...
7To James Madison from Rufus King, 20 March 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 March 1802, London. No. 59. Reports that Bird, Savage, and Bird will send to the Treasury Department the accounts for the Tunisian present and encloses copies of his letters on shipment of the articles. Has had no word from Hargreaves since he left Algiers; in early February Eaton was temporarily in Leghorn for his health. Nothing decisive has occurred in the negotiations at Amiens, but...
8From James Madison to Rufus King, 30 April 1802 (Madison Papers)
I enclose a protest by Capt. Newell of the American Schooner Sea Flower, which shews that the habits of the British Commanders in impressing our Seamen have not ended even with the State of War which was made a pretext for the outrage. The spirit lately manifested by the British Government, and which the Government here is sincerely desirous to meet and to cultivate justifies our confidence,...
9To James Madison from John G. Jackson, 17 June 1802 (Madison Papers)
The Public Papers having announced your arrival in the City; I take the liberty to address you upon a little business I have there which I beg the favor of you to negociate. By a Contract with the Post Master General I am to receive $476 dollars per Ann. for carrying the Mail at quarterly payments; the first quarter will end the last of June; I enclose an order for the Money; which you will...
10To James Madison from William Buchanan, 31 July 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
31 July 1802, Ile de France. Encloses a list of “the American Vessels, which have arrived at this port up to the 30 June, as pointed out in your orders.” Notes that the list is incomplete; “it frequently happens, that the Consul never sees the Capn. during the time he is in port; and he is indebted to others for the informations he receives.” Believes the island’s administration would assist...
11To James Madison from Josef Yznardy, 16 September 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
16 September 1802, Cadiz. Transmits copies of his letters to JM of 10 and 13 Sept. “The purport of the present is to inclose you Half of the Register of the American Ship Columbia of Glastenbury Capt. Samuel Naylor that has been Sold in this Bay; the other half the owner Mr. Elisha Hale takes with him to America.” Also encloses an affidavit of Capt. Mark Collins of the Fame , “which...
12From James Madison to James Maury, 17 June 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 June 1802, Department of State, Washington. “ Your letter of the 10th. April last has been duly received. According to the rule now in practice, all such accounts as yours are to be settled at the Treasury Department. It will be proper therefore that you forward them to that Department with the requisite vouchers. As soon as the balance shall be authenticated, you may receive payment either...
13To James Madison from Joseph McLellan, August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
August 1802, Portland. Has received JM’s letter of 12 July [not found] enclosing a commission for him as a commissioner of bankruptcy “but must decline accepting the trust, on Account of my being so far advanced in years—& being deprived in a great measure of my eye Sight.” Wonders if the commission was meant for his son, Joseph McLellan, Jr., who is a merchant in the nearby town of Gray. “ He...
14To James Madison from William P. Gardner, 18 September 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 September 1802, Demerara. Reports his arrival on 14 Sept. after a passage of forty days from Philadelphia. Met with Nicholas Rousselet, the former U.S. consul, who informed him that the British governor had refused to recognize him in his official capacity because the Jay treaty “made no provision for the Residence of American Consuls in their foreign possessions.” Rousselet “further...
15To James Madison from William Croghan, 7 April 1802 (Madison Papers)
In Consequence of the Death of Your Brother Ambrose, Colonel Richard Taylor & myself were under the Necessity of bringing Suits in Chancary against You & Nelly Madison for Lands we bought from Your Brother belonging to you & he, when he was in this Country in March 1792 he Sold us those lands. I gave him my Bond for the payment of 104½ Acres of the land I bought from him, which Bond he lost on...
16To James Madison from Richard O’Brien, 20 May 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 May 1802, Algiers. Notes the arrival on 15 May of an Algerine frigate with a Portuguese frigate captured on 8 May near Gibraltar. The Algerine frigate, flying American colors, had “ranged right along Side and Covered the Portugees’s decks with about 250 turks and moors and in the run of ½ an hour became masters of The Portugee whom had made no preparation.” The victory will “increase The...
7 April 1802, Paris. Notes that the letter JM wrote him from Virginia on 25 Aug. 1801 could not have been more favorable to him. His passage from New York to Lorient and his arrival in Paris made him aware of his good fortune in having merited JM’s commendation. The Americans and the French are very pleased with these evidences of JM’s kindness and esteem; moreover, they value the one who is...
18To James Madison from John Lamson, 22 May 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
22 May 1802, Trieste. Has nothing of importance to report since his dispatch of 18 Mar. Encloses a list of all the American vessels that have ever visited the port. Observes that Trieste is “surrounded by an extensive and encreasing manufactoring country where the produce of the west Indies and many articles the growth of the United States are allways in great demand.… The principle articles...
19To James Madison from Rufus King, 5 July 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 July 1802, London. No. 71. Reports that the loan recently obtained by the Dutch government at a rate of interest “hitherto unknown in that frugal and industrious Country” has “excited a good deal of curiosity.” It is believed that part of the loan, in the amount of 15 million guilders, has been paid to France to secure release from the claims of the Prince of Orange, pursuant to the separate...
20To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I now return you the papers forwarded by the merchants of Philadelphia and Boston on the subject of the wrongs they complain of at Buenos Ayres. I observe that they have not gone into a developement of the subject. Two or three cases are opened with some degree of detail; as to the rest we have only a list of the ships for which our interference is claimed. But in cases where a hair’s breadth...
21To James Madison from John Elmslie, Jr., 29 March 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 March 1802, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope. Has supplied the American merchant ship Equator with a mast, which he procured in lieu of a spare foreyard left behind by Captain Preble of the Essex . Encloses a promissory note [not found] from the master of the Equator to pay the secretary of the navy “what ever sum may be assessed for the value of the same.” Also encloses a copy of a protest...
22From James Madison to John Gavino, 11 May 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 May 1802, Department of State, Washington. “Your several Letters up to No. 33, of the 18. March, have been received. The accounts and vouchers which are enclosed in that, are sent to the Treasury Department to be adjusted. I request you to forward the enclosed Letters for Messrs OBrien and Eaton, by the first safe opportunities that offer from Gibraltar.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IC ,...
23To 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...
24From James Madison to Peder Blicherolsen, 18 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 August 1802, Department of State, Washington. “The Secretary of State of the United States presents his respects to Mr. Olsen, and does himself the honor to forward herewith to him Exequators for the Gentlemen whose names are subjoined,… agreeably to Mr. Olsen’s letter of the 29th. of last month to the Secretary of State. The delay unavoidably incurred in procuring the necessary signatures...
25From James Madison to Horatio Gates, 10 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
I duly recd. your two kind letters of the 11 & 16. Ult: the former by the mail, the latter by Genl Stephens. I need not assure you that the requests of both have been attended to, but I ought to account for the delay in acknowledging them, by pleading the frailty & fluctuations incident to my health. I learn with much pleasure that you enjoy so comfortable a share of this blessing, and that it...
26To James Madison from Stephen Girard, 11 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
The Inclosed is copy of a Memorial which I have delivred to the Secretary of State in the year 1795 although I have ever Since that period been very industrious in requesting my friends in Europe to take every Steps to recover my just claim against the french Republic I am Still unpaid being desirous to Settle that business I am induced to Send to Paris the bearer of this letter Mr Jos: Curwen...
27To James Madison from William Marshall and Others, 30 April 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
30 April 1802, Charleston, South Carolina. Recommends Simon McIntosh, a Charleston lawyer, for the post of commissioner of bankruptcy. RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR , 1801–9, filed under “McIntosh”). 1 p. Signed by Marshall, Theodore Gaillard, O’Brien Smith, Paul Hamilton, and James D’Oyley. Docketed by Jefferson. This was probably the Simon McIntosh who was the son of Lachlan McIntosh (d. ca. 1789)...
28To James Madison from William Jarvis, 10 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 August 1802, Lisbon. No. 2. Forwards a duplicate of his last dispatch of 3 Aug. and part of the accompanying documents. Mentions that an American ship which arrived after a twelve-day voyage from Cadiz spotted nothing suspicious. “A letter from a private House in Cadiz” informed him that the emperor of Morocco had suspended hostilities against the U.S. for six months. “Another private...
29To 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...
30To James Madison from John Appleton, 18 April 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 April 1802, Philadelphia. Acknowledges JM’s letter of 8 Apr. [not found] enclosing his commission as U.S. commercial agent at Calais. Transmits his bond. “When at Washington I was led to expect by the President, that in case of vacancy at Dunkerque, it woud be annexed to my Department; if such an event shoud take place, will you allow me Sir to solicit your influence.… The two Ports of...