James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 23 August 1804

From Thomas Jefferson

Monticello Aug. 23. 04.

Dear Sir

Yours of the 18th. & 21st. are recieved, and I now return the papers of Davis, Cathalan, Mansfield, Fitzsimmons, Claiborne, Pichon, Rufini, Wiggenton, Wilson, Lamson, Ridgway, Irving, Barney, & Joy.1 The situation of the indemnification for the Tunisian property taken by Morris has escaped my present recollection. I take for granted we have been guilty of no unnecessary delay; as were we to go to war with the Bey tomorrow, I would previously do every act of justice due to him. I think the offence he presumes to take at our Commodore not going ashore should be the subject of information to him from Davis that after his injurious detention of Morris he must expect that mark of respect from no officer of the US. until he shall give proper assurance that he will be safe from restraint & injury. Should we not give peremptory orders for the winding up the affairs of Spain at N. Orleans, & the departure of Casa-Calvo & Morales, or at least the latter? They should be gone before the 1st. of October. Wigginton’s observations as to the description of the person of the holder of a certificate of citizenship are just; & it merits reformation. A particular clerk might be charged with making out the description. The appeal made by Barney to the executive is improper, the Convention having established a different course. I never recieved the ratification of Georgia. Some other matters in the inclosed papers will be properly subjects for conversation, & the moment I have every thing ready for the arrangements of the government of Orleans (which this day’s or Saturday’s posts will determine) you shall see me at your house: for when I proposed the accomodating your visit to this object, I had forgotten that it was a part of mrs. Madison’s plan that her visit and mrs. Pichon’s should be made together. With this arrangement I did not intend nor now wish to interfere. I salute you both with affection & respect.

Th: Jefferson

P. S. I desire mr. Wagner to send you a blank commission for a Commr. of loans in S. C. ready sealed. Will you on reciept of it be so good as to sign & forward it to me? as I must send it on blank, & the case is urgent.2

RC (DLC); FC (DLC: Jefferson Papers).

1The letters referred to probably included George Davis to JM, 8 Apr. 1804; Stephen Cathalan Jr. to JM, 24 May 1804; Thomas FitzSimons to JM, 10 Aug. 1804; William C. C. Claiborne to JM, 12, 13, and 14 July 1804; Louis-André Pichon to JM, 11 Aug. 1804; S. B. Wigginton to JM, 31 May and 9 June 1804; Archibald Wilson Jr. to JM, 13 and 18 Apr. 1804; John Lamson to JM, 2 May 1804; Jacob Ridgway to JM, 9 May 1804; Joshua Barney to JM, 6 Aug. 1804; and George Joy to JM, 16 Apr. 1804. The letter from George W. Erving to JM has not been identified. No letters to JM from Mansfield or Rufini have been found.

2On 16 Aug. 1804 Albert Gallatin wrote Jefferson: “Old Mr Neufville is dead & his son is as yet the only applicant to me.… There is no time to be lost, as the commission must be transmitted &c. in time for the calculation & payment of interest which falls due 1st October” (DLC: Jefferson Papers).

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