1From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 1 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
Herewith you will receive the commission under which you are to reside in St. Domingo, and a copy of the ordinary instructions given to Consuls. In the former you will observe that the title of your Predecessor is varied to that of General Commercial Agent &c. This change is understood however as having no effect either on the functions or advantages attached to your commission; but merely as...
2From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 26 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
William Hart Esqr. of Saybrook, Connecticut, has a claim upon the Government of St. Domingo, for the use of his Sloop Harriet, for 32 days, by virtue of a requisition of the Military Chiefs acting under Genl. Toussaint. It appears that Dr. Stevens formerly took up this business, and procured a promise from that General to make satisfaction for the injury, as soon as the state of the Treasury...
3From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 21 November 1801 (Madison Papers)
Your several letters from No. 1 to No. 12 inclusive have been duly received, and I have the pleasure to express to you the President’s approbation, both of your punctuality in transmitting information, and of the prudence which appears to have guided your conduct, since your entrance into the Station confided to you. Frequent and full communications will continue to be acceptable, from a...
4From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 8 January 1802 (Madison Papers)
My last was of the 24th day of November since which date I have received your several letters as far as No 18 inclusive. The peace between France and England has been officially known here for several weeks, but the measures likely to follow this event in relation to St. Domingo have reached us no otherwise than in scattered indistinct and unauthentic reports. An early idea appeared in the...
5From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 26 February 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 17th January has been received since the date of my last which was on the 8th of the same month, and of which Triplicates were forwarded. I hope the ideas stated in it will enable your discretion to pursue a proper course amid the critical circumstances which surround you . It is particularly the wish of the president that no just ground or specious pretext may be left for...
6From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 25 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have duly received your Letters of Feby 12th. and 28th. the latter of which includes your Journal from Febry 1st. to that date. The latter having but just come to hand, has been but barely perused. We are fully sensible of the difficulties and anxieties into which you have been thrown by the late occurrences. It is with pleasure that I can console you with an Assurance, that your exertions...
7From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 14 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
The opinion the President entertains of your unshaken integrity and firmness has led him to select you for the office of Consul General at Algiers, a station in which those qualities are eminently requisite, and which, as well on that account as of the importance of the trust to the peace and interests of your Country, is considered as highly honorable. As you have already made yourself in...
8From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 2 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
By the Schooner Citizen, which will carry this to Gibraltar, are forwarded the greater part of the gun-carriages promised the Emperor of Morocco. When she was taken up for this business it was supposed that she would be able to carry them all, which on experiment was found to be a mistake. The remainder will be transported from Norfolk in a few weeks, by a victualler to be dispatched by the...
9From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 26 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 26 January 1804. Acknowledged in Lear to JM, 7 May 1804 (DNA: RG 59, CD, Algiers, vol. 7, pt. 1), and described in the enclosed diary’s 26 Apr. 1804 entry as containing his commission as consul general at Algiers, his commission to negotiate a peace with Tripoli, pamphlets on Louisiana, and newspapers.
10From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 6 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
On receiving information of the loss of the Philadelphia, the inclosed Act was passed by Congress, whereby a million of dollars was appropriated to enable the President to impart such vigor to the conduct of the war as might at once change the exultation of the enemy in his casual fortune into a more proper sentiment of fear and prepare the way for a speedy and lasting peace with Barbary. The...