1To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 3 January 1812 (Madison Papers)
I addressed, at the request of some Gentlemen, a line to you yesterday, introducing the Count de Crillon to your Excellency; and think it expedient to inform you, that I am in every respect uninformed in regard to the politicks of that nobleman, he being to me an entire stranger. Respectfully your Excellency’s unfeigned Friend RC ( DLC : Rives Collection, Madison Papers). Later docketed by JM,...
2Elbridge Gerry to Dolley Madison, 3 March 1814 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ Elbridge Gerry to Dolley Madison. 3 March 1814, “Senate Chamber.” “Mr Gerry presents his best respects to Mrs. Madison, & sends a letter this momen⟨t⟩ received from their honest friend at Lynn to herself & a letter accompanying it to himself. The latter contains a paragraph respecting small fishing boats, restrained by the embargo law so as to be useless to their needy owners; to be...
3To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 25 March 1813 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed petition I have the honor to transmit. It should have been directed to the supreme Executive, & affords me an opportunity of renewing my assurances of perfect esteem & respect, & of my remaining Yours most sincerely The petitioners I have reason to believe, are firm supporters of the national Government RC ( MdHi ). Enclosure not found, but a docket on the cover of the letter...
4To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 24 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I inclose the remarks, which I proposed to make, when I had the honor of paying my last respects to you. The delay has been owing, in a great measure, to sickness in my family, but it cannot be attended with any ill consequences. I shall wait on you soon, with the information for explaining such parts of the curious Journal of General Martial, relating to myself, as you was pleased to...
5To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 28 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Elbridge Gerry, 28 Sept. 1777. Gerry docketed the letter that GW wrote him on 26 Sept. in part: “ansd 28th.”
6[To Thomas Jefferson from Elbridge Gerry, 19 May 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 19 May 1784 . Noted in SJL as received 24 May 1784, “inclosing introductory letters.” Letter and enclosures not found.]
7To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 30 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Gerry presents his respectful compliments to the President of the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Massachusetts & incloses him a letter from Mr. Carmichael Chargé des Affairs at the Court of Madrid, part of which was by him intended to be communicated to the Academy. MHi : Adams Papers.
8To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 8 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I propose to embark for the United States this day, & have only a moment to inform you that Mr Skipwith will transmit you from Paris the letters which passed between the minister of foreign affairs & myself, just before my departure from that city— The aspect of affairs between the two republicks is very pacific at present on this side the Atlantick; God grant it may be so on my arrival the...
9To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 26 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
If an answer to the letter, which Your Excellency proposed to write to Mr Pickering on my concerns, is received, I will do myself the honor of waiting on You at any time which may best suit your convenience. Mrs Gerry unites with me in best respects to yourself & Lady, & be assured I remain, Dear Sir, with every sentiment / of attachment, Your / most obedt & very / huml Sert. MHi : Adams Papers.
10To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 19 June 1807 (Madison Papers)
Shall I request the favor of a letter of introduction to Mr Armstrong, our minister at Paris, for Mrs Blake who is to embark soon for Marseilles, with her little daughter, for her health? This lady is a particular friend of ours, wife of George Blake Esq, district attorney for Massachusetts, & an elegant fine woman: from Marseilles she proposes to proceed to Paris. accept my best wishes for...
11To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 11 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a copy of my letter to the Secretary of state, & your pamphlet, with the paragraph which I mentioned. Mrs Gerry unites with me, in best respects to yourself & Lady, & complimts to Mrs Smith and Your family— I remain dear Sir with sincere / attachment Your most / obedt Sert MHi : Adams Papers.
12To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 6 August 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Elbridge Gerry, 6 Aug. 1776. On 16 Aug. GW wrote to Gerry : “Your favours of the 3d & 6th have come duly to hand.”
13To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 23 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you, that I have just received, by Capt Eaton, the dispatches from the department of State; containing two large & two Small packets—I have the honor / to be my dear Sir with / perfect respect—your sincere friend / & very huml. serv MHi : Adams Papers.
14To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 3 August 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Elbridge Gerry, 3 Aug. 1776. On 16 Aug. GW wrote to Gerry : “Your favours of the 3d & 6th have come duly to hand.”
15To Thomas Jefferson from Elbridge Gerry, 27 March 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me, with great sincerity, to congratulate you on your appointment to the office of Vice-President of the United States. It was in my mind a very desirable object, and a wish which I ardently expressed at the meeting of the electors; but, as we were unanimously of opinion that Mr. Adams’ pretensions to the chair were best, it was impossible to give you any votes without annulling an...
16To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 21 December 1813 (Madison Papers)
I was arrested in my intention to have left my family in time to have met the Senate on the first day of their Session, by the sudden & severe illness of Mrs Gerry & two children; & after their recovery, did not conceive that the political campaign would open before the newyear, & concluded it best to remain here & avoid the extreme bad roads. The Publick are anxiously waiting the result of...
17To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 28 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
Being here on a few days visit with Mrs. Gerry to her aged parents, & having left six small children, the eldest of whom has the care of the rest and of the domesticks, I am deprived of the honor of paying my personal respects to you at this time. When I wrote to Mr. Monroe, I supposed he was in Philadelphia: it being so announced in the news papers, his conduct in making an inmate of Paris...
18To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 17 November 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have read your message, with great attention & pleasure. It is clear, candid, firm & dignified, & cannot fail of convincing G Britain, that your object is just, your demands are reasonable, & that you will support them at all events. In this resolution, you will unite the eastern part of the nation; except british subjects, traders & partizans, who in case of a conflict, would soon...
19Elbridge Gerry to Thomas Jefferson, 11 June 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Here I am, my dear Sir, by the partiality of my friends, & discomfiture of my political enemies; again in the vortex of national politicks. My line of duty is plain & easy, & I shall endeavour to adhere to it. But I must confess, that I am much disappointed in a very pleasing anticipation, an interveiw at the seat of government with my ancient & highly respected friend of Monticello ; for I am...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Elbridge Gerry, 6 July 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Your obliging letters of the 12th of may , and 21st of June, I have received; and have taken a step, by accepting the appointment to France, which it is difficult to justify to my family, under existing circumstances. Your information and opinion, which had great influence in this decission; the weighty considerations, that the appointment having been once declined, a second refusal might at...
21To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 16 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
Whilst the late envoys were in Paris, they recommended Mr William Lee, in a letter to Mr Pickering, as a suitable character for a Consul; & it was expected, he would apply for the consulate of Bourdeaux, which it was then supposed would be vacant: & he now proposes to renew his application. being informed of this circumstance, & having, after the fullest enquiry, & conviction of his merit,...
22To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 18 March 1784 (Washington Papers)
By the last Post I received from the president of the Senate of Massachusetts a Letter, inclosing the papers herewith transmitted, & requesting me to write to your Excellency on the Subject. As I have no other Knowledge of the Matter, than what is derived from Colo. Gridley’s Letter & the Resolve accompanying it, I can only say, that when your Excellency is at Leisure, if You think it...
23To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 7 April 1814 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Elbridge Gerry. 7 April 1814, Washington. “I have the Honor of enclosing another letter from B General Boyd, on the subject of his rank. I do this, to comply with his manifest wish & expectation, in writing to me on the subject.” RC and enclosure ( DLC ). RC 1 p. The enclosure (3 pp.) was Brig. Gen. John P. Boyd to Gerry, 24 Mar. 1814, stating Boyd’s belief that his merits and...
24To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 15 February 1813 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor last week of addressing a line of introduction to yourself, of my neighbour John Appleton Esq, stating his desire to be occupied in some public office; and being apprized of his wish to administer the functions of the Marshalls office in regard to Prisoners, it is incumbent on me to be explicit on the subject, by declaring, that this was not my object, but that on the other...
25To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 10 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I addressed a line to you yesterday, with a bound collection of Edes’ Gazettes printed in 1775 & 6, to the care of Mr. Marston. I now am honored by yours of the 2d & 9th instant, & am much obliged to you, for their impressive & instruct i ve contents. You are the only friend, & almost the only person of the United States, who is capable of giving full information on the subject of our...
26To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 24 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
Having transmitted to Mr Pickering, additional documents, numbered from 36 to 50 inclusively, you will probably peruse them. The first, contained a copy of a motion, I made to the other Envoys; to put an end, as early as the 21st of October 1797, to the disgraceful communications of X & Y. at the bottom of the original, is a note in the handwriting of General Pinckney, which shews, that it was...
27To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 26 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I am honored by your confidential letter of the 30th of Decer, & am sorry that any event should render it uncertain, whether you shall appoint Consuls to France. that Mr Lee, amidst the interfering applications of so many candidates, should be represented to the President as a Jacobin, is not to my mind, in this epoch of intrigue, slander, injustice, unexpected or extraordinary. but I am...
In a conference with the President of the U.S. at his house on a visit three days after his arrival he informed me that soon after his speech to Congress at the opening of the last session he required of Mr Pickering a copy of my despatches in order to send them to Congress. That after waiting a proper time he sent again to the Secretary for them. That he applied a third time & pressed their...
29To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 14 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am honored by your letters of the 7th and 8th instant. The satisfaction which you are pleased to express at my acceptance of the mission, is the most flattering circumstance of my political concerns. I have taken passage in the ship Union for Rotterdam, & expect to sail in ten days; having notified Mr Pinckney by two vessels which are to sail this day & tomorrow, of this circumstance, & of...
30To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 13 June 1810 (Madison Papers)
From some circumstances which have come to my knowledge, I am induced to think, that measures are adopted to shake the confidence of Government, in their district attorney, George Blake Esqr. If so, the grounds are said to be, his having had in his office, a brother, & his having associated with native & foreign gentlemen, of different politicks . I regret exceedingly, that reports of this...
31To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 18 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
Mr Gerry presents his best respects to the President of the United States, & sends by the bearer ten pair of squabs, of which he requests his acceptance. They have been learnt to feed in indian dough, & when put into the pigeon House, must be supplyed daily with water & gravel, & confined to the house untill they have young—The house should be locked and under the care of one person, as they...
32To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 21 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
The bearer of this, Mr. Waldo, is the Gentleman whom I mentioned, in a letter which I had the honor to address you at paris, as an applicant for the office of Consul in some part of France. he is well known & was much respected at Paris, altho he was a zealous advocate for the rights of his Country. his character, in regard to abilities, honor, probity, & politeness, stands high with all who...
33Elbridge Gerry to Abigail Adams, 6 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the Pleasure of addressing You, nothing of Importance has occurred in the Concerns of our Friend excepting a Letter from Mr. Jay, wherein he with great Candour and good Sense has endeavoured to do Justice to Mr. Adams’ Character, and recommended him as the most suitable person to represent the united States at the Court of London; declaring at the same Time in the most positive...
34To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 22 July 1812 (Madison Papers)
Since my recovery from indisposition, I have had an interview with General Dearborn, who informed me that he was soon to depart from Boston; & being informed by him of the state of our Castle, I enquired what was to prevent the Enemy, if apprized of our defenceless situation, from embarking all its regular troops at Nova Scotia, in transports trusting its defence for a short period to their...
35Elbridge Gerry to Abigail Adams, 3 September 1801 (Adams Papers)
In our absence from home, you was so obliging as to address a line to M rs Gerry, which she has desired me to acknowledge, & to inform you, that in leiu of the first volume of Wraxall, that of Volneys travels was by mistake enclosed to her. this is sent to M r Smiths, & if the volume of Wraxall should be sent there, or at M rs Catharine Davis’ in tremont Street, I will order my servant to call...
36To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 8 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
Since my last the Situation of the Camp has prevented the Committee of Congress from transacting the Business of their Appointment. The Enemy, the Evening after the Date of my letter, marched out with their whole Force, which is said to consist of twelve thousand five hundred Effectives. We received Information of their preparations, a Day or two before, by persons who left the City; and the...
37To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 16 February 1809 (Madison Papers)
I sincerely congratulate you on your election to the Presidential Chair: an event which has saved the Country, in my opinion, from innumerable evils. The object of this, is to bring to your veiw an application which, as I am informed, was preferred by the late Governor Sullivan, Mr. Blake our district Attorney, six out of seven senators, & thirty Representatives from Maine, in favour of Nathan...
38To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 27 December 1811 (Madison Papers)
I addressed a line to you yesterday on a minor subject; at this time, my mind is intent on a very important point. It has been confidentially communicated to me, that there are two revolutionary officers on the list of candidates for the office of Commander in chief of the national Army; Governor Hull & General Brooks. Governor Hull & General Dearbo[r]n were in my mind the most prominent...
39To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 6 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your letters of the 11th of February has given me great pleasure. I regretted exceedingly that the incidents of the day, at our last interview, deprived me of the pleasure you then proposed, of conversing fully & freely on the subject of the Navy. I have this day written to Captain Selman (Commodore Broughton being no more) & have requested of him every information, & a copy of every document...
40To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 20 May 1812 (Madison Papers)
In a letter which I addressed to You yesterday, I omitted to mention, that you have the entire confidence of the republicans in this quarter. They veiw with deep regret, every attempt of a few of the republican party to supplant you; with indignation, the proffered support of the federalists to your competitor; & with grief, the division, small as it is, which has been the result: but you may...
41To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 16 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have received a letter from Mrs Corran, formerly Mrs Bland, at Paris, expressing “a wish to acquire for Mr Corran an appointment of Consul.” I do not know the Gentleman, or his character; you are probably acquainted with both, & can judge of the expediency & policy of the measure. Havre de Grace, or Antwerp she prefers, & states, that “tho her husband was a subject to England, his opinions...
42To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 2 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
Mr Henry Orne, a Grandson of Colo Azer Orne decd., one of our principal revolutionary characters, a young Gentleman of inflexible honor, of an excellent moral Character, warmly attached to the existing government, & possessing talents which particularly qualify him for military pursuits; for which he uniformly has manifested a strong predilection, has applyed for a Captaincy, or if no vacancy,...
43To Thomas Jefferson from Elbridge Gerry and Others, 23 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
We have the honor of addressing this by our worthy friend, the honorable Mr. Sayre, who was formerly Sheriff of London. The active part, which at the commencement of the revolution, he took in favor of America, is, we presume, too well known to you, to require a relation: and the loss he sustained, in consequence of his opposition to the british ministry, is not less a matter of general...
44To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 12 December 1812 (Madison Papers)
I am happy, extremely so, in the prospect of your re-election; for the reverse of this would, in my mind, have given to G Britain, a complete triumph over our most meritorious administration, & Legislature, & Would have been considered by her, & probably by all Europe, as a sure pledge of the Revocation of our Independence. If the issue of the Election should be such, as is here anticipated by...
45To Thomas Jefferson from Elbridge Gerry, 27 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The message, which You did me the honor to transmit, I have read with great pleasure. it exhibits to my mind, respectful, friendly, firm, & vigilant conduct towards foreign powers—acquisitions of territory, by purchase & cession, inestimable, as they respect the wealth, security, & happiness of our western sister states, the fiscal resources of the nation, and the excision of a fertile source...
46To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 24 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of your Letter of the 22d directed to the President or any Member of Congress, I have conferred with William Henry Esqr. of this Place upon the most expeditious Method of collecting the Arms & Accoutrements in the Hands of the Inhabitants here, & he is of opinion that it may be accomplished by your Warrant to him grounded on the late Resolution of Congress for that & other...
47To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 23 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am honored by your letter of the 17th, & sincerely thank you for the information it contains. Nothing is more essential to a public officer, than to be apprized of the imputations against him; for if well founded, he will thus have a fair opportunity of correcting his errors, & if unfounded, he will by the same means be better prepared for self defence. in addition to the great difficulties...
48To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 30 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
The subject of this letter, is the celebration of the 4th of July at Lexington; a fete which I hope will be honored by your company. The crisis appears to require every measure for animating the friends of our Independence. In this quarter they are sensible of it, & are making every exertion for honoring the day. Your ideas on this subject, as communicated by accident, always struck my mind...
49To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 5 March 1814 (Madison Papers)
I think it necessary to communicate in toto, General Boyd’s letter to me of the 22d of Feby, & also Doctor Eustis’ of the 14th, on the subject of promotions over the General. Some part of the former, indicates an intention to have confined the letter to my own inspection; but I prefer your perusal of both, confidentially. I can give no opinion on the subject, & submit it implicitly to your...
50To Alexander Hamilton from Elbridge Gerry, [8 September 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter requesting “any explanation which may serve to throw further light on the subject” of the Baron de Steuben’s claims, & inclosing an extract of a report lately made thereon. In answer thereto, I must observe, that the distance of the period at which the Baron arrived at York Town is such, as to make it difficult if not impossible for a person to be very particular or...