1To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you via Hamburg the Leyden Gazettes to this date agreeably to usage & I should be happy to have it in my power to communicate any favorable intelligence of a political Sort. The Affairs of Europe long ality Still remain in that posture to render the continuance of the embargo in the U States necessary as the most wise & prudential measures under all circumstances &...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 30 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I lately had the honor to address you on the Subject of My present painful position being deprived of any income whatever for my support by the peculiar State of the Affairs of Europe claiming the fasn. of your attention herein. Since the date of the letter alluded to, I have the one from our Minister at Paris in reply to what I had wrote him on this Subject in which he expresses himself as...
3To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
I herewith transmit to you (via Hamburg) a letter recd. from our Consul at Antwerp with the Leyden Gazettes up to this date, & I beg leave here to mention that as on the result of my late application to Govt. for Some Small Compensation in aid of my expences during the present Stagnation of trade will depend my decision of breaking up house keeping or not. The 1st. of next May I Shall esteem...
4To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to address you a few days past pr the Sheperdess on the Subject of my truly unpleasant Situation here being since a year deprived of all income from my Office by the State of Affairs in Europe, while many reasons interesting to the publick & our Citizens make it necessary that I should nevertheless remain at my Post. Since the date of the letter referred to, I have recd one on...
5To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 30 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
I hasten to Send the inclosed to go by the Sheperdess as it contains the advice of the safe arrival at Havre in 24 days of the Schooner Hope Capt Wood with dispatches from our Govt. to Mr Armstrong, which may be interesting for you to be informed of, & I have the honor to be With high Respect Sir Yr Ob Servt. In my last packet to you this I ed the word Dispatches in order to facilitate its...
6To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 26 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
Having lately had the honor to address you Pr the America Capt. Seton I have nothing Special to Communicate at this time except that of my having Sent home by this Conveyance (the Ship Sheperdess Capt Nelson,) sundry Amn Seamen who have come on here from Condemned Amn Ships in France the Certs; of which will when ready be transmitted duly to the Treasy of the: U States. I hope these may be...
7To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
This goes by Mr. Baker who is charged with dispatches to the Govt. of the U States from our Minr. at Paris & which will convey every Species of intelligence relative to the Affairs of Europe that is interesting to our Country & some of which I have reason to fear is not of the most favorable Character. For the better Security of my letters in these perplexing times I have taken the liberty to...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I humbly beg leave to present to a view of the Supreme Executive of the U States my truly unpleasant situation here at this time where a variety of circumstances interesting to the U States & the Citizens thereof oblige me to remain at my Post while by the present position of European Affairs I am deprived of an income whatever I indulge the confidence that the Government of our Country may be...
9To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 24 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
I herewith transmit you the last Ley den Gazettes to which I beg leave to refer for many interesting relations relative to the affairs of Europe which do not as yet assume any aspect of a pacifick nature. The Embargo In the U States will (though a necessary measure) be found very irksome. I fear that our Country will become Restless under its effects & that unless our Citizens are occupied in...
10To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 16 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
Since I had last the honor to write you nothing material has occurred in regard to the Situation of public Affairs here. The Embargo on our Vessells is still continued except under certain Circumstances when they have liberty to depart, if they take out Cargoes of Gin Butter & Cheese to a neutral Port but as this will expose them to the British Blockade Act of Novr 11. few of the Masters are...
11To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 19 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
I herein transmit you sundry Leiden Gazettes up to this date, which contain the most correct intelligence that can be given of the events passing in Europe, none of which are of a nature to justify the expectation of peace, or any other material change, in the present situation of affairs. It would be satisfactory to me to be informed of the intentions of Govt. in my regard on the subject...
12To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 14 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have to advise the due rect of a letter from your Department of 15 Feby. with sundry documents to prove the Citizenship of Edward Goodwin of Charleston (Massa.) & requesting my reclaim of him from this Govt. which I have already attended to but have as yet no reply. It is somewhat surprising that he should have been in this Country so long confined without having applied to me as many others...
13To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 29 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
All my endeavours with this Govt. to obtain a levy of the present embargo now on our Ships being proved fruitless, I have Solicited the interference of our Minr. at Paris in this regard, which may possibly be more fruitfull. It is indeed difficult to probe into the motives influencing the Cabinet in this measure Seeing that our Vessells are free to sail from the Ports of France. It was at...
14To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 18 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
It appears to every one extraordinary what can be the motives influencing this Govt. to hold on the embargo on Amn Vessels while such is not at present the case in France & indeed in some degree to controvert the favorable disposition of this Govt. towards the U States of which I have indulged an opinion as before communicated. I have made two applications on this subject indirectly but can...
15To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
Capt: Nathl. Harvey of the Ship Eliza of Baltimore Joseph Street & others owners died here on the 7 Novr. last & not having prior to his decease appointed any one to take charge of his effects I esteemed it to be my duty to attend thereto agreeably to the Law of the UStates in such cases. I herewith transmit my accounts with said Estate that you may take Steps as the Law provides for...
16To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 5 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to write to you lately by the Ship Eliza Capt. Stuffington of & for Baltimore who took out with him, about one hundred destitute & distressed Seamen under a Special permission of the King, given to me of sending off a vessell for that purpose notwithstanding the embargo which has long had place here. Those men had gradually collected in this Port for some time past from all the...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 5 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have observed by a late American Gasette that in your reply to the General Assembly of Pensylvania you had absolutely declined to be considered as a Candidate for the Office of President of the U States at the ensuing Election having resolved to retire of all future Public Employ. On this occasion I beg leave to tender you the hommage of my highest respect & to convey to you my sincere...
18To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 22 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
The feeble State of my nerves after a sickness of about two months renders it quite inconvenient for me to write, but I endeavor just to mention to you that notwithstanding I had before sent on to the UStates since the 1st. of Novr. last a great number of destitute Amn. Seamen, I found myself surrounded with about 100 more collected from difft. quarters of Europe when an embargo took place...
19To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 1 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to address you a few days past. This serves especially to convey to you the Gazette of this day which contains the important & very extraordinary decree of the Emperor of France taken at Milan on the 17 Ulto, with the Circular of the Minister of the Interior (so called) in France, which says in plain terms that for the privations that Country suffers from the position of Europe...
20To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 26 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
As in the event of the war with England, which appears to be almost inevitable it is probable that the Privateers of the U States may cruise in these Seas & occasionally bring Prizes into the Ports of Holland, it will be necessary that our Govt. should pass a Law regulating the process of trial & condemnation & prescribing the Powers & Duties of our Consuls in this regard or in such oth er...
21To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 23 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
I herewith send you the Leyden Gazettes up to this date, from which may be collected a compendium of the present State of affairs in Europe, extraordinary in their Character. The Annals of History contain nothing to be Compared therewith. You will doubtless before this reaches you have read Accounts of the Decree of the British Govt of Novr. 11th. & the Consequent explanations thereof which...
22To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed I have the pleasure to forward you by particular conveyance a packet of Leyden Papers which hope may duly reach you. In regard to Amn. Affairs in this quarter of the World, I have been advised from a respectable Channell that G B has by no means satisfied the demands of our Govt. but in lieu thereof, sent out a Special Mission to the U: S to arrange the matters there. This savours of...
23To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 27 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to acquaint you by way of a triplicate communication on the Subject, that I have lately recd. a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Hague in reply to what I had wrote him relative to Anthony Morales, saying that this Govt. heard with great pleasure of what our Govt. had done in his regard, as he was never commissioned by the Govt. of Holland as Consul for...
24To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 13 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
Expecting for a long time to go on to the Hague myself I delayed making the communication to the Secy. of State on the affair of Mr. Morales till a few days past & have now the honor to inclose you his reply by which you will find that your opinion of his being an Impostor confirmed, & the consequent approbation on the part of this Govt. of the measures which have been taken by ours in his...
25To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 23 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to mention by way of duplicate that the very rigorous execution of the Laws of this Govt. at present relative to either Vessels & Cargoes or persons Coming to this Country from England renders it expedient that the merchants of the U States should be publickly Cautioned against ordering their Vessells even to touch into England for orders if eventually destined to any port in...
26To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 22 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I conceive it to be my duty to acquaint you that the rigorous execution of the decrees of this Govt. which forbid the entry in to this Country of either Ships & Cargoes or Persons which have been in England has given rise to many difficulties & embarrassments of the most perplexing nature & will render it expedient that the Commerce of the U States should be duly advised thereof in order that...
27To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 7 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
We are this day much alarmed by the rect. of the news from the U States of the unwarranted attack of one of our frigates by a British Ship of War. That haughty nation losing sight of principle & relying alone on force daily adds insults to injury in her conduct towards Neutrals but her just punishment may not be far distant. I hope our Country will conduct with becoming dignity & firmness on...
28To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 31 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed you have the Leyden Gazettes up to this day, the last of which contains the Treaties of Peace lately made between France & Russia & Prussia. The first stipulates for the Conditional mediation of the Empr. of Russia towards making a peace between France & England, but the Condition is of nature which may tend to defeat the Object it is ostensibly designed to promote. I have the honor...
29To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 30 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to send you by two Vessels lately Copies of a letter recd from the Minister of foreign Affairs at the Hague requesting me to communicate to the Govt. of the U States the desire of this, that Mr Smissaert may be provisionally admitted to exercise the Office of Consul of Holland for the State of New york though he has not yet his Commission in form, the delay in sending which to...
30To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 17 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you here inclosed the copy of a letter I yesterday recd from the Minr. of Foreign affairs at the Hague relative to the provisional admission of Mr Smissaert as Consul of Holland for the State of New york & which is respectfully submitted to the decision of the President who will doubtless be disposed to give due weight to the arguments urged in support of the...