251To James Madison from Rufus King, 19 May 1801 (Madison Papers)
Though Captain Pellew of the English Frigate Cleopatra was recalled, as I sometime ago informed you, Admiral Parker, who commands on the Halifax Station, and whose conduct has in other instances been exceptionable in not restraining the plundering spirit of the Officers under his Command, permitted him to proceed to the West Indies instead of returning to England. For this disobedience, joined...
252To James Madison from Rufus King, 21 July 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 July 1802, London. Explains an item in his contingent account relating to the publication of Robinson’s admiralty reports. Decisions of British prize courts are not published by the government. Observes that although it is a “pretty general opinion” that Great Britain “administers the Law of Nations in matters of prize with great rigour, Englishmen have uniformly asserted that these...
253To James Madison from Rufus King, 17 May 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 May 1802, London. No. 67. Reports strong support for the definitive treaty in Parliament despite Lord Grenville’s speech against it. Will send a copy of the debates as soon as published. Encloses a copy of the convention and additional articles between Great Britain and Russia, together with the acts of accession of Denmark and Sweden. The article concerning trade with the colonies and Lord...
254To James Madison from Rufus King, 23 June 1802 (Madison Papers)
I yesterday recd. by the foreign mail the enclosed letter from Leghorn. As I have no information relative to the extraordinary project of the Consul at Tunis, except what is contained in this Despatch, I can form no very precise notion of the Propriety of the means by wh. Peace is expected to be restored with Tripoli. Whether the president has in any shape authorised the measures wh. are in...
255To James Madison from Rufus King, 12 April 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 April 1801, London. No. 10. Encloses copies of correspondence with Lord Hawkesbury about seizure of American vessels carrying articles of Spanish origin to Spanish colonies. Decree from Vice-Admiralty Court at Nassau regarding the case of the Leopard is the first document precise enough to use as grounds for a remonstrance. Suggests that these copies be published in American newspapers as...
256To James Madison from Rufus King, 19 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
Since the removal of the Negotiation to Paris, I am less able to send you early and exact information of its progress. It is understood that according to the Instructions sent to Lord Whitworth on the 3rd. instant, his Lordship concluded his Conferences, as well with Mr. Talleyrand as with the First Consul, by declaring that a refusal of the satisfaction he was ordered to demand would be...
257To James Madison from Rufus King, 15 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have lately received a letter from Genl. Allen enclosing one to me from the Department of State, respecting his cause depending in the Court of Appeals. Without adverting to what passed in the early Stages of this Suit, it is proper that I should mention my having introduced the General to Messrs. Bird Savage & Bird, for the purpose of his engaging them to become his Bail, for the value of...
258To James Madison from Rufus King, 20 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
In addition to my Official Letter of this date it may be satisfactory to you to know, if more money shall be demanded, that I shall refuse of course, and claim the execution of the Convention: if a commutation of the 7. Article be asked for, I shall decline entering into any discussion for that purpose; for the twofold reason that I have no powers, and if I had I should decline, the claims...
259To James Madison from Rufus King, 9 April 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 April 1803, London. No. 90. “The question of peace or War may at this moment be decided. Lord Hawkesburys Note in reply to the refusal of France to admit of any discussion respecting Malta is dated the 3rd. and was dispatched on the 4th. instant.” The note expresses the king’s regret that the French government had declined giving the satisfaction and explanation he demanded and had...
260To James Madison from Rufus King, 9 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 October 1801, London. No. 38. Reports the approval of the peace preliminaries at Paris and outlines their terms. France regains Martinique and the rest of its foreign possessions. Spain and Holland likewise regain their colonies, excepting Ceylon and Trinidad. Malta will be restored to the Order [of St. John] and Egypt to the Turk. Since Menou had probably surrendered before the date of the...
261To James Madison from Rufus King, 5 May 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 May 1802, London. No. 65. Reports that bill imposing duties on imports, exports, and ship tonnage passed House of Commons and will undoubtedly become law. Bill revives most provisions of the Convoy Act but raises duties on imports by one-fifth and reduces duties on goods exported to America by one-half. Because of increased quantity and superior quality of American cotton, it was proposed to...
262To James Madison from Rufus King, 14 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
In a Letter dated October 7. Commodore Dale informs me that he had been obliged to ask the English Government at Gibraltar for certain Supplies that his Squadron stood in need of; a List of the Articles and of their prices is contained in the Commodores Receipts, copies of which were enclosed in his Letter to me. I have hitherto received no application for payment, and am in hopes that such...
263To James Madison from Rufus King, 14 April 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 April 1801, London. No. 11. Last mail from Hamburg brought news that British fleet has taken its station off Copenhagen. British property in Hamburg and Altona has been sequestered. Prussian troops have marched into and occupied Hanover. A courier has arrived from St. Petersburg with news of death of Czar Paul and accession of Alexander; he is reported to bear dispatches for British...
264To James Madison from Rufus King, 13 February 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 February 1802, London. Reports that no one defends the unequal operation of the discriminating duties against U.S. commerce. All prefer abolition to revision; and no one supports the proposal to transfer the countervailing duties from imports from, to exports to, the U.S., as it is against British policy to impose duties on their manufactures except in unusual circumstances and the sum of...
265To James Madison from Rufus King, 2 April 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 April 1803, London. No. 89. Reports that no answer has yet been given to Andréossy’s note, which declined all discussion of Malta. “Lord Hawkesbury’s Answer will probably be delivered to day; it will without doubt persist in the Determination communicated in his first Note, and may disclose new and additional reasons in its support.” The issue of an overture Napoleon reportedly made to...
266To James Madison from Rufus King, 25 April 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
25 April 1801, London. No. 14. Notes that British fleet bound for Denmark passed under Swedish guns that held their fire. Reports Nelson’s exploits at Copenhagen. Believes British government dissatisfied with armistice because Danes have not left armed league. There is much speculation concerning the character and views of new Russian czar, whom British hope to detach from the league. Issue in...
267To James Madison from Rufus King, 6 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
I send you a copy of the confederation between the New England Colonies, together with a few Extracts from the Journals of the Commissioners. As I hope to leave Town on Tuesday for Boston, I pray you to return me these papers Sometime Tomorrow. You are sensible that information from the southern States relative to the proposed Constitution will be of importance to us at Boston while engaged on...
268To James Madison from Rufus King, 9 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
As your Letters to me concerning Mr. Ervings appointments do not explicitly state the Presidents intentions in respect to his being employed as an Assessor to the Commission under the seventh article of our Treaty with this Country, I desired him to send to the Board an Extract of his Instructions which define his Duties and which would be Sufficient to shew the Presidents expectation on this...
269To James Madison from Rufus King, 25 November 1805 (Madison Papers)
I had the honour to write to you on the 15. of last month, since when I have received by General Miranda who has arrived here, a letter from Mr. N. Vansittart⟨,⟩; a member of the British parliament, and who was likewise a member of the late Administration of Mr. Addington. Mr. Vansittart being a man of distinguished Probity, and in a situation to understand fully the subject on which he...
270To George Washington from Rufus King, 26 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
As I forward several copies of the news Paper that contained the advertisement concerning your suit in the Chancery of Virginia, though a Ship in which one of them was sent, has been carried into France I hope some others arrived safe and in Season —Every one is anxious to hear from Vienna, the latest accounts from which, leaving it uncertain whether we are to expect the news of a Great...
271To George Washington from Rufus King, 6 February 1788 (Washington Papers)
Our convention this day ratified the constitution 187 affirmatives 168 negatives the majority although small are very respectable, and the minority in addition to great Temper & moderation, publickly declare that the Discussion has been fair & candid, and that the majority having decided in favor of the constitution, they will devote their Lives & Fortunes to support the Government—with...
272To George Washington from Rufus King, 27 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your Letter of the 31st of July, and according to your request, have procured, and now send inclosed the Affidavit of Mr Harrison the Publisher of the London Gazette, that the Chancery Order which you some months since sent to me for that purpose had been published in that News Paper for nine weeks successively. With the most perfect Respect and Esteem, I have...
273To George Washington from Rufus King, 6 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 22d of december. Count Rumford being in Bavaria, I have requested the minister of that Country at this court, to forward your Letter to the count with his next dispatch —I have delivered to Mr Fulton the letter for him, and as soon as Sir John Sinclair returns to Town I will also deliver the Letter addressed to him —I have before sent two...
274To George Washington from Rufus King, 6 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your Letter of the 15 of June; and having a few minutes before the Mail for New York is dispatched, I employ them in sending you inclosed the copy of a Letter that I received a few days past from our Consul at Hamburgh, which announces the approaching release of General La Fayette. Knowing the friendship that you have uniformly had for him, and recollecting...
275To George Washington from Rufus King, 12 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your Letter of the 25. of August, and Doctr Nicholl whose advice I have asked has been so obliging as to give me information respecting the manner in which the order of the Court of Chancery should be published—in a day or two I will procure its insertion in the proper news paper—some little attention will be requisite to avoid as far as practicable the great...
276To George Washington from John Jay and Rufus King, 27 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Jay and Rufus King, 27 Jan. 1794. In his letter to Henry Knox of 15 Feb. , GW referred to “the subject of Mr Jay and Mr King’s letter to me, of the 27th of last month.”
277To George Washington from Rufus King, 29 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor today to receive your Letter concerning young la fayette, who arrived at Calais about three weeks since—this I have learnt from an american who saw him there. As it was well known in France that his father & family are in Holstein, I presume that the young man must have left France, and gone to his family—I understand that General La fayette intends imbarking for america Early...
278Powers of the Executive, [1 June] 1787 (Madison Papers)
Mad: agrees wth. Wilson in his difinition of executive powers—executive powers ex vi termini, do not include the Rights of war & peace &c. but the powers shd. be confined and defined—if large we shall have the Evils of elective Monarchies—probably the best plan will be a single Executive of long duration wth. a Council, with liberty to depart from their Opinion at his peril— Farrand, Records...
279Revisionary Power of the Executive and the Judiciary, [4 June] 1787 (Madison Papers)
This speech preceded Wilson’s motion, seconded by JM, to combine the judiciary with the executive in vetoing legislative acts. Mad. The Judicial ought to be introduced in the business of Legislation—they will protect their Department, and uniting wh. the Executive render their Check or negative more respectable—there is weight in the objections agt. this measure—but a Check is necessary...
280[The Defence No. XXX], [9 December 1795] (Hamilton Papers)
ADf , in the handwriting of Rufus King, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; The [New York] Herald; A Gazette for the Country , December 9, 1795. For background to this document, see the introductory note to “The Defence No. I,” July 22, 1795 . Except for a few words inserted by H, the draft of “The Defence No. XXX” is in the handwriting of Rufus King.