1To John Adams from Sylvanus Bourne, 28 January 1789 (Adams Papers)
Pardon the liberty I take, and permit me to call to your Excellency’s recollection, a Person who (at the time the Committee of Convention for framing this State’s Constitution were sitting in this town) requested to be taken into your Office, as a student at Law, and had your promise to be received if the services of your Country should not call you abroad; but which proving to be the case in...
2To George Washington from Sylvanus Bourne, 22 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Happy in that easy access to the first Office in his Government which is alone the pride of an American and the Ornament of his Court; and which is now rendered still more flattering by the amiable qualities of the Person who fills that important Station; I am emboldened to ask your Excellency’s Attention (in any moment which may be unoccupied by the vast concerns incident to your situation)...
3To John Adams from Sylvanus Bourne, 18 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
It gives me sensible pain to be under the necessity of troubling you further with my personal Concerns amid the weight of your public Cares: but entertaining the fond hope that you are not totally disinterested in my welfare, I am prompted to observe to you, that upon my arrival here I found M r Keith had been pushing all possible force for the Marshalship of this District a place which I...
4To John Adams from Sylvanus Bourne, 8 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
I was honoured by the due Receipt of your obliging fav r. of Aug t 30 th for which you have my Cordial thanks— I am fully sensible of the justness of your Observations, relative to the Presidents nominations, and doubt not, they will be all made free from any partial biass whatever, and on the principles of humanity, Wisdom, & justice to his Country, whose best interests, have been his uniform...
5To Alexander Hamilton from Sylvanus Bourne, 1 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, November 1, 1789. Asks Hamilton to “Give me leave Dr Sir to request the favr of being in your remembrance should any situation in the Treasury Department occur in which my abilities may be equal to rendering my Country service.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Bourne applied for several posts in the government in 1789 and 1790. In June, 1790, George Washington appointed him...
6To John Adams from Sylvanus Bourne, 17 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
I am pleased to find that the President in his late Speech to both Houses of the American Parliament has specifically called their attention to foreign Affairs and to those necessary provisions, preliminary to his nominations in that Department The rising consequence of this Country in the scale of Nations will doubtless be a subject of much political & commercial speculation in the European...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 2[4?] March 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
New York, 25 [i.e. 24?] Mch. 1790 . Having had the honor of an introduction to TJ he feels he may disclose his wish for public employment and refers to “the Vice President and Chief Justice of the United States, the Secretarys of the Treasury and War Departments” for information, but is conscious that capacity to serve the public is “the only proper ground of my expectations, as the only one...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 19 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
New York, 19 Apr. 1790. Requests TJ to deliver officially to the President the enclosed memorial and to acquaint him with Bourne’s qualifications for a diplomatic or consular appointment. His concern for the public good forbids him to solicit a particular post, but if he is appointed he will endeavor to merit the public’s confidence. RC ( DLC : Washington Papers, Applications for Office); 1...
9To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 28 June 1790 (Madison Papers)
Being informed that some Members of the House of Representatives are opposed to allowing any emoluments whatever to our Consuls resident in foreign Ports—I am led to request the exercise of your influence in support of such a gratuity as may not have a tendency to burthen the trading Interest—which consequence I think cannot arise from a small contribution chargeable on each Vessell according...
10To John Adams from Sylvanus Bourne, 15 August 1790 (Adams Papers)
Observing by the Papers that you are one of the Comm rs: appointed for purchasing part of the public Debt at Markett in which you will doubtless probably wish to employ an agent—if this should be the Case—M r Woodward occurred to my mind as a person well calculated for such an employ—both for integrity & a thourough acquaintance in this kind of buisness—having been for a long enrolled in the...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 21 September 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Being absent from this place on a journey I was not honoured by the receipt of your last favor till yesterday.—I perfectly acquiesce in your relation of the circumstances attending my acceptance of the Consulate of Hispaniola while I recollect that at the time you observed it was very uncertain what arrangements Government might think fit to make relating to our Consuls abroad you gave it as...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 30 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour some time since to acquaint you of my intentions of embarking for Cape Francois by the middle of this month, but the want of an opportunity has hitherto prevented me and I wait yet some days for a Vessell bound to that Port. You was pleased to suggest in your last the peculiar necessity of my departure as it related to the public and I doubt not under these circumstances your...
13To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 1 December 1790 (Madison Papers)
Expecting in a few days to embark for Hispaniola under a Consular Commission from the United States—I feel very desirous to have the Consular Bill now pending in Govt. matured & passed as early as other public Interests will permit; wishing not to have gone till it was finished I requested leave of Govt to tarry yet a while but the Secy of State informed me it was “peculiarly interesting to...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 29 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Cape François, 29 Apr. 1791 . Arrived and presented credentials on 16 Mch. Still awaits recognition “but cannot obtain any decision of the business: being constantly put off by the most equivocal and evasive Conduct on their part. One Day am informed that the Convention does not extend to the Colonies—the next that as my Commission is unacompanied by a letter from the Secy. of State, they...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 30 June 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Cape François, 30 June 1791 . He has not been favored by any communication from TJ since his of 27 Apr. After more than three months he has not been officially received, despite his “arguments … drawn from the tenor of explicit compact, and conveyed in firm but cool language.” They reply that they have never been officially notified of the Consular Convention, it cannot be registered, and of...
16Sylvanus Bourne to Henry Remsen, Jr., 14 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Cape François, 14 July 1791 . Having noticed in late American newspapers that TJ is on tour and “may not probably return very soon,” he asks that his last letters [29 Apr. and 30 June 1791] be communicated to the President. If the Commissaries, daily expected from France, refuse to recognize him, he will feel justified in returning to America without further notice. If recognized, he will need...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 8 September 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly received the letter you did me the honour to write me of Augt. 14th. covering a duplicate of yours of May 13th. which I acknowledged the receipt of, in a letter dated July 5th that must probably have reached you before this. Prior to the receipt of your last I had concluded upon embarking for America soon as every prospect of obtaining a reception here had ceased. Particulars, I shall...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The aggregate result of that investigation, which I have made of the sentiments of the members of Congress relating to the Consular System, of this Country, tends to weaken my expectations of ever returning again to the West Indies, and the more especially as the present state of Hispaniola renders still more precarious than before, every pursuit of a mercantile nature:—but faint as my...
19To George Washington from Sylvanus Bourne, 28 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
As the Legislature of the United States, appears not to contemplate, either an adequate regulation of the powers of their Consuls, or reward for their services, and the present state of St Dominique, being less favourable to mercantile pursuits, than heretofore, I have reason to think that my return to that Country, would only tend to increase the weight of those Disbursments, which my former...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 29 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
At the time I had the honour of addressing you last, I was in expectation of forming such a mercantile connection, as would have induced me to return to the west Indies; but the late repeated bad news from that quarter, has discouraged the Person who contemplated this connection with me from any further pursuit of it. I now therefore beg leave (agreably to your advice as to the mode of...
21To Alexander Hamilton from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 May 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I am in this moment favoured with a letter from Mr Bourne informing of my having lost my Object in the mint Department & I’ll assure you my Dr Sir the impression on my feelings is severe indeed—as I presume you had not the least doubt of my success from your conversation last had with me. I have on the strength made arrangments which will result injuriously to me—such as borrowing some money...
22To Alexander Hamilton from Sylvanus Bourne, 24 May 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Having been absent in the Country, it was not till yesterday, that I had the honour to receive your favr of the 10th Inst. I had (as you supposed) been previously informed of the issue of an affair, which tho’ ultimately without your controul, had, I am confidant, the support of your most friendly exertions. My letter to you of the 10th in a degree anticipated the present answer to yours of...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 17 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Philadelphia ], 17 June 1793, “Mrs Dunns No 153 markett street .” Having made a contract with Mr. Morris that will enable him to return to Cape François, he urges TJ to consult with the President about resuming his old consular commission or his reappointment to the place, a necessary condition of his present plan; as his former commission bears the endorsement on his reception, perhaps it...
24To John Adams from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I beg leave just to call to yr recollection my having informed you (when I had the honor to see you last summer at New york) that I had suffered in the loss of a large property by the verdict of the Court of Admiralty of England—founded on the circumstance of my being an Inhabitant of this Country—you seemed to be of opinion that being in a public capacity my residence here could not be...
25To John Adams from Sylvanus Bourne, 12 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor to address you not long since (via Hamburg) acquainting you that, notwithstanding the best exertions of our Minister at London (agreably to the instructions of the Secy of State by your order) no chance whatever remains to me for the recovery of a large property which was condemned by the Admiralty Court of England about eighteen months past—on the principle & for reason that I...
26To John Adams from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
As I was unwilling to be totally idle, I have employed some of the hours of leisure, which the deprivations of buisness has lately given me, to throw on paper a few crude observations on the existing state of Affairs between France & the UStates: a copy of the original in English I forwarded sometime past to the Secy. of State: since which, I have translated it into french with some aditions &...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 September 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to acquaint you that Mr Lusac printer of the french Gazette at Leyden lately presented me an Account for his Papers, sent you in the years 93 & 94 while you filled the Office of Secretary of State requesting its transmission for payt. but presuming you received them in your official Capacity I veiwed it as a just debt from the U States & having explained myself accordingly to our...
28To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 March 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 March 1801, Amsterdam. Transmits copies of Leiden Gazette . Reports that weight Great Britain will have in European balance of power is still undecided. France and Russia have important plans to be developed in a short time. Requests information on congressional action on memorial of consuls. In postscript, mentions Cathcart’s circular letter of 3 Jan. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Amsterdam, vol....
29To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 March 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure to transmit you the Leyden Gazettes up to the present period which is one peculiarly interesting in the state of European Affairs. The aspect of those of G.B. is above all observed at this moment & it remains to be decided what weight she is hereafter to hold in the ballance of Europe. France & Russia have great important Plans or prospective ones which in a short time will...
30To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 April 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 April 1801, Amsterdam. Transmits continuation of Leiden Gazette . Reports local belief that relations between Great Britain and northern powers will be adjusted in a short time, though expectations of general peace are not as strong. In postscript, announces news of death of Czar Paul of Russia; succeeded by Alexander I. Reports rumor that British fleet was repulsed in attack on Copenhagen...