1To John Adams from David Humphreys, 17 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
I had fully intended to have paid my personal respects to you on Saturday last, had not the unfavorable change in the state of the roads prevented. That mode of communication having failed, I have now to offer the best homage of Mrs Humphreys & myself to Mrs Adams & yourself, and to request the honour of your company at dinner with us, on Saturday next, it being the anniversary of the Birth of...
2To John Adams from David Humphreys, 28 August 1802 (Adams Papers)
A combination of circumstances having prevented me from having the honour of paying my respects in person to Mrs Adams & yourself, I could not proceed on my journey to the Westward, without expressing in this manner my extreme sensibility of the disappointment. When I was in this Town, a few weeks ago, on my way to the Province of Main, I so fully indulged the expectation of making the visit,...
3To Thomas Jefferson from David Humphreys, 12 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have seen the letter which you addressed to a Gentleman in this City during my absence requesting him to obtain Cloth from my Factory for your own weaving. There is no broad Cloth finished at present except some Pecies made of the Wool of the half-blooded Merinos. I have directed one to be manufactured of the pure fleece. It will not be completed in less than six weeks or two months; owing...
4To Thomas Jefferson from David Humphreys, 28 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I had fully determined, upon my arrival in the U.S. , to have made a journey to the City of Washington, for the express & sole purpose of paying my respects to the President. But the fatigue & inconvenience which my wife suffered in our voyage from Europe prevented me from carrying that determination into effect; especially as She was unable to accompany me & unwilling to be left alone among...
5To Thomas Jefferson from David Humphreys, 8 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Upon receiving the certain, tho’ not official, intelligence of your having been elected to the Chief Magistracy of the U.S.; I offer my sincere & ardent vows to Heaven, that your Administration may be highly useful to your Country & glorious to yourself. In Septr. last I had the honour of addressing a letter to you by Mr Henry Preble , recommending him as a suitable Character to be named...
6To Thomas Jefferson from David Humphreys, 1 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
In referring to that part of the letter addressed by me, on the 28th. of June last, to the President of the U.S., which relates to the measures I took to avoid recieving without the consent of Congress the Royal Present usually offered to Ambassadors & Ministers who had resided near H.C.M. ; I now hasten to give information that Mr. Codman has brought from Europe to this Country a small...
7To Thomas Jefferson from David Humphreys, 25 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just arrived here in a passage of 34 days from England. I take the liberty of communicating some of the most remarkable circumstances of a political nature which occurred at the time of my departure. After the general embargo was raised, the objects which excited the public attention most, were, the expected arrival of Instructions from the U.S. respecting the late aggression on our...
8To James Madison from David Humphreys, 10 September 1801 (Madison Papers)
The information contained in the Post-script of my letter, of the 1st. instant from St. Ildefonso, that Grand Cairo had surrendered to the English and Turkish armies, has been confirmed. As this letter may possibly have a speedy conveyance by a Vessel which is ready to sail for the United States from Bilbao, I enclose a French Gazette, containing the capitulation, and likewise the Treaty...
9To James Madison from David Humphreys, 24 March 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
24 March 1801, Madrid. No. 269. Believes recent royal order stipulating that “every recaptured vessel should remain in totality to the profit of the Recaptors” has been revoked “in consequence of my Protest.” Conveys correspondence with Spanish government concerning South Carolina . Council of war has not yet tried the case. Reports king’s renewed confidence in his adviser, the “Prince of...
10To James Madison from David Humphreys, 11 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
I had the honour to receive, upon my return to this Place, your letter dated the 14th of April last; in which you informed me, that the Accounts of Messrs John Bulkeley & Son had been adjusted at the Treasury. I immediately sent an extract of yours to that House; and I doubt not you will have forwarded the same statement. This prevents me from trespassing on your time with any remark, altho I...
11To James Madison from David Humphreys, 4 December 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 December 1801, Madrid. No. 296. Has had no news of Commodore Dale since he sailed from Málaga. Encloses copy of a 1 Nov. circular letter from Appleton “received this day” advising that the Tripolitans have purchased a twenty-two-gun ship at Smyrna for the purpose of cruising against Americans. Concludes from a 30 Nov. letter from Pinckney at Vitoria that he will arrive in the next week....
12To James Madison from David Humphreys, 21 August 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 August 1801, Madrid. No. 284. Little has changed since his last dispatch. Great Britain, alarmed at Continental military maneuvers, has stopped all traffic to and from France. Chevalier Freire has arrived from Portugal, reportedly to renew treaty negotiations with the French ambassador and to act as minister plenipotentiary ad interim to Spain. Earlier report that two Tripolitan cruisers...
13To James Madison from David Humphreys, 18 December 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 December 1801, Madrid. No. 297. Recounts 9 Dec. meeting at the Escorial with Charles Pinckney, when Pinckney delivered to him JM’s dispatch of 22 June enclosing the president’s letter to the Spanish king and instructions for his own departure. Will comply with instructions, “although it cannot escape your reflection … that it is very inconvenient & unfortunate for me to have received these...
14To James Madison from David Humphreys, 17 March 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 March 1801, Madrid. No. 267. Encloses copies of remonstrances to Spanish government on behalf of American merchants who sold Spanish government commodities, expecting to be paid in specie, and instead were paid in depreciated paper money; also encloses Spanish replies. All communication with Lisbon has been interrupted, so funds to operate his office must come through a Dutch bank. The...
15To James Madison from David Humphreys, 27 March 1801 (Madison Papers)
Yesterday I received by way of St. Sebastian farther copies of your several Dispatches, dated the 2nd of August and the 8th and 23d of September last. My first proceedings on the contents of all of which having already been reported, I have only to observe that I shall continue to transmit to you my correspondence with His Catholic Majesty’s Ministers on these and other subjects of national...
16To James Madison from David Humphreys, 28 April 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 April 1801, Madrid. No. 274. Encloses copy of proclamation of Czar Alexander I as he succeeds his father. Reports Nelson’s victory at Copenhagen and rumor of British defeat near Alexandria. Notes that Portugal flouts French ultimatum and French forces are poised for invasion. Has entrusted U.S. consul and commerce in Tuscany to the new king, who “had always discovered a particular...
17To James Madison from David Humphreys, 26 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to enclose to you a letter from our friend Genl. Lafayette, which he put into my hand at Paris. Dispatches from Mr. Monroe will also be forwarded by this conveyance with which I was charged in London. The last advices which we have brought from thence were to the 16th. Ulto., When the arrival of the American Sloop of War, Revenge, was anxiously expected, as was the...
18To James Madison from David Humphreys, 29 March 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 March 1803, New York. “In compliance with a request from Mr. Thomas Bulkeley of Lisbon, now conducting the Commercial House of Messrs John Bulkeley & Son, I have the honour to forward to you the enclosed letter, which has just come to my hand. The subject of the claim of that House on the Department of State being so fully explained, I cannot doubt that a satisfactory arrangement will be...
19To James Madison from David Humphreys, 21 April 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 April 1801, Madrid. No. 273. Reports Czar Paul of Russia murdered, allegedly by his eldest son. Conveys word that Hamburg has been occupied by Prussian troops, British fleet has drawn near Copenhagen, and French troops assigned to the invasion of Portugal have now entered Spain. In postscript of 23 Apr. encloses copy of official Spanish complaint of piracy committed by vessel flying British...
20To James Madison from David Humphreys, 19 May 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
19 May 1801, Madrid. No. 278. Sends correspondence with Spanish ministers on the award in favor of Americans Gregory and Scobie, observing that the many documents furnish “a small specimen of the tedious manner in which business is done at this Court.” Also transmits correspondence with Spanish officials regarding the vessel Swansborough , which has been seized and condemned by Spanish....
21To James Madison from David Humphreys, 20 June 1806 [letter not found] (Madison Papers)
¶ From David Humphreys. Letter not found. 20 June 1806. Acknowledged in JM to Humphreys, 28 June 1806 , as having to do with Ann Frances Humphreys’s request that diamonds given to her by the queen of Spain be forwarded to her.
22To James Madison from David Humphreys, 20 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
With my last Dispatch of the 13th. instant, I forwarded Copies of the Preliminaries of Peace, as signed at London on the 1st. day of this Month, between the Ministers of England and France. In a Postscript to the Duplicate of the same, dated the 16th. instant, I informed you, I had received a letter that day from Consul OBrien at Algiers, in which he mentioned that a Revolt had existed for a...
23To James Madison from David Humphreys, 6 November 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 November 1801, Madrid. No. 292. Has received a 12 Oct. letter from Pinckney in Paris stating that he is delayed by an eye ailment; he requested Humphreys to transfer legation records to his secretary of legation, assuming he had arrived from America, should Humphreys wish to leave Spain. Humphreys replied that he had no news of the secretary’s arrival and doubted the wisdom of an Atlantic...
24To James Madison from David Humphreys, 25 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
In requesting you to be referred to my letter dated the 18th inst:, I have now the pleasure to inform you that Mr Pinckney is considerably better in health than he was at that date. I enclose to you herewith the Sentence of the Supreme Council of War, in the Case of the Ship South Carolina, Paul Post Master, detained first by an English frigate, recaptured by a Spanish & French armed force,...
25To James Madison from David Humphreys, 14 April 1801 (Madison Papers)
I think I cannot display too much eagerness in communicating to you, by different conveyances, the news this moment received by me from Algiers. I hasten then to transmit copies of Consul O’Brien’s letters to the 6th instant, which came to me thro the Department of the first Minister of State of His Catholic Majesty. From the last of these letters you will learn, that the Bey of Tripoli,...
26To James Madison from David Humphreys, 29 August 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 August 1801, San Ildefonso. No. 285. Encloses copies of his correspondence with minister of state concerning an assault by two palace guards upon Humphreys’s coachman and a footman of the Neopolitan minister. Spanish reply indicates “the correct ideas of this Court on the privileges & immunities of Diplomatic Representatives.” Reports evidence of subtle tensions remaining between Godoy and...
27To James Madison from David Humphreys, 23 November 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
23 November 1801, Madrid. No. 295. The “almost incessant occupation” of preparing representations to the first minister of state has prevented him from sending copies to the State Department. Encloses now copies of protest he made regarding Spanish insults to Captain Bainbridge of the Essex and U.S. consul Willis at Barcelona as well as a remonstrance at the refusal of commander at San Roque...
28To James Madison from David Humphreys, 30 September 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
30 September 1801, Madrid. No. 288. Has been informed secretly that France and Portugal signed a peace treaty in Madrid the night before. Believes the conditions are very onerous for Portugal and the agreement was extorted under threat of invasion. In postscript of 1 Oct., reports that five days before the treaty was signed the French army had been given orders to invade Portugal and that...
29To James Madison from David Humphreys, 27 July 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 July 1801, Madrid. No. 282. Encloses copy of 2 July letter from Commodore Dale announcing his arrival at Gibraltar and his plan to sail for Algiers the next day, leaving behind a frigate “to watch the motions” of two Tripolitan vessels anchored at Gibraltar. Transmits O’Brien’s dispatch [ O’Brien to JM, 24 June 1801 ]; report of Tripolitan seizures of American vessels has not been...
30To James Madison from David Humphreys, 8 May 1801 (Madison Papers)
In my Dispatch No. 265 dated March 6th. I transmitted to you the circular letter of our Consul at Tripoli, announcing the imminent danger of an immediate rupture with that State. And in No: 272, dated April 14th, I forwarded copies of letters from Consul O’Brien at Algiers, which contained the information that the Bashaw of Tripoli, having refused the mediation of Algiers, the presents sent...