31To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 12 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 October 1801, Amsterdam. Repeats request that JM reply at the earliest opportunity to his inquiry about salary, transmitting reply through William Taylor of Baltimore. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Amsterdam, vol. 1). 1 p.; docketed by Wagner. A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.
32To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 29 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
Your Circular of Augt. 1. I have just had the honor to receive & shall fully reply thereto by the earliest opportunity, while in the interim every matter shall be attended to, which is equally prescribed by my duty & the desire I have of preserving the fullest Confidence of my Govt . I shall not fail to transmit you the new Constitution lately adopted by this Country the moment I can come at...
33To 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...
34To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 18 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure to acquaint you of my safe return to this City a few days past & that on the first of next month I shall resume my official functions & be prepared to attend to any commands you may have for me in course of the public service. I have not yet been here a sufficient time to obtain correct information relative to the present state of Affairs in Europe—but shall take the...
35To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 5 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have observed by a late American Gasette that in your reply to the General Assembly of Pensylvania you had absolutely declined to be considered as a Candidate for the Office of President of the U States at the ensuing Election having resolved to retire of all future Public Employ. On this occasion I beg leave to tender you the hommage of my highest respect & to convey to you my sincere...
36To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 26 June 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 26 June 1806, Amsterdam. “I have within a few days addressed you by triplicates—transmitting the official Communication of the late Change of Govt here. The inclosed Gazette has a copy of said Communication with some aditions relative to the alteration of the Commissions of the foreign Agents here referred to in my last.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Amsterdam, vol. 1). 1 p....
37To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 6 February 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 February 1802, Amsterdam. Transmits a triplicate of his 20 Jan. dispatch. Stresses that although he has asked permission to accompany Mrs. Bourne to the U.S. in the fall should her health require it, “I would by no means have the thing interfere with my Official duties as the preservation of my place trifling as its income will probably be in peace is Still an Object with me —owing to the...
38To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 30 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
I hasten to Send the inclosed to go by the Sheperdess as it contains the advice of the safe arrival at Havre in 24 days of the Schooner Hope Capt Wood with dispatches from our Govt. to Mr Armstrong, which may be interesting for you to be informed of, & I have the honor to be With high Respect Sir Yr Ob Servt. In my last packet to you this I ed the word Dispatches in order to facilitate its...
39To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 2 July 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 July 1803, Baltimore . Has deferred his return to Amsterdam because of the “late agitated & unsettled position of the affairs of Europe.” Reliable reports state that “War … was renewed on the 16h Ulto an event which must materially affect” U.S. commerce. Doubts that Spain and the Netherlands will be able to maintain their neutrality, “as the connection of those Countries with France must...
40To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 23 February 1802 (Madison Papers)
I take the occasion of transmitting the inclosed papers to mention that as the Physicians conceive Mrs. Bs health will not sustain the fatigues of a voyage across the Atlantick very soon I shall conclude to let her go into the Country for her benefit in this regard & remain in the wonted exercise of my Official Duties & have the honor to be With great Respect Yr Ob Servt. The preceding is the...
41Sylvanus Bourne to James Monroe, 26 October 1815 (Madison Papers)
It is now asserted here with confidence that Mr. Tencate, late Secretary of Legation from this Country to ours will Soon return thence as Chargé des Affaires & that no future Minister will be appointed to the U States. If this proves true & etiquette may occasion the removal of our minister here to Some other destination in which Case I beg leave respectfully to renew my hopes for the...
42To 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...
43To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 26 January 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 26 January 1806, Amsterdam. “In transmitting the within [not found] I avail myself of the occasion to mention that notwithstanding all my efforts to inspire in the minds of the publick Officers a due confidence in the truth & purity of the Bills of Health which our Vessells bring from the UStates they have not been received as evidence & our Navigation has of course...
44To 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...
45To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 18 August 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 18 August 1805, Amsterdam . “We are at present quite in consternation here on account of the proceedings of the British Govt towards our flag as it appears they have ordered their Cruisers to take into their ports all Amn. vessells bound to the ports of France Spain or Holland laden with Colonial produce—& (as I was led to suppose) in order only to ascertain whether...
46To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed I have the pleasure to forward you by particular conveyance a packet of Leyden Papers which hope may duly reach you. In regard to Amn. Affairs in this quarter of the World, I have been advised from a respectable Channell that G B has by no means satisfied the demands of our Govt. but in lieu thereof, sent out a Special Mission to the U: S to arrange the matters there. This savours of...
47To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 8 July 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 8 July 1805, Amsterdam. “I had the honor to address you on the 6th Inst on the interesting letter from you of the 23 May & I have no doubt you will be convinced that I made no misrepresentation to you in the Case in question. Should you need a confirmation Mr. Biass of Baltimore will be ready I shou[l]d presume to give it as in a letter to me since my last arrival here...
48To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 14 January 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 January 1803, Baltimore. Forwards some intermediate numbers of the Leiden Gazette just received. “If about the time of my return to Holland in the Spring any circumstances arising out of our foreign relations should render neccessary a temporary special Agency or commission from our Govt to any part of Europe, I should be glad of the employ as it would be an aid towards my expenses while it...
49To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 24 July 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 24 July 1805, Amsterdam. “I hasten to forward you the inclosed important State document & you will at once see into all the probable consequences thereof. “I transmit also a Copy of my letter to mr Alexander on the subject of the Consulate at Rottm referred to in my late letters to you & which I hope will meet your approbation. “Mr Clark at Emden has expressed his hopes...
50To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 12 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
I am honored by your letter of the 25 April by Mr Meredith. The inclosed letters for France have been duly sent on. I learn from you with great pleasure that the Sensibilities of the public Mind which had been excited in the late contest for the election of the supreme Executive were softened down to a temper more congenial with the public prosperity. I doubt not that a little experience of...
51To 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...
52To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 7 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
As the preliminaries of a peace between Great Britain & France were signed at London on the night of the 2d Instant, we now approach that period when with the war will cease the necessity which that occasioned of having many Certificates of divers kinds from the Consular office & will of course reduce the income of this one to a mere trifle—In this position of the case may I be permitted...
53To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne (Abstract), 26 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
26 April 1805, Amsterdam . “Inclosed I send in course sundry Leyden Gazettes. It appears that none of the Northern Powers have as yet found their interests so decidedly involved as had been thought in a junction with Great Britain against France as to undertake a renewed Coalition for supporting the cause of the former. Prior examples have taught them that G B wishes them only to fight her...
54To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 5 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith transmit you these successive numbers to this date of the Leyden Gazette: It is difficult at this moment to add much to the contents of the public papers relative to the position of Europe which will ere long receive a more correct & decided modification by the Congress destined to meet at Amiens: we can only Collect from the tenor of many Official documents which have lately...
55To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 23 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed is the Leyden Gazette under a new title owing to the old one having lately been forbid by the Govt. here. I take the liberty by this occasion to mention that as Mr. Foreman from whom Mr. Alexander at Rotterdam recd. his appointment as agent in the Consulate has long since resigned his Commission & that Mr. Alexander has never recd any appointment from Govt. many embarrasments are...
56To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne (Abstract), 16 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
16 June 1805, “Amn Consulate Amsterdam.” “I yesterday had the honor to receive your letter of March 25h on the subject of the Consulate at Rottm. and I shall make arrangments to meet as far as circumstances may admit the views therein expressed. “The Charge imposed on me however is peculiarly delicate . Mr A’s partners having dissolved the commercial connections between them the latter has at...
57To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 30 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to send you by two Vessels lately Copies of a letter recd from the Minister of foreign Affairs at the Hague requesting me to communicate to the Govt. of the U States the desire of this, that Mr Smissaert may be provisionally admitted to exercise the Office of Consul of Holland for the State of New york though he has not yet his Commission in form, the delay in sending which to...
58To 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...
59To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 23 September 1801 (Madison Papers)
I had yesterday the honor to address you via Baltimore since which have recd the inclosed to my care. In the letter just referred to I sent you a Gazette giving some detail acct. of a Revolution or change in the Govt. of this Country then operating at the Hague. Many defects were found to belong to the last constitution which called for a remedy, & three of the Existing Directory, formed a new...
60To 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...