1From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 7 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have consulted with Mr. Brown on the subject of a Successor to Mr. Short. He is apprehensive that the reasons which induced Mr. S. to decline his appointment will have the same weight with any other person who could be recommended. He names Col: Richard Taylor as worthy of the appointment, and as not more likely to follow the example of Mr. Short, than any other fit person within his...
2From 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...
3From 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...
4From 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...
5From 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...
6From 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...
7From 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...
8From 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...
9From 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...
10From 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.
11From 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...
12From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 13 June 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 June 1804, Department of State. “The credit given to you with Sir Francis Baring & Co. for four thousand five hundred pounds Stg., as expressed in the letter of the Secretary of the Treasury, of which a copy is enclosed, is in lieu of the remittance of 20,000 dollars promised in my general letter by this conveyance.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IC , vol. 1). 1 p. Gallatin to JM, 12 June...
13From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 25 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a list of the articles which it is intended to send to Algiers with the brass Cannon requested by the Dey. They will follow after the timber &c. which is immediately to be shipped to replace the loss of the Sally’s cargo. It would be convenient to us in collecting the Maritime stores for Algiers to have a table of the dimensions most in use for the Navy of that...
14From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 20 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have received your several letters of the 7th May 16th July and 3d Novr. last with their inclosures. Several points which they present for consideration in relation to the routine of affairs at Algiers, are passed over for the present as they are unconnected with the Mission in which you are engaged, and may be conveniently taken up hereafter. Upon reviewing the instructions transmitted to...
15From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 16 August 1805 (Madison Papers)
Since your last letter dated 3d. November from Malta, I have received communications from Mr. Mountford of the 3 & 4 Jany. 1st. Feby. and 25 March. You will receive the present by a store ship about to sail from Kennebec with a cargo of plank, timber, spars &c, an invoice of which will be transmitted to you by the Agent who collected it, and which it is hoped will be received upon the annuity,...
16From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 15 May 1806 (Madison Papers)
The Ambassador of Tunis confined himself on his arrival to claiming restitution of the Xebeque and her prizes to making some representations against the conduct of Dr Davis, and to intimating a wish of the Bey to receive annual presents of maritime and military stores. He was answered that Dr Davis, was, agreeably to his own wishes to b⟨e⟩ ⟨trans⟩ferred to another destination; that the Xebeque...
17From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 7 June 1806 (Madison Papers)
In the present posture of our affairs with Tunis the President has judged it proper that you should repair thither with a view to an adjustment of them. Of this notice was given to you in my letter of 15 May with an instruction to get to Gibraltar by the earliest conveyance and proceed, thence in the vessel in which the Tunissian Minister Mellimelli would be returning home. This vessel has...
18From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 19 June 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Tobias Lear. 19 June 1806, Department of State. “The Government of Algiers having expressed a desire to have the benefit of the services of an American Physician, Dr Thomas Triplitt has been selected to reside there. In the inclosed copy of his instructions you will see the objects his appointment is intended to favor and the footing upon which it is placed. As Dr Triplitt enjoys...
19From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 9 July 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Tobias Lear. 9 July 1806, Department of State. “That you may fully understand the arrangements of the Navy Department with respect to your visit to Tunis, I have annexed an extract of the orders of the Secretary of the Navy to Commodore Rogers.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IC , vol. 1). 1 p.
20From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 11 July 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Tobias Lear. 11 July 1806, Department of State. “Mr. George Davis, who has been appointed Consul for Tripoli, and is about to embark for Norfolk, has been charged to call upon the Bashaw to fulfill the article of the treaty providing for the delivery of the family of Hamet Caramally. The enclosed extract from his instructions will explain the manner in which he is to proceed. He has been...
21From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 17 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
My last letter which was of the 6th day of August, acknowledged your letter of May, 1806, since which none have been received from you, not even the periodical state of your accounts enjoined by law. I cannot but suppose that many, during so long an interval, must have been written. The miscarriage of them however, has left us very inconveniently in the dark with respect to our affairs under...
22From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 28 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
I avail myself of the opportunity, which is still open, by the Chesapeake, to inform you that measures are just taken for placing 30,000 dollars in the hands of Sir Francis Baring and Company, subject to your orders. If the state of our pecuniary affairs with Algiers should render it advisable, you will therefore be able to draw on that House to an amount not exceeding that sum. Drafts beyond...
23From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 30 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
Since my letter of the l7. inst. was sent on board the Chesapeake, I have received your two communications of January 25th. and March 6th. on the subject of your proceedings at Tunis, and have the pleasure to inform you that the adjustment of our differences with that Regency in which they terminated, is approved by the President, and regarded as an additional proof that his confidence in your...
24From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 14 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I inclose a copy of a Proclamation of the President, by which you will find the critical state of things between this Country and Great Britain. The conduct of the Squadron in the waters of Virginia, subsequent to the outrageous attack on the Chesapeake, has been in the highest degree insulting to the national Sovereignty; amounting, in fact, to invasion and hostility. The course which it will...
25From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 26 October 1811 (Madison Papers)
The notice that the departure of the Store vessel is taking place, being sudden, I cannot specify the several letters for which I am indebted. I believe from successive references recollected by me, that none have miscarried. I must particularly thank you for the Sheep & Wheat accompanied by one of them. The Wheat was sown partly by myself, and partly by several friends among whom it was...
26From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 9 July 1814 (Madison Papers)
A vacancy existing in the Office of Accountant to the Dept. of War, I have thought it proper to give you an opportunity of saying whether it would be agreeable to you to fill it. Will you be so good as to let me hear from you on the subject with as little delay as possible? Accept my friendly respects RC (owned by Stephen Decatur, Garden City, N.Y., 1961). Cover sheet bears Lear’s note: “Ansd....