251To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 13 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have just come from the Minister of the Treasury our conversation was So important that I think it necessary to write it while the impressions are Strong upon my mind, & the rather as I fear that I Shall not have time to copy & Send this letter if I differ [ sic ] it till morning. By my letter of yesterday you learned that the Minister had asked me on the 11th whether I would agree to...
252To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 14 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Monroe delivered me your very friendly Letter of the 3d. of Feby. the night before last immediately upon his arrival here—I wish it was in my power to give a more full answer to it, than the hurry of the present moment affords me. For the last three weeks I have been in continual agitation, the days were to the last degree important. It was necessary to seek information thro’ every...
253To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 17 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Petry having been detained, I have an opportunity to give you a relation of what has passed Since my letter of the 13th. On the 14th I called upon Mr Munroe to present him to the Minister who had upon my application fixed 3 O’clock that day for his reception. Before we went we examined our Commission in which there are two circumstances with which I am not quite Satisfied—one indeed of...
254To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 2 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Having just heard of a vessel going from Havre I give you this hasty letter merely to inform you that it is now understood that war is inevitable & that within a few days. Yesterday I presented Mr. Monroe to the first consul at his levee where he publicly declared that the terms demanded by Britain were totally inadmissable. Lord Wetworth did not attend the Levee & this day has asked his...
255To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 12 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
You have Seen in my late letter the direct commencement of the negotiation previous to the arrival of Mr Monroe and in our Joint letter its consummation it will be matter of curiosity at least to you to be more intimately acquainted with the existing causes which have been long operating and which I have hinted at in my letters to the President but which from their extreme delicacy I have not...
256To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, 13 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
We have the pleasure to transmit to you by Mr d’Erieux a Treaty which we have concluded with the french Republic for the Purchase & Cession of Louisiana. The negociation of this important object was committed on the part of France to Mr. Marbois, Minister of the Treasury, whose conduct therein has already received the Sanction of his Government, as appears by the Ratification of the first...
257To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, 16 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
We have the honor to inclose the account which Should be annexed to the Convention transmitted you. The Bordeaux embargo is in Assignats, and two thirds will be deducted from many of the others. We have reason to think from a particular account now in our hands there will be Such considerable deductions as will reduce the whole charge to less than 20 millions of livres including the interest....
258To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 20 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
The Subject of this letter is too important to admit of delay in case the Treaties Should have been any time in your hands, but as it has not yet been fully considered by Mr Monroe he thinks he cannot make it that of a joint letter till we have more fully discussed it which we propose to do to morrow or the next day. But as that will be too late for this conveyance I throw out these hasty...
259To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 26 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
You will receive by this conveyance the ratification of our treaties. I shall feel some anxiety considering how much we have taken upon ourselves beyond our powers to learn that this transaction meets your approbation. Here every body is loud in its commendation & we are supposed to have made a more important acquisition for our country than the purchase of Germany would be for france. Since...
260To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 2 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Monroe having undertaken to write our Joint letter on the subject of Louisiana I should confine mine to the Secretary of State to objects that relate only to my individual Department, but I must communicate to you in the utmost confidence a circumstance that has just come to my knowledge & that must be known only to yourself & Mr Madisson because it will influence your measures.— You know...
261To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 3 June 1803 (Madison Papers)
Mr Monroe having undertaken to write our joint letter I Shall confine this to objects that do not relate to the treaty. I would only observe to you that we have since the ratification had a great deal of trouble with it an opinion prevailing that we have made too favorable a bargain . My letter to the President & our joint letter will So fully explain this extraordinary business as to make any...
262To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, 7 June 1803 (Madison Papers)
We have the pleasure to forward to you by Mr. Jay the ratification by the first Consul of the Treaty and conventions, which we concluded on the 30th. of April, with this Republic. We have heretofore forwarded to you the original instruments, and two Copies by different ways, the original by Havre, under the care of Mr. Hughes, who sailed about two weeks since, expressly charged with that...
263To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 11 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Having very latly writen to you this is merely to inform you that our mutual friend Mr. Skipwith being now the father of a family is desirous of removing to Louisiana. His knowledge of the french language the religion of his family & his amiable manner fit him in a peculiar manner for conciliating the affections of the people of that country to our government, and should you distribute that...
264To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 25 June 1803 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed is Mr. Skipwiths report upon Colonel Powels claim. I fully concur with him in opinion that he has no foundation for any demand upon this government. Should we make it we should doubtless invite the most serious ones upon our own. I also inclose an arrette of this government and a note that I have put in this day upon the subject. I have asked a conference with Consul Le Brun and will...
265To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 11 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have nothing to add to my Letter of the 25th of June which you will receive by this conveyance it having been written to send by Mr. Monroe who has been detained for want of a passport ’till now. He sets off tomorrow. I have yet no answer to my Notes owing to the Consuls and Ministers absence and I presume that every thing is for the present laid aside to give place to the operations of War,...
266To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, 12 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
We have been honored by your favors of the 18th April & the 28th May, as they both relate to measures that might lead to the accomplishment of the Treaty which was executed previous to their arrival no remarks upon them are necessary Except that one idea is held out in the last that Britain interested herself in preventing the possession of Louisiana by France. The fact is that she was totally...
267To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 30 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed notes will Shew that the arreté mentioned in mine of June last, continues to operate as I had expected. We have three vessels now here that are neither Suffered to unload or depart. Sweden & Denmark have a dozen in Similar circumstances. The absence of the Minister having prevented my receiving any answer to my notes, I wrote the enclosed letter to the Consul Cambacerès who...
268To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 6 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have little to add to the letter of which I Send duplicates the absence of the First Consul & Minister, has Suspended all business, & I availed myself of the circumstance to make a tour in France, not chusing to go to England least any thing Should turn up that would require my attention, & particularly the return of the ratification which we are impatiently looking for. The decree of which...
269To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 9 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 9 September 1803 . Calendared as a three-page letter in the lists probably made by Peter Force (DLC, series 7, container 2).
270To 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...
271To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 18 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
It is now near four months Since the date of the last letters I have been honoured with from you, So that I am totally ignorant of what is passing in my own country, or how far what I have done is agreable to them, & yet we have had Several arrivals that left it near the last of july. I am asked every day when I expect the ratifications, when the Senate are to meet &c and to these inquiries I...
272To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 30 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
I remitted you some time ago a memoire from Col. Devienne who had been in our service—who with a wife & three children is reduced to the utmost distress—since you forbid any advances on the public account I have at different times been compelled to give him about twenty guineas on my private account to keep him from starving, I pray you if Congress are siting when you receive this to take up...
273To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 14 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you copies of two notes that I have received within these few days, both are I believe of a nature to make public in the United States. I have concerted with Mr Schimmelpennink (who has resumed his place here as Ambassador from the Batavian Republic) to press this Govt on the Subject of the prohibition of the import of cheese from Holland. I enclose you a copy of...
274To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 20 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
The business of the guarantee has lain dormant till today. The minister of the treasury has just left me. He is very anxious that I consent to make it. He says that the first consul thinks it very extraordinary that the minister with him should have scruples when the minister at London has none and is ready to oblige him. What am I to do? I have not had a line from Mr Monroe Since the letter I...
275To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 31 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
The Article of the Convention that authorized the nomination of commissioners to determine certain questions under it previous to the ratification, was founded upon reasons that appeared extremely important to Mr Monroe & myself, among them were, first the full execution of the promise that I had obtained from the First Consul of a prompt discharge of the debt, which could only be Satisfied by...
276To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 2 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
I told you in my last that a coolness Subsisted between the First Consul & Count Marcoff the Minister of Russia, But that it was rather a personal dislike than any thing that led immediately to a rupture between the two Courts. [Mar]cof has never much liked the present order of things and has sometimes too freely spoken his opinion of them in this country it is difficult to say anything which...
277To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 15 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have only within these few days been honoured by your letter to me of the 29th July by way of Hamburgh together with one of the Same date to Mr Monroe, which I have Sent to him by Mr an American Gentleman, by the way of holland; none more direct offering from here as the intercourse is very Strictly forbidden. I Shall make the communication you direct of Mr Pichon’s note & your reply...
278To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 23 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
I am now to reply to your favor of 29th adressed Jointly to Mr Monroe & myself. A letter which affords me the highest Satisfaction in assuring me of the President’s approbation of the Treaty, about which I had felt much anxiety from the long time that your letter was in reaching me, & from my having heard nothing from the Government thro’ any other channel. The reasons you assign for not...
279To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 11 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have not yet been honoured by any of your favors of later date than 29th of August. I informed you in my last of the reasons that would determine to give in the guarantee promised by Mr Monroe, & the rather as the delay of the arrival of the ratification, & the consequent disappointment in the money arrangements expected from it had increased the I had to contend with by my refusal. Mr...
280Enclosure: Extract of Robert R. Livingston to Andrew Ellicott, 19 December 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
“The fact of the fall of stones from the sky, having been put, by some late inquiries almost beyond a doubt the philosophers are now disputing whether they are generated in the atmosphere or whether we owe them to volcanic eruptions in the moon, as much remains to be said on both sides; prudent men have not yet thought proper to pronounce judgment.—But it may be new to you to learn that while...