1To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 13 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
With this I forward the supplementary Statement suggested in my letter of the 30th: Ulto., in relation to Prisoners. I also enclose a Duplicate of the Account, lately furnished Genl. Armstrong of my appropriations of the sums advanced by him on Account of Government, for the objects therein stated, and already mentioned in my former letters to you. I hope you will approve this Acct., & that it...
2To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 3 September 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Fulwar Skipwith. 3 September 1806, Paris. “Mr. Nast, the China Manufacturer, has at last executed the order which I gave him on my arrival here for your Table and Dessert sets of China, & they have lately been forwarded to my Correspondents at Nantes Messrs. Sherburne & Eakin who will profit of the earliest safe opportunity to convey them to you. This China in whiteness is not much...
3To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 20 May 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 May 1803, Paris . Conceives the business of American claims against the French government and of his agency “to be drawing to a close.” “The emoluments of my Office of Consul are almost nothing. My own fortune is unequal to the support of myself & family. My zeal & exertions to serve my Country at some of her most difficult periods both here & in the W. Indias have been great. My sacrifice...
4To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 28 July 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 July 1804, Paris. “With a duplicate of my last letter to you, dated the 18th. Ulto., I have the honor of accompanying this with a tolerable correct view of the actual State & progress of claims, received into the french offices as American claims, & Consequently Submitted by me to the American Board for their examination & provisional Certificate of admission to liquidation, as such, we may...
5To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 12 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 October 1801, Paris. Acknowledges receipt on 28 Sept. of JM’s 9 June letter with commission appointing him commercial agent for Paris. Encloses required bond with two sureties. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Paris, vol. 1). 1 p. Enclosure not found. JM to Skipwith, 9 June 1801 ( DLC : Causten-Pickett Papers). A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.
6To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 29 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
By my letter of the 12th. Inst. I had the honor of acknowledging receipt of my Commission to this Agency, with the two letters accompanying, and of forwarding under cover thereof my Bond, as required by the Circular from your Department, for the faithful execution of the duties of my Office. I have since obtained my Exequatur from this Government, and am now in the exercise of those functions,...
7To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Under cover of my last letter of the 14th. March I had the honor of inclosing to you two seperate statements of the American claims in my charge, the first comprehending those commited to me while in the Office of Consul General, and the other those that have lately been placed in my hands as Agent of Claims for the United States. I informed you of my having submited both descriptions of said...
8To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to forward herewith extracts from the judgments in the cases of two of the Vessels liberated, the Packet & the Charlstown Packet, which are mentioned in my letter to you of the 26th. Ulto. With great respect & consideration I am, Sir, Your Mo. Ob. Servt. DNA : RG 59—CD—Consular Despatches, Paris.
9To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 25 September 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Fulwar Skipwith. 25 September 1806, Paris. “Tho’ justice may be forever denied me with respect to my interest, I owe it to the principles which have governed my public Agency here, as well as to my Character as an Individual, to repel the invidious Suggestions of Genl. Armstrong, of my having brought forward to him any thing like ’false & Scandalous allegations.’ “With these Sentiments,...
10To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 30 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
I think it my duty to inform you that a favorable Decree has been just obtained in the case of the American Ship Phœnix, Wm. Walner, Master, belonging to New York. The Memorial here enclosed which has been filed in this case by my Lawyer at the Council of Prizes, will shew that the Decision abovementioned embraces a point of general interest to our Navigation, as the question was whether or...
11To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 14 March 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 March 1802, Paris. Has not written to JM since Livingston’s arrival, having had nothing to report on American claims. “Respecting those Claims, I here submit two separate Statements, the first comprehending, under different heads, such as were committed to my charge, whilst in the Office of Consul General, and those … that have been intrusted to me, since my coming to the place of...
12To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 11 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
Though I have not been honored with a s ingle line from you since my return from the United States to Paris, near se venteen months ago, to acknowledge the receipt of my communications to you in relation to the conduct of Genl. Armstrong; nor, indeed, respecting various other subjects o n which I conceived it proper in me to address you, I shall not offer an a pology for the liberty I now take...
13To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 13 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
Since the date of my letter to you of the 7th. Ulto. containing a paragraph on the Subject of Zedediah Snow, his Excellency the Minister of Marine has kindly given me an informal communication of the papers Seized upon him which are 1o. a Receipt of the Customs of the cape dated July 2. 1806. for the duties on the outward Cargo of Snow’s vessel. 2o. a Notarial act of Sale of the vessel called...
14To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 14 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
You have here a copy of my last Letter to you of the 13th. of Septemr. The Board, as I there informed you, Since Mr. M.clures accession to it, had thought proper to suspend granting their certificates for the final Liquidation of claims untill they Should hear of the Ratification of the Treaties, It was then my opinion, & is now, that they might with Safety & propriety have concurred with the...
15To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
In company with this I have the honor to send a copy of my letter to you of the 23d: Ulto., and at foot are annexed two informal copies of letters from his Excellency the Minister of Marine to the maritime Prefect at l’Orient for his Government in the Case of the Caliope, Capt. Taylor, mentioned in my aforesaid Duplicate. These copies were obtained by me in an un official form, & from a...
16To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 7 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
On the 9th. of last month, Genl. Armstrong notified me of his having resumed the giving of Passports, and Cards of surety, & authenticating signatures, as will be seen by his letter hereinclosed of that date. The time and manner of my commencing to give passports & Cards of surety are explained by the Copy of a letter, also annexed, from Mr. Biddle, the Secretary to the General, injoining on...
17To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 5 March 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 March 1804, Paris. “Just at closing these dispatches I received from the Minister a letter dated three days back in answer to mine here annexed. Notwithstanding, as you will see by the Copy of his letter also annexed, that he threatens to cause my Exequatur to be withdrawn from me, & my Consular Powers to be Suspended , if I do not enter into a justification of myself with him, & in fact...
18To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 17 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
Believing it useless for me, under present Circumstances, to renew my efforts with the Council of Prizes, to change the principles & rules of their proceedings, whereby the definitive trial of prize Causes is Still delayed, & depending, before that Tribunal; and, considering that the Minister of the U. S. only is Authorized to call the attention of the Fr. Government itself to this Subject, I...
19To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 14 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
Since Mr. Livingston’s arrival at Paris, I have not had the honor of writing to you, having been in communication with him, concerning the Claims of our fellow-citizens, against this Government, and having had nothing within the Sphere of my Office interesting to impart. Respecting those Claims, I here submit two separate Statements, the first comprehending, under different heads, such as were...
20To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 24 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to enclose herewith Extracts taken by me at the Council of Prizes of the motives of condemnation in eleven cases of American vessels captured and brought to trial under theDecrees of his Majesty the Emperor & King. Three others the America, Ja’s. Adams & the Mercury have also been condemned: the motives expressed in the Judgments of these, I have not yet obtained, but I shall...
21To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 3 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
The Council of Liquidation having refused to liquidate several Claims committed to my charge, for supplies made at different Periods to the french Colonies by our Countrymen, & having refered the Claimants to the respective Colonial Administrations I supposed these particular Decisions were the Effect of a general Regulation or Arrêté, and therefore I applied to them for an authentic Copy of...
22To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 16 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
16 November 1803, Paris. “To day I have been fortunate enough to have a long & very Satisfactory conference with Mr. Defermon, who has more than confirmed my Suspicions that Mr. Guillaume, his chief had prompted him to write to the minister of the U. S. from other motives than those of Public good. Mr. Defermon to the Credit of us all, Knew nothing of the misunderstanding between the minister...
23To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 5 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
"In a letter just received by me from a very respectable and disinterested source (Messrs. Maclure & Robertsons of Philadelphia) I find the following paragraph: "We have seen the friends of Mr Whelen, he being dead previous to the receipt of your favors: They say it has already been attempted by our Government to set aside the will of Mr. Miller, but without effect; and that the Secretary of...
24To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 2 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
Annexed hereto is a copy of my letter to Genl. Armstrong, and also a copy of a letter from Mr. Leveux, the deputy Commercial Agent of the United States at Calais, on the subject of the American Ship the Brothers, Capt Fisk, bound from Virginia to London with a Cargo of Tobacco, which has been just captured by a French privateer & brought into the harbour of Calais. I have the honor to be with...
25To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 13 May 1813 (Madison Papers)
It is at least irregular that I should presume to address you in recommendation of the merits of a young officer at this Station, when, if to be justified at all, I know that my communication ought with propriety to be directed to the Chief of the War Department; but a review of past things reminds me that I have had the misfortune, as you may remember, to be on hostile terms with Genl....
26To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 24 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
It is my duty to inform you that among the papers (lately inve ntoried & deposited with a french notary public) fou nd belonging to the deceased Joseph Miller of Philadelphia, is an original letter from Albert Gallatin Esqr., addressed to R. R. Livingston, Minister of the United States at Paris, instructing him to Secure the payment of a Claim of the American Government against Said Miller,...
27To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 24 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit herewith a list of the vessels, as far as my information reaches, that have been either arrested or captured, under the Decree of his Majesty the Emperor & King, and are detained in the ports of France, Spain, Italy & Holland. It is to be presumed that few or none others can be likely to fall into the same predicament, as long as the present Embargo in the United...
28To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 18 July 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 July 1804, Paris. “The inclosed copies of correspondence between our Minister & myself, respecting the American Vessels captured by French privateers & condemned in the different ports of Spain, I deem of sufficient importance to communicate, tho’ I presume the Minister himself will not fail to make you fully acquainted with the subject upon which it treats. With this correspondence you...
29To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 14 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
I was fortunate, the day of the departure of Doctr. Bullus from Paris, (the 30th. of last month) to procure an official Copy of the Judgment of the Council of Prizes in the Case of the Horizon, which I committed for you to the Doctor’s charge. I now send another Copy, printed, of the said judgment, together with a sheet of observations prepared by the lawyer employed by me to defend the cause...
30To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 30 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to accompany this with copies of all the correspondence between Genl. Armstrong & myself, in relation to Prisoners, & to Prize Cases; this Correspondence I conceive may be useful in shewing the causes & circumstances, which first induced the General to make certain appropriations of public money to those two objects; he, doubtless, has furnished you with his reasons for...
31To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 December 1802 (Madison Papers)
The President, by the time this reaches you, will have received from Mr. Livingston & Mr. Sumter respectively a statement of the causes & issue of their present open and avowed rupture, being in a great degree the renewal of a misunderstanding that unfortunately commenced between them last Winter. On that occasion, as well as on the present, the Ministers conduct in respect to some of the...
32To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith and Others, 8 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 August 1802, Paris. “Mr. Dobell lately appointed by the President, to the Commercial Agency of Havre, has declined accepting that Office.” Recommends John Lyle of New Jersey, “one of our best Republicans, an excellent Citizen, a Gentleman of very amiable mind, and as a Merchant, completely calculated to discharge the duties of the Office he now solicits with advantage to the Public.” RC ( DNA...
33To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 12 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
On the 28th. Ulto. I had the honor of receiving your letter of the 9th. of June last accompanying a Commission from the President, by which I am appointed Commercial Agent of the United States for the City of Paris during his pleasure, and untill the end of the next Session of the Senate. I accept this mark of the President’s confidence, and I promise to discharge the duties which the trust...
34To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 7 April 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 April 1804, Paris. “Since closing my last Packet I have received from our Minister a Note, a Copy whereof I now annex, by which it appears he has appointed an Agent (a Mr. Hawkins) to perform certain official duties, and has thought proper, at the same time, to appropriate one half of the Salary that had been allowed me to the emolument of that Gentleman.” RC and enclosure ( DNA : RG 59, CD...
35To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 30 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
With the approbation of Mr. Livingston I have taken on myself to appoint Mr. James Anderson of Charlestown, So: Carolina sub commercial Agent for the port of Cette on the Mediterenean, and I take the liberty of adding my own request to his, that the President may be pleased to confer on him the appointment of Agent or vice-commercial for the aforesaid port and its dependences. The interests...
36To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 24 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
With this I have the honor to forward a list of American Vessels now depending for trial before the Council of Prize Causes: Fifty three of which are Captures made during the late & Ten during the present War. Seventeen are represented by me as Agent for Prize Causes & thirty Six others by Individuals, as Special Attorneys. The whole of those captured during the late War, except four Cases,...
37To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 24 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
It is my duty to inform you that among the papers, lately inventoried & deposited with a French Notary public, found belonging to the deceased Joseph Miller of Philadelphia, is an original letter from Albert Gallatin, addressed to R. R. Livingston, Minister of the U. S. at Paris, instructing him to secure the payment of a claim of the American Government against said Miller, according to the...
38To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 August 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Fulwar Skipwith. 1 August 1806, Paris. “To the Memorials referred to, in my Letter of the 5th. of June, on the Subject of my claim against the French Government, which were then omitted to be Sent, I now add a Supplement (no. 3) lately presented by me to the Emperor and his Council of State, which I beg the favor of you to peruse. “Having in that letter imputed to our Minister an...
39To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 21 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
From the first arrival of Mr. Livingston in Paris, I have been fully sensible, and am now as sensible as a man can be, of the deference, duty, & respect I owe to him as the Minister & Representative of the United States. I have not yet ceased to feel that harmony, & not discord, between his public proceedings & mine here is the return that I, at least, owe our Government for the trusts it has...
40To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 August 1802, Paris. “The foregoing being from a very respectable merchant of Philadelphia, and on a subject in my opinion of sufficient importance to shew the expediency of there being as speedily as may be a Commercial Agent at Antwerp, I beg leave to recommend its contents to your attention.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR , 1801–9, filed under “Skipwith”). Skipwith wrote this note to JM on the...
41To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 13 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
With this are official Copies of the citations rendered by the Council of Prizes, for the appearance of the Captors of the eight following Cases Brig Friendship--Smith--Constant Boisgerard of Charlestown, S. C., Claiming Schooner Paragon--Grant--Michael & Edward Wise, Kennebunk, do. Brig Polly & Fanny--M. Neil--Hull, Mansfield Humphreys &c:, Boston, do. Schooner Sally--Durham--Elisha Deane,...
42To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 13 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
Owing to the great uncertainty in the conveyances at this time to the United States I send herewith triplicite copies of my two letters to you of the 23d. Ulto. & the 1st. Inst., together with copies of the two letters, mentioned in that of the 1st. Inst., from the Minister of the Marine to the Prefect of L’Orient concerning the affair of the Caliope. This case as well as the Cases of seven...
43To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 10 October 1802 (Madison Papers)
I beg you to excuse, my dear Sir, my writing to you personally on the subject of my Countrymens claims against this Government. I know that any communication of mine on that head, to be either correct in its manner, or useful to the public, ought to be addressed to the Department of State. But as in the present instance I have a personal motive of doing justice to myself, and cannot render all...
44To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 20 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
The papers accompanying this were left with me by Mr. Clarke, three days ago, on his departure from hence for London, with a desire that I should transmit them under cover to you by the American Ship Plow-boy about to sail from Bordeaux for Philadelphia. Mr. Clarke, who, I have some reason to suppose, is personally known to you, remained a fortnight in Paris, and was during that time in great...
45To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 15 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
Among the charges against me contained in a printed production, made up some time ago in this City between Genl. Armstrong & Mr. Swan, the following partial extract from one of those charges has been just communicated to me from a source entitled to confidence. "See Dossier, No. 5, of claims admitted by the AmericanCommission & rejected by the Council General ofLiquidation. "Of having produced...
46To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 23 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
Annexed are copies of my two letters to General Armstrong on the subject of two American Ships, the Two Brothers, & the Hyades, captured and brought into Port by French Privateers under the Decree of his Imperial Majesty dated the 17th. Ulto. The General has not favored me with an answer to either of these letters, & probably never will, since his circular letters, even to my Colleagues in...
47To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 7 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 19th. of Feby. acknowledging the receipt of my letters of Jany. 17: Feb. 4: Apl. 7: 13 & 24, Sep 25, Octo 3 & 19 1807; leaving consequently unacknowledged the receipt of my other letters preceding of June 5. Augt. 1 & 22d.: Sep: 25th.: Novr.: 17 & 24th. & Decr. 1 & 21: 1806. I shall in future regulate my conduct strictly in conformity to the...
48To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 3 March 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
3 March 1804, Paris. Believed his letter of 21 Feb. would be his last to JM regarding the misunderstanding between him and Livingston. “But … I find myself under the necessity of furnishing you with the relation of another incident … of a Still more unpleasant nature, than that which happened in the Presence of mr. marbois.” Quotes a 29 Feb. letter from Livingston he received “A few days ago”...
49To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 5 June 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have not thought it necessary for me to anounce to you my arrival here. Having delivered to Mr. Bowdoin the Dispatches intrusted to me by you for him, & to Genl. Armstrong those addressed to him conjointly with Mr. B, as well as his own, I concluded that they would not fail to give you the earliest intelligence thereof. The Hornet sailed from L’orient for the Mediterrenian on the 19th. ulto....
50To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 25 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
Since the date of my letter to you of the 24th. of last April there has been but one of the Prize Cases, with which I am charged, adjudged; & this is the Alexander & Cargo, Capt. Laughton, belonging to Norfolk, both of which have been restored. This almost total suspension of proceedings on the part of the Council of Prizes, I had learned some months since, in an informal manner, was...