James Madison Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/02-11-02-0061

To James Madison from Horatio Gates, 15 January 1806

From Horatio Gates

New York 15th January 1806.

Dear Sir

I take the Liberty to introduce to your Notice Mr: Temple;1 the Brother of Sir Grenville Temple & the Nephew of Our Ambassador in Spain; He has lately quitted The British Army, at the Instance of His Uncle; who it is presumed intends Him for his Heir. There is something very singular, & extraordinary, in the early life of this young Gentleman; He was upon service with his Regiment in three Quarters of this World, and paid a Visit to the Fourth, in the course of one Year! He was station’d at the Cape of Good Hope, from whence the Regiment was order’d to the East Indies; From thence it was order’d to the Red Sea, where it was Landed & Marched to the uper Nile; and from thence to the Lower, where it Joind the British Army, then upon Service there; from Egypt he was order’d to Malta, & from thence to Italy; He was Anxious to see His Mother, the Dowager Lady Temple, in Boston. & obtain’d leave to Cross the European Continent to Calais, & Obtain’d immediate Leave to go to Massachusetts; He left London directly, & took his passage in a Packet for New York, & was within the Year in the Four Quarters of the Globe! it falls to the Lot of few, to take so informing a range of this World, in so short a space of Time.

I intreat you to present my Humble Duty to The president of The Ustates, it is my prayer, that He may enjoy a long Life, in Health, with his Superior understanding; & that His Station may only cease with His Life—perhaps I may yet last a Summer; The Hopes of seeing You & Mrs: M. at Rose Hill, serves to encourage that Belief—with great respect. I am your Obedient Servant

Horatio Gates.

RC (owned by Joseph Rubinfine, West Palm Beach, Fla., 1991).

1For James Temple Bowdoin, see PJM-SS description begins Robert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (11 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986–). description ends 10:697 n. 2.

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