To James Madison from John Graham, 13 August 1810
From John Graham
Dept of State 13th August 1810.
Dear Sir
I had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 10th Inst. yesterday. Th[…] Mr Erwing was with us; but he went on to Alexandria in the afternoon, where he intended to take a Carriage for the purpose of going to Montpelier. He took with him the Letter he had for you, expecting to be at your House nearly as soon as the Mail which lea⟨v⟩es this today.
I return agreeably to your directions the Copy you sent me, of Colo Sparks1 Letter to the Secy of War, having taken one from it for Govr Holmes, which will be forwarded by the Mail today, with a Letter from myself2 stating to him that the communication is made, as he will have a part to perform in maintaining the authority of the Laws in that Section of his Territory, where the Letter was written. I have marked my Letter “confidential.”
I have the Honor to inclose Despatches from Genl Armstrong,3 which were received on Saturday and also a Letter from Mr Lee4 recieved at the same time. We have taken copies for Mr. Smith which will be forwarded to him at Bath, by the Mail which goes tomorrow.
I have been obliged to write in great haste as the Mail is waiting for my Letter. With Sentiments of the Highest Respect I have the Honor to be, Sir Your Most Obt Sert
John Graham
RC (DLC). Torn by removal of seal. Docketed by JM. For enclosures, see nn. 1, 3, and 4.
1. JM placed an asterisk here at a later date and wrote in the margin “*See Sparkes filed.” For the letter, see John Smith to JM, 7 Aug. 1810, and enclosure.
2. Graham later sent JM a copy of his 13 Aug. letter to David Holmes (Graham to JM, 3 Sept. 1810).
3. Graham forwarded a duplicate of Armstrong’s dispatch of 5 May 1810 to Robert Smith (DNA: RG 59, DD, France) (29 pp.; docketed as received in August) reporting on the seizure of American vessels in Spain and covering copies of Armstrong’s correspondence with Leonard Jarvis and Sylvanus Bourne.
4. Graham enclosed William Lee to Robert Smith, 4 June 1810 (DNA: RG 59, CD, Bordeaux) (7 pp.) reporting on the publication of the Rambouillet decree, the distress of American seamen, and the use of British and French licenses by American traders in Europe.