James Madison Papers

To James Madison from James Monroe and William Pinkney, 21 August 1806

From James Monroe and William Pinkney

No: 4.
Duplicate

London August 21. 1806.

Sir

We have the pleasure to transmit you a copy of a Note from Mr. Fox of yesterday which announces the appointment of Lords Holland and auckland to meet us on the subjects which are embraced by our joint Commission.1 We flatter ourselves that we shall enter on this business in the course of a few days, and that we shall be able in a short time afterwards to speak with some confidence of the result. We add with pleasure that we see no reason at this time to think the prospect less favorable to a satisfactory one than we have heretofore presumed it to be. Aware of the considerations which urge dispatch we have been and Shall continue to be attentive to that object, tho’ it is far from being in our power to promise any thing explicit on that point. This is committed to Mr Erskine who goes as Minister to our government.2 He is the Son of the Chancellor who is Known to be very friendly to the United States as we believe the young man to be. We have the honor to be with great consideration & esteem, Sir, Your most obedient servants

Jas. Monroe
Wm. Pinkney

RC (DNA: RG 59, DD, Great Britain, vol. 14); extract, two copies, and enclosure, two copies (DNA: RG 46, Executive Proceedings, Foreign Relations, 10B–B1; and DNA: RG 233, President’s Messages, 10A–D1). RC in a clerk’s hand, signed by Monroe and Pinkney; docketed as received 15 Oct. 1806. For enclosure, see n. 1.

1In addition to conveying the news mentioned by Monroe and Pinkney, the enclosure (1 p.; docketed by Wagner; printed in ASP description begins American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States […] (38 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1832–61). description ends , Foreign Relations, 3:132) stated Charles James Fox’s regret that he was still too unwell to conduct the negotiation himself, and his belief that Holland’s and Auckland’s appointments showed that the king wished the talks to succeed.

2David Montagu Erskine arrived in Washington, D.C., on 1 Nov. 1806, replacing Anthony Merry as British minister to the United States (Erskine to JM, 2 Nov. 1806, DNA: RG 59, NFL, Great Britain, vol. 4).

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