111To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 23 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
This will be delivered by my sons in Law Robert L. and Edward P Livingston. One being a senator may give you the politics of this State, & the other that of France, as far as a traveller could collect it. For myself I am content to be a mechanic & a farmer & find more pleasure in these occupations than you statesmen do in buffeting the storm that beats around you at Washington. I mentioned to...
112To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 17 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
A circumstance has arisen here that has given me the most serious uneasiness because it has placed me in a very delicate situation with this Court & with Mr. Monroe, & it is impossible to act in it without incurring some serious evils unless the Treaty should be immediately ratified in which case you may suppress all that relates to it, for having made it a duty to perform no act in my public...
113To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 4 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
I informed you in my last of my intention to comply with your instructions & to obtain from this Government Such an explanation of the Convention as would embrace all the objects the President wished & then to have proceeded to draw bills for the principal of the debts, leaving the interest as a fund for equalizing the demands by dividing it among the creditors, by this means the further...
114To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 31 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
Enclosed are some letters that have passed between Mr. Skipwith and me. They sufficiently explain themselves—I shall make no comment upon them. I would only observe that the President having left it in my discretion to fix the salary of Mr Skipwith as agent of prizes at any sum not exceeding 2000$ I was induced to go to the extent of the allowance because at the time there were many prize...
115To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 1 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have now before me your favor of the 9th of Novr announcing the agreable information of the ratification of the Treaty & Conventions by so decided a majority. This is the first official information I have had on that Subject the letter you mention to have written on the 22d October has not come to hand. I had however received the intelligence thro’ private letters & the news papers prior to...
116To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 4 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
I returned to Paris a few days ago from my tour thro Italy & Germany. When the Emperor was <o>n the point of leaving this for Milan. The day of his <de>parture I was honoured to my great surprize by the <le>tter of which the enclosed is a copy accompanied by the Emperors portrait in a gold box, very richly set with dia<m>onds of very considerable value. I made no difficulty <in> accepting this...
117To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 23 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have just returned from the Minister’s & have the Satisfaction of informing you that he has Spoken to the Emperor on the Subject of Consular agents in their Colonies & that he has agreed to allow them during the war & has promised to Send me a note to that effect as well as to give the most precise orders on the Subject of the Depredations committed on our Commerce. I can not but think this...
118To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 22 November 1801 (Madison Papers)
I arrived this evening from L’Orient at this place, I have yet seen nobody here from whom I could collect any sort of information of what is doing at Paris. At L’Orient I met with Genl. Desfourneaux who is going with the armament that sails from that place for St. Domingo. He told me that it was probable that either Adet or Mr. De Puissay (who was Aid to the Marquis La Fayette & his fellow...
119To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 21 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
The ambassador of Spain has this moment left me. In the course of our conversation he dropped Some things that it is important you Should know as indicative of the Sentiments of his Court & perhaps as necessary to form the basis of the measures that it may be proper immediately to take. He of course insisted that West Florida made no part of our purchase, but as he Supported this Sentiment by...
120To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 24 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
The question of war yet remains undetermined my letters from Mr. King of the 18th lead me to believe as well as my persuasion of the present System of politicks in England that war will come Soon. Here there is an earnest & Sincere desire to avoid it as well in the Government as the people. I enclosed in my last a note to the Minister. Some days after I called upon him & he told me an answer...