31To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 April 1801 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed I send you a continuation of the Leyden Gazette to this date. It is here generally believed that the affairs between England & the North of Europe will be adjusted in a short time—while the Expectations of a general peace do not seem to have equal currency. In all due respect Sir Yr ob Hle. Sert. P. S. We just received the important news of the death of the Emperor Paul of Rus sia...
32To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 5 May 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 May 1801, Amsterdam. Is disappointed to learn Congress rejected the memorial on behalf of U.S. consuls that he transmitted in fall of 1800. Fears request was misinterpreted, the point being that consular fees ought to be paid according to tonnage of American ships. No fixed salary was sought, and the request was never intended for stipulated fees “by way of Salary from the public Chest.” RC (...
33To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 5 May 1801 (Madison Papers)
Inclosing you the Leyden Gazette of this date I avail myself of the opportunity to express to you my regret at finding by the Gazettes of our Country, that the memorial which I had the honor to transmit your Predecessor last fall in behalf of the Consuls of the U States, has not met with the expected success in Congress, which I think must have resulted from a misapprehension of the nature &...
34To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 8 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
By Mr. Polanen who returns to his residence as Minister from this Country to ours, I take the liberty to convey to you my regret in finding that the Memorial I caused to be presented to Congress in course of last Session had not met with the desired Success, which (from the expressions made use of in the report of the Committee on that Subject) I am induced to think was rejected from a...
35To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 29 May 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 May 1801, Amsterdam. Continues practice of sending the Leiden newspaper, which is generally impartial in reporting important political news. Recent events in Europe have produced a change in views and principles of some major powers, destroyed the old equilibrium, and made peaceful solutions more difficult. Presumes U.S. will try to avoid political relations with Europe but urges...
36To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 29 May 1801 (Madison Papers)
In conformity to my practice towards your predecessors in Office I here transmit the latest Leyden Gazettes & shall continue to do so regularly by every opportunity which presents. This paper contains a late tho’ correct & generally impartial account of the most material events occurring in this scene & cannot be read but with Interest at a moment when the political page is filled with such as...
37To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, June 1801 (Madison Papers)
In the letter which I had lately the honor to address you on the subject of our Consular Establishments, was contained a request for some aditional Compensation to our Consuls, especially as an equivalent for the injury they sustain by being considered to have forfeited their Rights & Privileges as Amn. Citizens if happening to reside in a Country at War with Another; it may therefore be...
38To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 5 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
The hopes of a peace between France & England which had been inspired by the late correspondence between those two nations seem daily to become more feeble—& leave just grounds to apprehend that a new resort to arms will be made—for deciding the unhappy contest in Europe. The political face of which appears now as little susceptible of a just delineation as at any former period of the War....
39To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 June 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 June 1801, Amsterdam. Offers suggestions for improving consular service by making international conventions more specific as to rights and privileges of consuls and defining their powers over American ships and crews that sail into ports where they are accredited. These powers ought to include a means of settling wage disputes between masters and crews, mandatory registration of ships on...
40To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
It has long been a matter of greate st Regret that the Consular Establishment of the U: states does not rest on a more firm & sy stematic base, both as to the Powers, which pertain to our Consuls under the Laws of their own Country & the Privileges & exemptions they ha ve a Right to claim from the operations of the Law s of the Countries where they reside; I therefore take the Liberty to...