1From James Madison to William Pinkney, 11 February 1809 (Madison Papers)
My official letter by this conveyance leaves little of importance to be added to its contents. You will see with regret the difficulty experienced in collecting the mind of Congress to some proper focus. On no occasion were the ideas so mutable and so scattered. The most to be hoped for at present is that a respectable majority will finally concur in taking a course not essentially dishonoring...
2From James Madison to William Pinkney, 10 February 1809 (Madison Papers)
I forward by the British Packet about to sail from New York, the printed proceedings of Congress continued from my last communications which bore date on the 3d. January. From these and the antecedent indications, you will deduce the general spirit which actuates the Legislative Councils, under the perplexities incident to the unexampled state of things forced on the United States by the...
3From James Madison to William Pinkney, 3 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you lately by way of N. Brunswick, under Mr. Erskines Cover. Inclosed is a duplicate of it. You will see by my Official letter & the proceedings of Congress, that if no change takes place on your side the Atlantic, the last resort of injured Nations will probably not be a great while longer delayed by this. Submission being disclaimed by all, and a protracted abandonment of our rights...
4From James Madison to William Pinkney, 20 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
Understanding from Mr. Erskine, that he is about to forward despatches to New Brunswick in Nova Scotia, whence a conveyance offers for England, I avail myself of the opportunity to inclose you the final proceedings of the House of Representatives on the Resolutions reported by the committee on foreign relations. You will observe that the resolution on the subject of non-intercourse does not...
5From James Madison to William Pinkney, 9 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
The October Packet having arrived before the sailing of the one bound from New York, Mr. Erskine has detained the latter a few days on that account. It enables me to add the gazettes containing a report of the debates &c. in Congs. subsequent to the dates already forwarded to N. York. Questions have not yet been taken in the House on the Resolutions which were agreed to in the Committee. It...
6From James Madison to William Pinkney, 5 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
My two last letters were of Novr. 9. & 25. The first went by a British Packet from New York; the second by a vessel which has sailed or is about sailing from Boston. This will be forwarded to New York to be conveyed by a Packet which is to sail on the 8th. It is accompanied by a continuation of the debates and proceedings of Congress as far as they have yet appeared in print. You will find...
7From James Madison to William Pinkney, 5 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have little to add to the printed information accompanying my official letter of this date. Congs. seemed to be sufficiently determined, as you will observe, to resist the unjust and insulting Edicts of the Belligerents; and differ only as to the mode best suited to the case. The disposition to prefer war to the course hitherto pursued, is rather gaining than losing ground, and is even...
8From James Madison to William Pinkney, 25 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
I forwarded to you by the British Packet which sailed from New York on the 17th. instant, the message of the President, with such of the documents communicated to congress as had then been printed. I now add, by a vessel which is to sail from Boston to Liverpool, such of the debates and proceedings of Congress as have since taken place. Among these will be found a very interesting report made...
9From James Madison to William Pinkney, 25 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
I wrote two short private letters by the British Packet, which sailed from N. York on the 17th. They were accompanied by sundry printed documents and newspapers. You will now receive a continuation of them with a few additional copies of the Documents. Among the papers now forwarded are a number of copies of a Report on our foreign Relations made to the H. of Reps. by a Committee on that...
10From James Madison to William Pinkney, 10 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
Finding that Mr. Erskine detains the packet a day longer, I add a line to my private letter of yesterday. The communications made to Congs. have it would seem, kindled all the indignation which was to be expected. The paternal solicitude of H. B. M. for the sufferings of the people here under the Embargo, was recd. with ridicule & contempt. The repetition of the paragraph was called for with a...
11From James Madison to William Pinkney, 10 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed papers have been made out, and are now sent to you with a view of putting you in possession of the facts relating to a case alluded to by Mr. Canning in a late conversation with you, and which he then seemed to think important. Time does not permit me to send you copies of Mr Erskine’s letters to me on this subject; my answer however, of which a copy is inclosed will inform you on...
12From James Madison to William Pinkney, 9 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
I find by the receipt of your last private letter by Mr. Atwater, that there has been no miscarriage of any preceding one. The conduct of the B cabinet in rejecting the fair offer made to it, and even sneering at the course pursued by the U. S. proves at once a very determined enmity to them, and a confidence that events were taking place here which would relieve it from the necessity of...
13From James Madison to William Pinkney, 9 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
I inclose herewith a copy of the Presidents Message yesterday delivered to Congress, and will forward by the next opportunity printed copies of the documents communicated along with it. These will consist principally of such portions of the correspondencies relating to the French and British Edicts, including your letter of Augt. 23d to. Mr Canning, & his answer of Sept 23, as were deemed not...
14From James Madison to William Pinkney, 4 October 1808 (Madison Papers)
I think it not improbable that this may not reach N. Y. in time for the Packet; but I take the chance of the oppy. to forward a few of the late prints which will be consigned to the care of Mr. Boggs who will be a passenger in the Packet. I take the liberty of adding that he is recommended to me as a gentleman equally respectable in his character & his connections, and of course equally...
15From James Madison to William Pinkney, 9 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
The St. Michael having not yet returned with the result of the communications you will have received by her, I have nothing particularly to add on our affairs with Great Britain. The intimation in your private letter of June 29 very lately received, gives us hopes that the British Government was becoming more sensible of what was due to its own nation as well as to us. It is anxiously wished...
16From James Madison to William Pinkney, 9 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
Having written from my home in Virginia the official letter of this date, I have been less full than I might have been with all your letters in the affair by me. The case may be the same with this private one. Your letter of the 29. June flatters our expectation much, from the return of the St. Michael. The success with which the opponents of the administration, have misrepresented the causes...
17From James Madison to William Pinkney, 21 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have little to add to my private letter of the 15th. by the B. Packet, a copy of which is inclosed. Great efforts have been made to render the Embargo unpopular, and to prosecute evasions & violations of it. These efforts have not ceased & have not been without a certain degree of effect. With the means used by our own Citizens have been united great exertions from the Canadian & N. Scotia...
18From James Madison to William Pinkney, 18 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
Your communications by Lt. Lewis were safely delivered on the evening of the 8th. inst. As it had been calculated that the inte r val between the return of Mr Rose and the departure of L t. Lewis would give sufficient time to the British Governmen t to decide on the course required by the posture in whic h the affair of the Chesapeake was left, its silence to yo u on that subject, could not...
19From James Madison to William Pinkney, 15 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
Finding that the departure of the Packet has been from time to time postponed, I have caused a transmission of newspapers to Mr. Nielson, to be continued down to this date which I understand affords the last opportunity. Lt. Lewis arrived here with the dispatches committed to him, on the 8th. The adherence of the B. Govt. to their orders, and its silence as to the affair of the Chesapke., are...
20From James Madison to William Pinkney, 3 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
You will receive by the present conveyance a continuation of certain Newspapers &c. from which you will be able to collect a tolerable idea of the actual posture of our internal affairs. Notwithstanding the various modes resorted to for discrediting and frustrating the Embargo, it retains a solid support in the judgment and patriotic pride of the great body of the nation. Massachussetts is the...
21From James Madison to William Pinkney, 2 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
The papers herewith inclosed will authenticate and explain a very flagrant instance of the lawless proceedings of British Naval Commanders. You will be pleased by a proper representation of it, to afford the British Government another proof of the necessity of an exemplary interposition, if it means to do justice either to the United States, or to itself. I have the Honor to be, with great...
22From James Madison to William Pinkney, 1 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
For the private letters with which I have been favored I refer to the general list in my public letter by this conveyance which includes them. The printed inclosures were all safely brought to hand also. This with the public dispatches will be handed you by Mr. Purviance who takes his passage in a vessel from Baltimore engaged for the like purposes with the Osage from N.Y. and which is to...
23From James Madison to William Pinkney, 30 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
The writer of the letter (Mr. Keas Plimpton of Massacts.) of which a copy is inclosed, has just been informed that your interposition would be requested by this Department, as far as it might be proper, in his case, and he has been advised accordingly to send his documents to you. Will you therefore be so good as to take or direct such measures in relation to the case as you may deem useful...
24From James Madison to William Pinkney, 30 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
My last was of the 4th. inst, and went by a British packet from New York. I now forward a copy of it. Congress ended their Session on the night of the 25 inst. The series of newspapers, herewith sent, affords a view of their proceedings subsequent to the communications last made to you. Some other prints are included which throw light on the workings of public opinion and the State of public...
25From James Madison to William Pinkney, 8 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
I avail myself of the last moment of the opportunity to inclose you a copy of the Resolution which I understand will be proposed this day in the House of Reps. on the subject of the Act laying An Embargo. I think it probable that some such provision will be made, for its suspension during a recess, and that the Session will then be hastened to a conclusion. There is not the slightest...
26From James Madison to William Pinkney, 4 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
Since my last of Mar. 21. by Mr. Rose, I have had the pleasure of your two letters of Decr. 21 & Jany. 24. That of Decr. 10. has also been recd. These favors have been accompanied by packets of Newspapers and the several pamphlets following. 1. Exposition of British orders in Council 2. Notifications orders &ca 3. Orders in Council. Examination of &c. (Brougham) 4. Roscoe’s pamphlet 5. Lowe’s...
27From James Madison to William Pinkney, 4 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
My last was of March 22d., and went under the care of Mr Rose. I now forward printed copies of the correspondence with him on the subject of his mission, and of the antecedent documents relating to the case of the Chesapeake. As soon as the voluminous residue of the communications made to Congress issues from the press, it shall also be forwarded. You will find that they include certain...
28From James Madison to William Pinkney, 22 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
My last bore date the 8th. instant and went by the British Packet. It acknowledged your letters of Novr. 23d. and of Decr. I have since received those referred to in the latter, and also that of Jany 26th. which came to hand last evening. I now inclose the promised sequel of the correspondence here with Mr Rose by which you will see the posture finally given to the subject of his Mission. The...
29From James Madison to William Pinkney, 21 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
I ought to have acknowledged your favour of Decr. 7. by the B. packet which conveyed an acknowledgment of your public letters. It was made impossible however by the state of my health. I have since had the pleasure of your two private letters of the 21st. of Decr. & 24th. of Jany. I thank you much for those valuable marks of your attention, and for the sundry printed articles to which it has...
30From James Madison to William Pinkney, 8 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
Having just learnt that the present Mail will arrive at New York in time for the British packet, I avail myself of the opportunity of forwarding your Commission and letters of credence, as successor to Mr Monroe, in the Legation at London. Since my last which went by Mr Nourse in a dispatch vessel bound first to L’Orient and then to Falmouth, I have received your communications of the 23 Novr...