1To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 12 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you yesterday & finding a safe opportunity of a gentleman going this morning to Corunna or to Ferrol I avail myself of it to repeat to you the intelligence I sent yesterday which is that they are fitting out for sea immediately there three sail of the Line two frigates & some transports to join others at Cadiz as it is said to go to strengthen their forces in Cuba & Florida. I have...
2To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, [ca. 10 October] 1804 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you the day before yesterday, & now do so again merely on the report we have received from London that hostilities have commenced between the Spaniards & our People in Florida or Louisiana. From your letter of the 8th. July, I have reason to believe there can be no truth in this report, & yet from the intemperate Letters of the Marquis de Yrujo to you, & Governor Folch to our Governor...
3To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 4 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
This is the fourth letter I have written to you on the same subject lately as I am anxious you should know this Court are fitting out three Ships of the Line & some frigates & transports for America to carry Troops to Cuba, Florida & to form a post at Tecas. The account of the number varies from four to six & eight thousand. I am hopeful the British will not let them go as it is certainly...
4To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 8 December 1804 (Madison Papers)
I inclose you a Duplicate of my last —since which the Spanish Messengers have not returned from London, nor is the Question of war yet decided. Fleets, it is true, are posted at Cadiz & Barcelona, & one is at Ferrol, but still they do not capture or even detain Spanish Merchantmen, but suffer them quietly to pass. The Government have ordered all British property to be returned, & intend to...
5To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 12 December 1804 (Madison Papers)
The farce between Spain & England is at length over as Spain this Morning declared War—before this opportunity goes, I shall be able to send you the declaration, & thus has her conduct to us involved her in a War which she otherwise might easily have avoided. England was at first by no means inclined to this war—the thing that produced it, as I always told you, was the armament at Ferrol,...
6To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 8 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you yesterday that We are all surprised at a report which causes much sensation that there has been Blood drawn on the frontiers or in the territory in Dispute. I give no credit to the Report but as it comes Via France & has been published also in the English Gazettes many here do. Should any of our citizens have ventured under the authority of the act of Congress to enter that...
7To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 30 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I informed you in my two last that on account of the great Exertions making by this Government to equip four or five line of Battle ships & frigates to convey troops to Cuba & Florida I found it necessary not to wait Mr Monroes arrival so far only as respected the proposal not to increase the force of either nation in the territory between the Ibberville & the Perdido until the intended...
8To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 28 January 1805 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 28 January 1805, Aranjuez. Offered for sale in Argosy Book Stores Catalogue 357 (1952), item 525, where it is described as a two-page letter, marked “Private” and docketed by JM, which reads in part: “Finding a very safe opportunity by Mr. Gorham, the son of our old friend Mr. Gorham who was with us in the Convention, I send you open to your inspection a confidential letter I...
9To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 26 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
My last four letters will have informed you that this Court were fitting out four line of Battle ships—some frigates & transports to convey troops to Cuba & Florida —since which I recieved your dispatch for Mr Monroe & myself of the date of the 8 July most of it written in a cypher not yet sent me & of course I could not make it out—the latter part however which was not written in cypher was...
10To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 10 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you the day before yesterday, since which I have seen Mr. Frere who informed me, the answer he had received from this Court to the ultimatum he had sent them was so unsatisfactory that he was obliged to quit them, & this Morning he actually set out for Lisbon without taking leave of the Court. Now then is the time for Mr. Monroe to arrive, & I have accordingly written to him by various...