31To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 23 September 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
23 September 1801, Amsterdam. Forwards an enclosure [not found] that he has received since his letter of the previous day. Reports that the legislature rejected the new constitution proposed by three members of the Batavian Directory after receiving a protest against it from the other two directors. The directors who had proposed the plan then employed a “Military Escort” to seal off the...
32To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 30 September 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
30 September 1801, Amsterdam. Forwards two issues of the Leiden Gazette . Recent reports of British victory in Egypt conflict with later accounts of Menou’s determination to hold out in the hope of receiving aid from France, the government of which appreciates “the importance of the Object as one means of attacking the Colossal Strength of GB. in the E[ast] I[ndies].” The settlement of...
33To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 7 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 October 1801, Amsterdam. Reports that, contrary to general expectation, peace preliminaries between France and Great Britain were signed at London on 2 Oct.; terms are still unknown. Declares event will “produce a marked & most material change in the political & commercial Worlds, & its consequences on the future destinies of Europe cannot yet be traced.” Encloses letter to Jefferson on...
34To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 9 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 October 1801, Amsterdam. Confirms signing of the peace preliminaries between France and Great Britain; will send terms when available. Refers to his last letter where he mentioned that peace would decrease his consular fees; believes his income will be less than $500 per annum. Had suggested that consul be paid $2,000 per year and consular fees be credited against that sum. Now proposes that...
35To 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.
36To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 16 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
16 October 1801, Amsterdam. Encloses latest Leiden Gazette , which paper “will continue to be interesting till the Great Work of peace is effected by the Congress which is about to meet at Amiens & which will have yet to decide upon many very important interests on the great theater of Europe.” Expects American trade “will suffer by peace in the exact ratio of the advantages we reaped from the...
37To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 29 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 October 1801, Amsterdam. Acknowledges JM’s 1 Aug. circular and promises to reply fully at earliest opportunity. Will send copy of new Batavian constitution as soon as it is “published in a systematic form.” 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.
38To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 1 November 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 November 1801, Amsterdam. Will attend to contents of JM’s 1 Aug. circular letter . Takes satisfaction in never having issued any register, sea letter, or title to a vessel, except for his certification of oath of ownership like that described in circular. Has always avoided compromising American neutrality. Believes that greater and more specific powers for consuls would be beneficial to...
39To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 12 November 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 November 1801, Amsterdam. States difficulty of defining current political situation in Europe or predicting its ultimate form. Upcoming congress at Amiens will undertake this business; promises to communicate results. Adds in a postscript that late changes in Netherlands are a “visible departure” from the principles that gave rise to the revolution. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Amsterdam, vol....
40To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 November 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 November 1801, Amsterdam. Transmits Leiden Gazette . Waits “anxiously to know what will be the fate of my official situation as that of my family will thereon essentially depend .” RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Amsterdam, vol. 1). 1 p.; sent “Via New York / Care of Mr Ely”; postmarked New York; docketed by Wagner as received 18 Feb. A full transcription of this document has been added to the...
41To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 11 December 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 December 1801, Amsterdam. Transmits the Leiden Gazette to date. Thinks the congresses to be held at Amiens, Ratisbon, and Lyons may materially alter political state of Europe, but the results will not be known before spring. 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.
42To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 14 December 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 December 1801, Amsterdam. Transmits suggestion of Hubbard, one of the bankers of the U.S., who proposed “the legalization by our Consuls of the Powers of Attorney which accompany the transfer of our public funds from one person to another in foreign places, as an arrangement that would serve to give a little emolument to the Consular Officer without burthening the public Chest—& that would...
43To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 December 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 December 1801, Amsterdam. Transmits a duplicate of his 15 Dec. letter. Has encountered difficulties in obtaining mates’ signatures on drawback certificates since no more than one-third of U.S. ships approach closer than Den Helder, fifty miles distant. Has appointed an agent there to obtain signatures but, in view of complaints about that arrangement, suggests that signature and affidavit...
44To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 22 December 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
22 December 1801. Forwards copy of 22 Dec. Leiden Gazette . “Some symptoms of discontent are said to have lately made their appearance in Paris among the late Generals of the french Armies who are now without employ—but it appears that means have been found to appease them.” Dutch government is operating smoothly under the new constitution; definitive treaty is expected to restore commercial...
45To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 January 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 January 1802. Reports that American citizens are paying higher duties on their imports to and exports from Holland than those of any European nation by a differential of 1½ to 2 percent. The reason is a “constructive right claimed by the West India Company to certain duties on the American commerce.” The company sees fit “to include the U S in the term America used in their Charter...
46To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 1 February 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 February 1802, Amsterdam. Has mentioned in recent letters that if Mrs. Bourne’s state of health continues to make the voyage necessary, he wishes to have permission to accompany her to Baltimore. Explains that this would not occur until “towards the fall,” resulting in a short absence during winter when there is little business, and he would leave a respectable agent in charge. “Being loth...
47To 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...
48To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 22 February 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
22 February 1802, Amsterdam. States that he has decided to send his wife “to the Country for her health the ensuing season”; therefore, he will not return with her to the U.S. as suggested in his recent letters. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Amsterdam, vol. 1). 1 p. A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.
49To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 23 February 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
23 February 1802, Amsterdam. Transmits papers and states that as physicians think his wife’s 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.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Amsterdam, vol. 1). 1 p. In another note of 23 Feb. to JM...
50To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 18 March 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 March 1802, Amsterdam. Transmits the latest issues of the Leiden Gazette . Although many months have passed since the signing of peace preliminaries between France and Great Britain, no final arrangement has been made and the state of suspense is prejudicial to commerce. British government has ordered a “respectable fleet” to sea; this has created alarm as to the prospects for the...
51To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 April 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 April 1802, Amsterdam. Acknowledges JM’s letter of 25 Jan. , to which he would have replied before this had not the “distressing situation” of his family rendered him almost incapable of attending to business. “It is, About three weeks that Mrs Bourne (in consequence of child bearing) has been entirely deprived of her reason & suffered under the most violent fits of delirium. She still...
52To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 29 April 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 April 1802, Amsterdam. Regrets that the situation of his family, an account of which was given in his last letter, still prevents him from attending to JM’s request. Apologizes for apparent neglect of his duties. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Amsterdam, vol. 1). 1 p. A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.
53To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 25 June 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
25 June 1802, Amsterdam. Reports that his health is better and he is again performing his official duties. “But the Doctor strongly advises me to try to pass the seas to America before Winter with my family—as in his opinion being the best possible remedy to benefit the state of Mrs Bs mind & to give strength to my nerves. Should I resolve on this measure I shall claim & hope for the...
54To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 16 July 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
16 July 1802, Amsterdam. Transmits latest issues of Leiden Gazette ; “those you desired for the last years are all packed & only want a Conveyance to Baltimore—my house here will continue to forward those which succeed.” Expects to embark for the U.S. within the month, “as the most probable means of restoring the physical & intellectual health of Mrs B.,” and has made arrangements for filling...
55To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 25 July 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
25 July 1802, Amsterdam. “This will serve to inclose the two latest Leyden Gazettes & to confirm my decision of embarking in course of 10 days for the U States with Mrs B.… Craving the kind indulgence of Govt. for my absence I shall endeavour to make it as short as possible while in the interim I have made every proper arrangment for the affairs of the Consulate.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD ,...
56To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 26 October 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
26 October 1802, Baltimore. “The situation of Mrs. Bourne’s health since my arrival from Europe has hitherto retarded my intended visit to Washington.” Hopes to be able to proceed there soon to pay his respects and arrange some business matters. Has nothing material to report, as “accounts from Europe of a much later date” will have had more recent news. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Amsterdam, vol....
57To 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...
58To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 21 February 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 February 1803, Baltimore. Sends another parcel of Leiden Gazettes up to 24 Dec. 1802 and notes that the latest issue contains an account of the arrival of General Victor at The Hague, together with the staff of the army destined for Louisiana. “Indeed no further doubts can now be indulged as to the certainty of the preparations making for that expedition.” Captain Gardner has just arrived...
59To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 13 April 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 April 1803, Baltimore. “As I expect to leave this for Boston in course of ten days, I think it proper to give you this information in order that you may direct the Documents I am to receive from your Department to be prepared (if convenient) prior to that period.” Will probably embark for Europe from Boston but cannot yet fix the precise time. Should it be material for JM to know the date,...
60To 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...