1To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 17 October 1815 (Madison Papers)
From my own knowledge of Majr. Harris’s charactor and services, and from information received from many officers of distinction, I have no doubt of the correctness of the accompanying narative, and I think his claim to rank, as stated by Genl. Ripley, no more than he is clearly entitled to. His highly respectable standing in society, added to his faithfull and distinguished services, form such...
2Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, 3 July 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I should not have so long delay’d a reply to your very friendly & polite letter had circumstancies allowed me to mention the time when I could probably have the pleasure of seing you at Monticello . I have Just returned from a visit to my Children in the District of Maine , and I hope Mr s Dearborn & myself shall have the pleasure of seing you in Septem r probably near the end of the month.—...
3To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 21 March 1812 (Madison Papers)
Will not the late discovery of Treasonable intentions, render it expedient to be more cautious, in appointing Federal characters (especially in the Northern States) to the higher grades in the Army. A conciderable portion of Field officers are Federal, and if a still greater proportion of the Genl. officers should be of that description, would not the active supporters of the Government, and...
4Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on a Conversation with Henry Dearborn, 7 October 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
1815. Oct. 7. Gen l Dearborne informs me that the plaister of Paris is brought from the head of the Bay of Funday , where it extends all along the coast Windsor is the nearest town. the price pd to the proprietor for the stone is a quarter dollar a ton; and it is quarried & brought to the water edge for three quarter dollars a ton, so that it costs at the water edge a dollar a ton. MS ( DLC );...
5To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 7 April 1813 (Madison Papers)
The good of the service as well as a due regard to my own charactor, induces me to give you a scetch of the present state of affairs in the 9th. Military District. The Act of Congress for improving the organization of the Staff of the Army, and repealing such parts of the former Laws as come within the purview of the new Act, is concidered as displacing the officers who were appointed under...
6To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 17 June 1814 (Madison Papers)
By the request of Genl. Boyd I take the liberty of stating to you my opinion of his conduct at the landing of our Troops in uper Canada near Fort George. On that occasion I had an opportunity of observing the conduct of Genl. Boyd while landing at the head of his Brigade, under a very heavy and galling fire from a large body of British Troops, his conduct & that of Col Scott on that occasion...
7To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 6 June 1814 (Madison Papers)
The Bearer Mr. Eakin late Pay-Master for this District having requested me to say what I know of his character as a Public Officer—I feel no objection to stating that as far as my acquaintance with Mr. Eakin’s Character extends, he has been attentive to the duties of his Office and has been considered as a capable & correct Officer. Such appears to be the genl. Opinion of the principal...
8To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 15 August 1812 (Madison Papers)
I was this day honored with your letter of the 9th. inst. having been placed in a very unpleasant situation I have endeavored to make the best arrangements for the ultimate success of our Army, that circumstancies permit, the perticular circumstancies which have occasioned the most unfortunate imbarrasments, were my having no orders or directions in relation to uper Canada, (which I had...
9Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, 23 June 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
In your letter of the 16 th you were good enough to mention my Son ,— I was inform’d by M r Smith my former principle Clerk that an attempt would probably be made by Pickering to injure the character of my Son as an agent for fortifications, and M r Smith observed that he had mentioned the subject to you & that a postponement was thought advisable of his nomination as an officer in the Army
10Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, 10 March 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
My Son has enclosed to me your letter of the 20 th ult o and informs me that he had sent your letter to the man it was intended for, and requested him to send the machine to his care at Boston and he, my Son , would ship it to Richmond .—
11To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 30 April 1810 (Madison Papers)
With this you will receive a thing called a sermon, in which you will see exhibited a correct picture of New Engld. Federalism, excepting one strong feature, which the painter has not exhibited, viz. a deep rooted hostility to our present sistem of Government but he deserves great credit for having given a correct picture of the veracity, Charity, & candor of his party. Whether we shall...
12To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 21 October 1813 (Madison Papers)
By the direction of the Secretary of War I am at this place; and having visited the principal posts I consider it my duty, in the absence of the Secretary of war, to state to you the situation of the important posts in the vicinity of this City. The works are strong and extensive, and with suitable garrisons are well calculated for the defence of the Harbour and City; but the number of Troops...
13To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 17 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have been honored with your letter of the 8th. Inst. It is peculierly gratifying in my present situation, to be assured that your esteem & regard for me has undergone no change, and that you are persuaded that I shall not lose in any respect by the effect of time or truth. But at my time of life it could hardly be expected that I should quietly acquiesce in so unusual and so unprese[de]nted...
14Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, 27 February 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with peculier satisfaction that I can congratulate you on the happy and honorable termination of a war, that was forced upon our Country, by the impolitic and unjust measures of the British Government. but while I rejoice at the close of the war & at the glorious events which terminated our Military conflicts, I feel the most severe mortification & depression, as a Citizan of...
15Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, 31 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
your delightfull retirement does not, I presume, prevent you from casting some occasional glances at the passing events at home & abroad, or from feeling a strong interest in our general concerns, and among other political events the regeneration of four or five of the Northern States, must afford you, & all other honest friends to our Constitution & government, real pleasure; I probably feel...
16Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, 3 December 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
on my arrival at Washington from Virginia I enclosed your note to your friends at Richmond concerning the pay for plaster, to my Son in Boston , with a request that he would procure the plaster & have it sent to Richmond
17To John Adams from Henry Dearborn, 26 December 1809 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honor of receiving your several communications in relation to Manufactories, including your note of the 20th. inst. enclosing a letter from John Webb. Having sent about one hundred & fifty letters to different Gentlemen in various parts of this State in the month of August last, I had presumed that before this time I should have received so much information on the interesting...
18To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 4 April 1812 (Madison Papers)
Having written a letter to the Secretary of War, in which I have expressed a readiness to enter on the duties of my military appointment, I take the liberty, from the conversations that have passed on the subject, of reminding you, that I shall take it for granted, that the office of collector at Boston, will be kept open until war be actually commenced, or abandoned for the present and that...
19To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 8 July 1811 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty of presenting you a copy of an Oration pronounced on the 4th inst. by my Son, as to its merit, I can only say, that I hope the imperfections & defects may be in some measure ballanced by the honest zeal of the author. The two Mrs. Coles were with us at our festival. They set out this morning for the District of Maine. Please to ask Mrs. Madison to accept the tender of my...
20To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 22 March 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have recently been informed that intimation had been circulated at Washington that Majr. Wingate my Son in law, Mr. Ilsley, the Collector at Portland and several other respectable charactors at Portland & Bath, had favour’d the Clintoinan [ sic ] faction, and it is feared that the story had reached you. My personal & particular knowledge of the sentiments & conduct of those Gentlemen...
21To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 29 November 1810 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 November 1810, Boston. Notes that in his official capacity he has had many dealings with the district circuit courts. “The state of society here demands great firmness as well as good legal tallents in our Judges, especially in all questions that have any political bearing.” Cushing should therefore be replaced by “a sound strong independant Character”; suggests that either Gideon Granger...
22To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 5 February 1811 (Madison Papers)
I consider it my duty to give you the following information in relation to the conduct of our Consul Dabney at Fayal. I have received Mr. Dabneys official certificates to two facts which are contradicted by two witnesses on oath, one certificate is to verify the landing of a cargo at that Island, the other, certifying that the crew of the vessel from which the said cargo was landed, were there...
23To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 29 September 1815 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Henry Dearborn. 29 September 1815, Farrese Inn, Green Spring. “Mrs. Dearborn & myself are on our way to Monticello, we intended paying our respects to yourself and Mrs Madison previous to our visit at Monticello, but being anxious to reach the end of our journey while the good weather continues & before the roads became worse, we have concluded to pass on, and to take the liberty of...
24Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, 23 June 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I had this day the pleasure of receiving your very freindly and highly esteem’d letter of the 16 th I am very glad that the fish arrived safe and was satisfactory in quality.— The Tories in this quarter have been making great exartions to induce their subordinate, deceived, adherents, to believe that M r Madison is intitled to their confidence, and they effect to believe that he will abandon...
25To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 26 January 1815 (Madison Papers)
I should not take the liberty of addressing the following observations to yourself; had I not recently heard that the Secretary of War is very unwell. The Court Martial for the trial of Genl. Wilkinson has been in session twenty three days, and for the want of the principle witnesses on the part of the prosecution, no witnesses have yet been examined, the Judge Advocate having declined...
26To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 7 November 1809 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty of observing to you that Col Jona Russell of Providence is now here and about sailing for Toninggen, and if no Consul has been appointed for that place Col Russel would be pleased with the appointment, and as his Character is well known to you I presume you will with pleasure confer the appointment desired. If you should think proper to make the appointment, and will please...
27To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 3 July 1812 (Madison Papers)
Notwithstanding all the objections that have been made to gunboats, they are now call’d for, and I am fully persuaded that they may afford more security and protection to our extensive Seacoast than can be given by any other means we possess. There ought to be at least from sixty to seventy, on the Coast of New England, we have, a great number of ports & harbours with Towns & vilages,...
28To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 17 January 1812 (Madison Papers)
I was this morning honored with your letter of the 11th. Inst. I trust Sir that you will believe me when I say that I do not possess a sufficient degree of either vanity or ambition to induce me to desire such Military rank or command, as Gentlemen of superior tallents & Information only might aspire to, but to prevent any unnecessary delay or embarrasment, I will suspend any remarks in...
29Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, 26 September 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
If no new causes of delay occur I we shall set out tomorrow morning for Monticello . I wrote to M r Rodney immediately after I was honored with your friendly letter , and expected on my arrival at Wilmington that he would have Joined me at this place & proceeded on with us, but his official, or professional, ingagements disappointed me of the pleasure of his company. I am now fear that my...
30To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 24 July 1813 (Madison Papers)
From the unequivocal and positive order received from the Secretary of War, (a copy of which I take the liberty of enclosing) I had no option but implicit obedience. My health had so far improved as to enable me to reassume the command on the 26th. of June, of which I notified the Secretary of War. I received a letter from the Secretary of War dated May 27th. in which I was informed that Majr....