1To James Madison from William Eustis, 6 June 1823 (Madison Papers)
Since the receipt of your letter you will perceive, by a copy which I took the liberty of enclosing to you, that my debut is made. That it would be assailed I was well satisfied long before it made its appearance. It was not to be expected that the wounded pigeons would not flutter. As it was not possible to consult my friends I was obliged to rely on my own judgement, and it is not without...
2To James Madison from William Eustis, 10 May 1823 (Madison Papers)
I cannot resist the temptation to write you. The revolution of political sentiment demonstrated in the elections for the ensuing year, the triumph of Rebublican [ sic ] principles throughout the state and even at the head quarters, must be highly acceptable to every friend of our civil institutions, and to no one more than to you. In looking round I can find no one of my political friends with...
3To James Madison from William Eustis, 26 July 1819 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 6th instant was received on my return from an excursion to New Hampshire, where I had spent some weeks with the friends of Mrs Eustis and mine, and where, among the few remaining oaks of the revolution, I had the satisfaction of meeting the venerable John Langdon, shaken with age and covered with its infirmaties, but strong in his recollection, & taking fire at the mention...
4To James Madison from William Eustis, 28 April 1819 (Madison Papers)
So far on our way, we renew ourselves to you and to Mrs Madison. The papers of Genl Hamilton are taken from Dr Mason and, as he informs me, placed in the hands of Mr Hopkinson of Phila. On asking the Doctor if he had received the letter from you, informing him that you had found the paper he had asked for, he said yes, & added his impression was that in case he should find among the papers of...
5To James Madison from William Eustis, 15 March 1819 (Madison Papers)
Since the receipt of your kind favor of the 25th January we have passed with a sameness (if such a word is tolerated) not affording much interest, one of the mildest winter seasons which we have ever experienced in this country. My health improving, has permitted exercise ad libitum on foot and on horseback. If there has been a subject of regret more dominating than any other it is that we are...
6To James Madison from William Eustis, 27 December 1818 (Madison Papers)
I cannot omit the occassian offered by our country man General King, who will pay his respects to you and to Mr Jefferson, on his route to Washington, to renew to you and to Mrs Madison our best respects. On our arrival at Richmond, we found a note from our friend & fellow traveller, whom we had left at Fredericksburgh, informing us that their patience having been exhausted in waiting for us...
7To James Madison from William Eustis, 13 September 1817 (Madison Papers)
I should be wanting in justice to those feelings of respect and friendship which your invariable kindness and friendship have inspired if I neglected any longer to acknowlege your Letter of March last borne as I presume by Mr Preston to England and transmitted to me at Brussels a short time before my leaving that city for the Hague. A long time on its route it was the more welcome as an...
8To James Madison from William Eustis, 9 October 1815 (Madison Papers)
By the Ship “Exchange” I send you the last Brussells papers. The inauguration of the King at Brussells was marked with splendor but appeared to want the cordiality which a welcome chief might expect to receive. The Belgians, who appear to have no national character, complain 1st that with a superior population they have only an equal vote with the Hollanders & 2ndly that they are married to...
9To James Madison from William Eustis, 18 August 1815 (Madison Papers)
I receive this morning, by way of London, your favor of the 12th of May. The interesting information, foreign & domestic, is in the highest degree welcome to me. In my account of the impressed seaman, I did not add, that (in consequence as I presume of the earnest tho’ indirect application on that subject) the man was discharged & the Captn of Nightingale ordered home to account for his...
10To James Madison from William Eustis, 10 August 1815 (Madison Papers)
My Letters to the Secy of State give generally our movements & such information as our hitherto limited means have afforded. We hope in a short time to do better. Hitherto we have experienced respect to our nation & personal civilities—the former enhanced undoubtedly by the new character acquired by the war. With their ideas of the power of G. B & their imperfect knowlege of the U.S. it is not...
11To James Madison from William Eustis, 2 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have thought a suggestion made to me the other day worth communicating on account of its respectable source and because it coincided with my own ideas which had been previously formed. It is that one half the force ordered to the Mediterranean may be sufficient completely to invest and keep in a state of constant blockade the Algerine ports—that after the expiration of a year the blockading...
12To James Madison from William Eustis, 19 March 1815 (Madison Papers)
The unusually bad state of the roads with the shortness of time appear to cut me off from the dependence I placed of making to you my personal respects. It is as difficult for me to realize as to reconcile myself to the idea of leaving the country without the satisfaction of seeing you; and yet from all appearances such will be my lot. In such anticipation I have tho’t it prudent and proper to...
13To James Madison from William Eustis, 25 February 1815 (Madison Papers)
Well knowing the satisfaction with which you will receive one of the brave men who have distinguished themselves on the northern Frontier I consider any apology unnecessary in making known to you Colo Aspinwall of this state whose services are well understood by his brothers in arms whose friends are among the best friends of their country, and whose good name must be precious to the Govt &...
14To James Madison from William Eustis, 14 February 1815 (Madison Papers)
Permit me to add, to the general acclamation with which you must be surrounded and filled, an individual gratulation on the great, the auspicious event, which covers with honor and safety our beloved country, at the same time that it raises & fixes on those who have guided & directed the storm which is past, a glorious an imperishable renown. With the highest respect and with a heart elated...
15To James Madison from William Eustis, [ca. 2 February 1815] (Madison Papers)
The mail of this day brings your Letter enclosing that of Mr Everett whose appointment is universally well received. There is in this case an adaptation of character which commands approbation & is peculiarly gratifying to friends. Perceiving the objections to asking a passport from the enemy it remains for us to embrace the first opportunity which affords a probability of avoiding him. The...
16To James Madison from William Eustis, 15 January 1815 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty of making personally known to you my nephew Colo. Eustis of the Lt Artillery, whose service on the nothern Frontier, first under the ever to be lamented Pike & subsequently under General Izard will enable him to give any detailed information which may be required of him. His conduct at the capture of little York gained him the applause of the General and of the army. When...
17To James Madison from William Eustis, 14 January 1815 (Madison Papers)
I am induced to trouble you at this time by a report that Mr Elbridge Gerry (a good young man & worthy of patronage) has reason to expect a Secretaryship of Legation to a foreign mission, and from a fear lest peradventure the lot might fall on the mission to the Hague. Mr G who is my neighbour & to whose family I had proffered and would most cheerfully render any service in my power, called on...
18To James Madison from William Eustis, 29 December 1814 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to acknowlege your Letter of the 21st instant, announcing my appointment, and enclosing my commission, as Envoy Extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to the court of his Royal Highness the Sovereign Prince of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. With a just sense of the honor conferred on me by this distinguished mark of confidence from the...
19To James Madison from William Eustis, 21 December 1814 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor of receiving by the mail of this day your favor of the 15th instant, in which it affords me great satisfaction to recognize a continuation of your delicate attention. Without having contemplated such an appointment, I shoud not decline attempting to execute the duties required by it, in case it should be confirmed. With the highest respect & esteem your obedt servt. RC ( DLC...
20To James Madison from William Eustis, 1 January 1814 (Madison Papers)
Well knowing your hands and head & heart to be full I have abstained from writing. A sense of duty impels and I can no longer be silent. The consequences to the Niagara Strait with the rest of the upper country in the event of the failure of the movement for Montreal were anticipated by those who comprehended the subject. My first enquiry was how is Wilkinson to get back to S. Harbour. The...
21To James Madison from William Eustis, 29 November 1813 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty of making known to you Mr. William Porter a merchant of this place (whose commercial pursuits have caused his residence in Europe for several years past) as a gentleman of respectable character and connections, & in principle an American. With the greatest respect your obedient servant, RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR , 1809–17, filed under “Porter”). JM nominated Porter to be U.S....
22To James Madison from William Eustis, 21 November 1813 (Madison Papers)
I regret that my intention of acknowleging, by the mail of yesterday your favor of the 12th instant (which was receved yesterday) could not be effected. On further consideration, believing that the war will continue and press with greater severity, calling for the exertions of every friend to his country, it appears to me that occasions will probably occur, on which it may be in my power to...
23To James Madison from William Eustis, 7 November 1813 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the first instant with i[t]s enclosure was received yesterday. The regard discovered for my personal accommodation, which would be essentially served, is highly gratifying to me, nor could any thing be more agreeable to my wishes as most consonant to my inclination than to be able to surmount the objections which present themselves. If I state them in reliance on the confidence...
24To James Madison from William Eustis, 29 January 1813 (Madison Papers)
I cannot bear to see the recruiting season which expires in the month of March, passing away without the success which I am confident would result from proper measures & exertions. By a late arrangement Colo. Ripley stationed in Portland has charge of a district in Maine Lt Colo. Darrington in N. Hampshire, Colo. Tuttle in Boston, Colo. Larned in Pittsfield Masstts., with a view it is presumed...
25To James Madison from William Eustis, 3 December 1812 (Madison Papers)
The constitution of the War Department as well as that of the military force rendered the duties of the Secretary of that department necessarily arduous during a time of peace. When war was declared the augmentation of duty, the great responsibility attached to the department, together with a belief that some other citizen might be selected, possessing greater military knowlege and commanding...
26To James Madison from William Eustis, 30 November 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
30 November 1812, War Department. Lists proposed promotions and appointments in the U.S. Army for JM’s approval. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 107, LSP ). 1 p. On 1 Dec. 1812 JM forwarded to the Senate Eustis’s list of nominations for Corps of Engineers promotions and army appointments from Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland ( Senate Exec. Proceedings Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the...
27To James Madison from William Eustis, 25 November 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
25 November 1812, War Department. Lists proposed appointments in the U.S. Army for JM’s approval. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 107, LSP ). 2 pp. On 27 Nov. 1812 JM forwarded to the Senate Eustis’s list of nominations in various army regiments from Virginia, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Georgia, and Massachusetts ( Senate Exec. Proceedings Journal of the...
28To James Madison from William Eustis, 19 November 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
19 November 1812, War Department. Lists proposed appointments in the U.S. Army for JM’s approval. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 107, LSP ). 2 pp. On 20 Nov. 1812 JM forwarded to the Senate Eustis’s list of nominations in various army regiments from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Massachusetts, New York, Kentucky, Rhode Island, and Maryland ( Senate Exec. Proceedings Journal of the...
29To James Madison from William Eustis, 6 November 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 November 1812. Lists proposed promotions and appointments in the U.S. Army for JM’s approval. Letterbook copy and partial letterbook copy of enclosure ( DNA : RG 107, LSP ); printed copy and printed copy of enclosures ( Senate Exec. Proceedings Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America (3 vols.; Washington, 1828). , 2:296–302). Letterbook copy 1 p. On...
30To James Madison from William Eustis, [ca. 1 November] 1812 (Madison Papers)
After war had been declared, it was deemed necessary, for the security of the maratime frontier, to order the recruits to the posts on the seaboard, which had a tendency to check the recruiting service, and has retarded our military operations on the no[r]thern frontier. The surrender of the army & post of Detroit opened the N. Western frontier to the incursions of the Savages and rendered it...