1From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 6 June 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 June 1802, Department of State. Introduces the bearer, Captain Johnson, who goes to Paris to prosecute the claim of Mr. Dunlap, an Alexandria merchant, against France. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IM , vol. 6). 1 p.
2From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 1 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have been favored with yours of the 25th of Feby. in answer to mine on the subject of the papers in your hands relating to the Ship business of the Legation of the United States at Paris. As it is a task which you can best perform, I request the favor of you to select the papers which may be most properly returned to Paris, and send them to Mr. Gelston to be forwarded to Genl. Armstrong: and...
3From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 7 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed extract of a letter from Mr. Lear to Le Clerc the General in Chief at St. Domingo and of another from the latter to him, will explain an outrage against two respectable American Citizens, one of them lately an Officer in our Navy, which excites no less astonishment as a wanton departure from just principles than indignation as an insult to the United States. I inclose also the...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 9 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter of the 4th. with a P.S. of the 8th. being delivered to the Captain of the vessel, the object of the present is to inform you that the reports of both those days prove to be unfounded, and that it is questionable whether the marriage spoken of is to take place. you will therefore depend on future evidence as to the fact, & only use the apology if the issue should render it necessary....
5From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 27 January 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 January 1802, Department of State. At the request of Senator Sheafe of New Hampshire, provides this introduction for an agent who will carry claims and documents in support of them from Sheafe to Livingston. Requests Livingston’s “favorable attention to the business.” RC ( DNA : RG 76, France, French Spoliation Claims, box 5); letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IM , vol. 6). 1 p. Sheafe’s agent...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 20 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Having recieved from mr Short and others a very strong recommendation of M. Pougens a bookseller in Paris, and being desired to direct the procuring thence some books for the use of Congress, I thought to spare your time which is engaged on higher objects, & therefore desired mr Short by the inclosed letter to superintend the purchase, the details of which were to be executed by mr Duane and...
7From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a copy of the memorial of Jeremiah Lawrence and others, complaining of the capture by the French of three vessels belonging to them. It appears that they were engaged in Whaling on the coast of St Domingo, and that tho’ they had nothing on board but the necessary stores and the proceeds of their industry in the voyage, they were seized in a place called Sam Bay at...
8From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 September 1805 (Madison Papers)
The case of Mr William Lewis, whose vessel was carried into Tobago by a French Cruizer, as stated and referred to in the letter I had the honor to write to you on the 27th Octr 1803, has been since renewed to Genl Armstrong, who returns for answer, that he has neither seen nor heard any thing of it, that none of your papers have been left with him, and that Mr. Skipwith’s memory does not...
9From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 23 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd yours of the 8th. and will pay to it the attention you wish. We expect an opportunity for Genl. Armstrong about the 10th. Feby. The Vessel will sail from N. York. I mention the circumstance as this may convey the information sooner than the newspapers which are to publish it, and as you may be willing to avail yourself of the opportunity for later communications. The Embargo...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 21 September 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof is mr Robert Carter , one of the sons of Colo. Charles Carter of Shirley in this state, our first citizen in point of wealth, and head of one of the oldest & most distinguished families in it. the son having past some time in the study of medicine & surgery in Philadelphia, now goes to London, Edinburgh, & Paris to pursue the same studies. apprehensive that in the present...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 4 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The question of Neutral rights has not yet been taken up in our Cabinet. there is a visible leaning however to the liberal side. having had occasion in a particular case to state my own opinion privately, it will not be improper that Chancellor Livingston should see it; and the rather, as I believe my coadjutors, when we shall come to compare notes, will be found in the same sentiments. but...
12From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 1 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
Mr Stephen Girard, a respectable Merchant of Philadelphia, intending to send his Agent, Mr Robert Peter Branu, to Paris in order to solicit payment for some claims he has upon the French Government, has requested that the circumstance might be mentioned to you, with a view to bespeak your aid and countenance to him, as far as it may be requisite and compatible with usage and the nature of the...
13From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, [10 April 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
You were probably acquainted in this Country with Colonel Toussard who will have the honor of delivering you this letter. He has filled several stations in our Military service at different periods and always with much credit to himself and advantage to the service. During our revolutionary war he lost an arm in an action in which he displayed much zeal and bravery, and to my knowlege was...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 28 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 10th. inst. came to hand yesterday, and I recieve it with the respect & attention with which I do every thing coming from you. nothing can be done on the subject of it till after my return to Washington which will probably be after your departure for France. whatever may be determined by the gentlemen of the administration on the subject of mr Davis, other candidates have...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 3 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 20. has been recieved. the copy of the late volume of agricultural proceedings is not yet at hand, but will probably come safe. I had formerly recieved the preceding volumes from your kindness, as you supposed. writings on this subject are peculiarly pleasing to me, for, as they tell us, we all sprung from the earth, so to that we naturally return. it is now among my most...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 24 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 12th. is just now at hand. with respect to the time of your departure it will depend on the return of mr Dawson with the ratification of the Convention. we may expect this in 4. months: so that you may have time enough to prepare for your departure soon after his arrival. we shall join with you a Secretary of legation, to guard against any accident happening to yourself: and...
17From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, 18 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
The reasonable and friendly views with which you have been instructed by the President to enter into negociations with the French Government justify him in expecting from them an issue favorable to the tranquillity and to the useful relations between the two Countries. It is not forgotten however that these views, instead of being reciprocal, may find, on the part of France, a temper adverse...
18From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 11 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
I recd. from the hand of Col. Livingston your favor of Novr. 23. His return having been unexpectedly sudden, I could not conveniently then acknowledge it, and in the hope that I might be enabled by procrastination to communicate some thing or other sufficiently interesting on our public affairs, I have arrived at a very late date, and without the advantage of making any amends for it. We have...
19From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 24 Ult: has lain longer by me without an acknowledgt. than I intended. One cause of the delay was an omission to address myself to the Auditor instead of the Sey. of the Treasy. and his taking some little time in the crowd of business, to prepare the inclosed note on the subject of your accts. which contains all the information I can now give. I have myself recd frequent...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 31 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Our Attorney general being absent, and none of the other members of the administration being professional lawyers, I am obliged to decide for myself in a case of law, which, in whatever way I decide, will make a great deal of noise. in this situation I ask the favor of you as a friend , and as a lawyer still in the habits of law reading, which I have not been for 30. years, to tell me what you...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 3 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
This is probably the last time I shall address you on this side the water. the occasion is furnished by a desire that you will be so good as to deliver the inclosed letter to my eleve and friend mr Short. I recommend him at the same time to your patronage and attentions. you will find him a man of great natural ability, compleatly read, and better acquainted with the world than most in it. he...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 5 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I am within a few minutes of setting out on a short visit to Monticello, and must therefore be very short. 20 years of intimate acquaintance with M. Dupont de Nemours has given me an unlimited confidence in him. his dispositions in favor of this country as well as France are unquestionable, and his talents so well known that I presume his opinions will have great weight with the French...
23From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 8 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I dropt you lately a few lines on the subject of Jerome Bonaparte’s expected marriage to a young lady of Baltimore. The affair was afterwards apparently broken off, but has since been compleated; and that letter has been forwarded. In order to ensure your receipt of the substance of it (no copy having been kept of the original) it is wished by the friends of Mr. Patterson the father of the...
24From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 5 July 1805 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 29 Ulto. was duly handed to me by Mr. Townsend. I congratulate Mrs. Livingston & yourself on your safe arrival, and the shortness of the passage. Your trip up the river was but a reasonable preliminary to your Visit to Washington, and was advised also by the approaching departure of the President, which will take place in 8 ⟨or⟩; 10 days. Mine will be a few days before or...
25From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 5 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
Having written to you some time past, that the papers respecting the claim of William Lewis were not in the possession of the Legation at Paris, you were good enough to promise that you would review your papers, in order to separate such as related to unfinished business of individuals, which it was your intention to forward to Genl. Armstrong. An application lately made respecting Lewis’ case...
26From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 30 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
I lost no time, after the receipt of your letter requesting a passport for Col. Livingston, in forwarding that document to Mr. Juhel ; and found it very convenient to add to it duplicates of letters for Genl. Armstrong & Mr. Bowdoin, the original of which had just been dispatched by another conveyance. Your preceding letter was recd. also in due time. I thought it most proper not to answer it...
27From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 29 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
Mr Fitzsimons of Philadelphia, on behalf of those interested in the ship New Jersey has requested me to recommend their case to your attention. This vessel was condemned in the course of the late war by an Agent of France residing at the City of St Domingo and it is the expectation of the applicants by obtaining a revocation of the condemnation to qualify their claim for adjustment by the...
28Commission for James Monroe and Robert R. Livingston, 12 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Know Ye, That reposing special Trust and confidence in the Integrity, Prudence and Abilities of James Monroe, late Governor of the State of Virginia, and of Robert R. Livingston, at present the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to the French Republic, I have nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointed them the said Robert R. Livingston to be Minister...
29From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 12 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to enclose you an application from Col. Leven Powell of Virginia, relative to a claim he makes upon the French Government for losses sustained by him about the year 1792. by reason of the stoppage, by French authority, of the Mail in which some bills of exchange in which he had an interest were passing to England; the same bills having been afterwards depreciated and paid to...
30From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
Jerome Bonaparte who came to this country with a view to a more secure passage to Europe, has been smitten, it seems, with a young lady in Baltimore, and the result is to be a marriage which will probably have taken place before this leaves the port to which it is sent. It is to be hoped that the connection will be more auspicious to the happiness of the parties, than the suddeness of it and...
31From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 11 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
The Bearer Mr. Isaac Coles is about to visit England, and will probably see Paris before he comes back to this Country. He is a young gentleman who is represented to me from the best quarters as equally estimable for his talents & his dispositions, and has the better claim on my attentions, as his family is nearly related to that of Mrs. Madison. Permit me to make him known to you & to ask for...
32From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have undertaken to forward the inclosed letter addressed to the First Consul of France, at the instance of the writer, whose letter to me manifests his compliance with the terms on which it was permitted to be inclosed under cover of this Department. I am entirely unacquainted with the individual, and do not wish it to pass to the hands of the First Consul in a manner implying the act of...
33From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 7 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose copies of a communication made to me by the Senat⟨ors⟩ from Massachusetts and of an order of the House of Representatives of the United States whence it appears that the authorities of the Island of Guadaloupe have, in two instances, forced obnoxious people of colour on board of our vessels, to be transported hither. A Bill is now depending before Congress, relative...
34From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 9 April 1802 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Latil a Frenchman by birth, but a Citizen of the U. States for near 20 years past, being about making a visit to his native Country, is desirous of being known to you. I have reason to believe that he possesses sufficient respectability and merit to entitle him to your civilities, and I therefore readily ask the favor of them in his behalf. I do it the more so as he has generally resided...
35From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 14 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed to you by Mr. Curwan who is charged with sundry claims by Mr. Stephan Gerard of Philada. against the French Republic. Mr. Gerard is a very respectable Merchant & Citizen of the U. States, and feels so strongly both the justice & importance of his claims, as to depute Mr. Curwan to Paris for the purpose of supporting them. He has expressed an anxiety also that they should be...
36From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 4 September 1801 (Madison Papers)
Information is just received that the sloop of War, the Maryland, has arrived with despatches from Mr. Murray & Mr. Dawson. By some accident the despatches, tho’ forwarded from Washington have not yet got to hand. It appears however by letters alluding to their contents, that an objection is made by the French Government to the Treaty in the form given to it by striking out the second article....
37From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 1 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
You will receive by Mr. Dupont herewith a public letter on th⟨ose⟩ subjects most important in your hands. You will receive at the same time a private letter from the President in which he refers for fuller communications than he gives on the subject of Louisiana & the Floridas. I have thought it best however not to go as far into certain views of the subject as he has done, because they are in...
38From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 7 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
The public letters which you will receive by this conveyance acknowledge all the letters recd. from you since the date of those last written to you, except your correspondence with Mr. Monroe. This I have thought proper to acknowledge in a private letter because I have not placed it on the files of the Office. You left me free to consider the Letters which passed between you as private, and I...
39From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 29 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
In my letter of the 7th. February I intimated that if your desire of returning to the United States required it, the letter of leave with which you were provided, though calculated for another event, might be made subservient to this purpose, and the expectation that you would charge a trust worthy person with our affairs as is usual on such occasions. Genl. John Armstrong of New York, being...
40From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 November 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 November 1801, Department of State, Washington. Requests Livingston’s aid in obtaining compensation for Elias Vander Horst, U.S. consul at Bristol, whose claim against the French government for the illegal seizure of some indigo by the French privateer Tyger is of long standing. Notes that Skip-with or Mountflorence can probably acquaint him with present state of the case. Letterbook copy (...
41From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 24 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The two reciepts of Pougens have come safely to hand. the account had been settled without difficulty. The federal papers appear desirous of making mischief between us & England by putting speeches into my mouth which I never uttered. percieving by a letter recieved in January that our Comrs. were making up their mind to sign a treaty which contained no provision against impressment, we...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 3 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof, mr Tubeuffe, is the son of a gentleman of that name from France who settled in Virginia some years ago, and was unhappily murdered by some ruffians who made their escape. I was not acquainted personally with him or any of his family, but heard much of them from time to time, and always favorably. the inclosed letter from mr Giles however, as personally acquainted with their...
43From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 5 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed herewith is a Blank Commission for the Consulate at Antwerp, vacated by the translation of Mr. Barnett to Havre de Grace. The President wishes the Blank to be filled with the name of Daniel Strobel if that gentleman chuses to accept the appointment; and in case of his declining it, with the name of Jacob Ridgway. The latter is established at Antwerp, and so I believe is the former....
44From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 23 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
In my letter of the 31st of January expressive of the wishes of the President in relation to such modifications of the late Convention with France as might impart its benefits more equally and—justly among the claimants, it was omitted to suggest an arrangement for the immediate relief of such of them as are in that Country and might suffer from the disappointment and delay consequent upon the...
45From John Jay to the New York State Chancellor (Robert R. Livingston), Chief Justice (John Lansing Jr.), and Associate … (Jay Papers)
To secure the Liberties of the People and the legitimate Rights of their Government, against Encroachment and usurpation, it has from Experience been found necessary to divide the powers of Government into three distinct and independent Departments— aggregately considered, they possess all the power of Government; and are always in Capacity to defend their respective authorities against...
46From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 31 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
The two last letters received from you bear date on the —— and 30th September, so that we have been now four months without hearing from you. The last from me to you was dated on the 16. day of January, giving you information of the transfer of Louisiana on the 20th of December by the French Commissioner Mr Laussat to Governor Claiborne and Genl Wilkinson the Commissioners appointed on the...
47From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 1 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
My last of which a duplicate is now sent, was of the twenty sixth day of March. I have since received yours not then acknowledged including the Dispatch of Feby 26 which came to hand two days ago. The conduct of the French Government in paying so little attention to its obligations under the Treaty, in neglecting its debts to our citizens, in giving no answers to your complaints and...
48From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 18 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
A favorable and a confidential opportunity offering by Mr. Dupont de Nemours, who is revisiting his native country, gives me an opportunity of sending you a cypher to be used between us, which will give you some trouble to understand, but, once understood, is the easiest to use, the most indecypherable, and varied by a new key with the greatest facility of any one I have ever known. I am in...
49From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 7 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
The person to whom I committed my despatches of the 31st ult having been detained here till this time, I avail myself of the opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your two letters of October 20 & 31 which have just come to hand. I have laid them before the President, but his engagements at the present moment have permitted as yet but a very slight attention to their contents. I can...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 9 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
You will recieve, probably by this post, from the Secretary of State, the final instructions for your mission to France. we have not thought it necessary to say any thing in them on the great question of the Maritime law of nations, which at present agitates Europe, that is to say, Whether free ships shall make free goods? because we do not mean to take any side in it during the war. but, as I...