1From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 28 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 24th. The conduct of the B. Govt. in protesting the arrangement of its Minister surprizes one in spite of all their examples of folly. If it be not their plan, now that they have filled their magazines with our supplies, and ascertained our want of firmness in witholding them, to adopt openly a system of monopoly & piracy, it may be hoped that they will not persist in...
2From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 30 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
Since my last I have recd. yours of the 26th. If the sketch of Erskine’s instructions be faithful, ⟨it⟨ shews as clearly that Canning was determined to prevent an adjustment, as that Erskine was, to effect it. The proof is the stronger of C.s insidiousness, as he must have known from the answer of Mr. Pinkney to the expedient which wd. substitute the capture of our trade under our laws for...
3From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 25 September 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your favor of the acquainting me with your proposed trip to N. York. I had entered into the same train of ideas with yours as to the probable state of Jackson’s situation and wishes. It is difficult at the same time to reconcile them with the tenor of Cannings last Conversation with Pinkney; especially as Erskine’s defensive explanations accompanying his arrangement, must have...
4From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, [5 October] 1809 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Smith has had an official conversation with Mr. Jackson, and is to see him again today at One OC. He is to be with me in the mean time at ½ after 10, when I wish you to join the consultation. RC ( NHi : Gallatin Papers). Docketed by Gallatin. For conjectural date, see n. 1. The only Thursday falling between 3 Oct., when British minister Francis James Jackson presented his credentials to...
5Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 11 October 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not know whether the request of M. Moussier , explained in the inclosed letter , is grantable or not. but my partialities in favor of whatever may promote either the useful or liberal arts, induce me to place it under your consideration, to do in it whatever is right, neither more nor less. I would then ask you to favor me with three lines in such form as I may forward him by way of...
6Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 4 November 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Not knowing whether the inclosed infor letter may give you information either new or useful, I hazard it on the bare possibility that it may. the writer both as to candor & understanding is worthy of entire credit. he is the son of a wheat-fan maker in my neighborhood, & living in the hollow of a mountain unknown to every body & with only a common education, he by some means got a copy of...
7From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, [ca. 22 January] 1810 (Madison Papers)
A letter from Govr. Tyler answering an enquiry as to the $300 deposited in my hands to pay for the Sword purchased by Chan: Livingston, informs me, that the money was returned to Virga. & lies ready to be applied to its object. That item of course in Mr. L.’s accts. may be struck out, and the charge pd. by a remittance from Va. I do not recollect the cost of the Sword; but if more than $300,...
8Memorandum to Albert Gallatin, [ca. 21 February] 1810 (Madison Papers)
The sea-letter, as its name & its address, import are meant to verify the ship on the High seas. As Belligerents alone have a right to such a verification, is not the Document unnecessary when there is no belligerent. If the verifying papers, intended for the Jurisdiction at the port of destination be not at present suitable or sufficient, should not some other more appropriate than the sea...
9Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 30 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
In the action brought against me by E. Livingston on the subject of the Batture , the counsel employed desire me, without delay, to furnish them with the grounds of defence, that they may know what pleas to put in. a free communication of the papers relating to it in the public offices is necessary to aid me. I do not know whether there are any, & what papers, in your office which may be...
10From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 7 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
A nephew of J. M. with the approbation of his father, is desirous of finishing a mercantile education, begun at Fredericksburg about a year & a half ago, in the Counting House of some respectable Merchant in N. York. The youth is about 19 or 20 years of age, believed to be of amiable temper and of virtuous habits. His father is willing to conform to the conditions usual in such cases. J. M....
11From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 21 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
I recd. your favor written the day before your intended departure from Washington, and complied with its contents. The inclosed letter from Dr. Bache, has just come to hand. I can not do better with it, than to give you an opportunity of extending to a distressed family, whatever accomodations may be permitted, by fidelity to the public interest. You will be the better judge of the case, as a...
12From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 26 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
I inclosed to you, a few days ago a letter from Docr. Bache stating the complaints of Mrs. Jones, agst. the proceedings of the District Attorney at N. O. I have just recd. & inclose one from Mrs. Trist which is more full on the same subject. I am aware, that the business may lie, rather with the Controler, than with you; but it is not amiss that it should be under your view also. As Grymes’...
13From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 14 August 1810 (Madison Papers)
I understand that the measures taking by the Bank of the U. S. for provisionally winding up its affairs, are likely to bear hard on the other Banks, and that the evil will be increased, by the drain on the latter for paying the bonds, as they become due in the hands of the former. Would not some remedy be afforded by a distributive transfer, (which would also have a provisional reference to...
14Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 16 August 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of July 14. with the welcome paper it covered, has been most thankfully recieved. I had before recieved from your office, and that of State, all the printed publications on the subject of the batture, that is to say the opinions of the Philadelphia lawyers & of E. Livingston himself, the publications of Derbigny , Thierry , Poydras , & the Pieces probantes. I had been very anxious to get...
15From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 17 August 1810 (Madison Papers)
I now forward the paper on the Batture promised in my last. It appears by Mr. Pinkney’s last letter that Brown the fugitive was in London & had engaged his attention. As no proceeding, answerg our purpose, can be had agst. him, other than a suit for recovering the debt, will it not be proper to forward to Mr. P. whatever documents may sustain the action, particularly his official Bond; or an...
16From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 22 August 1810 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your several letters of the 15, 16, & 17th. The appointment for the Revenue Cutter at N. O. is approved & so noted to the T. Dept. and a Commission for Freeman ordered to be made out without delay. Poinsett promises, by his qualifications, every thing to be expected from a substitute for Gelston. I have sent the returned papers to the Dept. of State, that new ones may be forwarded...
17From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 5 September 1810 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 21st. Aug. I can not say precisely what use is to be made of the paper on the Batture, in its present form. If it be intended for publication, directly, as well as thro’ a report of the arguments at the Bar, some alterations will be proper. It appears that Brown, partly by the application of the Alien law, partly in consequence of his operations under a...
18From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 12 September 1810 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 5th. inclosing one from Mr. Aster. Whatever personal confidence may be due to him, or public advantage promised by his projected arrangement with the Russian Fur Company, there is an obvious difficulty in furnishing the official patronage which he wishes; whether the arrangement be regarded as of a public or of a private character. In the former, it would require...
19Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 27 September 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 10 th came safely to hand and laid me under new obligations for the valuable observations it contained. the error of 12 f. instead of 7. for the rise of the batture really sautoit aux yeux , and how I could have committed it at first or passed it over afterwards without discovery & having copied Pelletier’s plan myself, is unaccountable. I have adopted also most of your other...
20Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 20 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you three letters from mr Fitz , improperly sent to me, but as they may contain something worthy your notice, I forward them to you. I believe I have before informed you that he is as purely honest & inoffensive a man as lives, and well qualified as a Surveyor. he lived with me a year or two. his letter of latest date must have been extorted from his good nature. M rs Jones has...
21Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 24 April 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
A book confided to me by a friend, for translation & publication has, for a twelvemonth past, kept me in correspondence with Col o Duane . he undertook to have it translated & published. the last sheets had been revised, & in a late letter to him, I pressed the printing. I soon afterwards recieved one from him informing me that it would be much retarded by embarrasments recently brought on him...
22From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 10 August 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. safe the manuscript of Dupont, and the pamphlet sent with it. The letter from Foster to you, I have handed on to the Secretary of State. The exemption of Articles for the use of pub. Ministers, from the impost, was founded in courtesy, & has been continued from respect to a course of precedents. The plea that it was required by the L. of N. cannot be sustained: Still less could...
23From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 14 September 1811 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed Letter was brought to me by the young gentleman in whose behalf it was written. He had other respectable recommendations addressed to you, which he has doubtless forwarded: His personal appearance does not make against him. He therefore stands in fair comparison with the other candidates to be taken into view, and who are better known to you than to me. The accounts by the Jno....
24Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 3 February 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
You are to consider me in this letter as a witness & not a sollicitor. it is written at the request of a mr James Dinsmore who lived in my family 10. years as a housejoiner, did all the housejoinery of my house, being one of the ablest of his calling, and one of the best men I have ever known. while I lived in Washington he applied to me for a Surveyor’s place for his brother John Dinsmore in...
25From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, [28 June] 1812 (Madison Papers)
Will you ascertain by a line to Philada. this evening, whether Carswell will accept if appointed to the commisariate? As another person is under consideration, it will be best if it cd. be done, without disclosing the source of the enquiry. If you write & have no other occasion to send to the post office, Mrs. M. will take charge of the letter & have it delivered for the mail. RC ( NHi :...
26From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 29 July 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 July 1812. In accordance with the 3 Mar. 1809 “act further to amend the several acts for the establishment & regulation of the Treasury, War & Navy Departments,” directs that $450,000 “be applied out of the following appropriations Viz Pay & subsistence of the Navy two hundred thousand dollars, Provisions one hundred thousand dollars, ordnance one hundred & fifty thousand dollars, to...
27From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 8 August 1812 (Madison Papers)
The communications from the B. Govt. lately recd. thro’ Baker are of a curious character. They promise that the O. in C. would cease on the 1st. Aug: with a right reserved to renew them in May next, in case the conduct of France and of the U. S. should require it; and particularly in case the Non-Imp: Act should not be repealed within 14 days after a notification of the actual repeal should be...
28From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 15 August 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. your favor of the 13th. I had proposed to set out for Virga. on friday, and am very glad to learn that you will be with us before that takes place. I expect Mr. Monroe every moment; and Mr. Pinkney being within call, I shall be able to decide with the best advantage the several important questions on hand. Previous to the acct. of the loss of Michillimackin⟨ac⟩ orders had...
29From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, [ca. 26 August] 1812 (Madison Papers)
The Command of the Lakes is obviously of the greatest importance & has always so appeared. I am glad to find it not too late to have that of Ontario. There must have been some mistake as to the effort to obtain it. It does not appear that any application, such as is intimated has been made to the Navy Dept. Mr. Hamilton has much confidence in Lt. Wolsey, and says that he shall be furnished...
30From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 7 October 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 October 1812. In accordance with a 3 Mar. 1809 act of Congress, directs “that the sum of seventy thousand dollars be applied out of the appropriation of Pay & subsistence of the Navy to Contingent expenses.” RC ( DLC , series 7); letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 45, entry 4, Letters to Secretary of Treasury). RC 1 p.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by JM. At the foot the letter is redirected in...