1To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 15 May 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
15 May 1812, New York. Introduces Mr. Budd, who wishes to meet JM and has applied to Livingston for a letter of introduction. His standing in New York “both as a Gent. & a Lawyer is very respectable, & his political principles perfectly correct.” “He has not explained to me his views but I am satisfied that he has too much modesty & good sense to ask any thing that it would be improper to...
2To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 8 January 1810 (Madison Papers)
When I look at the date of your letter, I am actualy asshamed [ sic ] of the time I have kept the pamphlet you were so obliging as to lend me. But the fact is, that it has gone the round of the neighbourhood, every body in this vicinity being infected with the merino influenza, & eagerly seeking whatever may afford them information, or furnish food to their disease. Having the same feelings...
3To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 25 October 1809 (Madison Papers)
Tho I know that your time is occupied by more important concerns, yet the interest you take in the introduction of merino sheep induces me to hope that you will find leasure (at least when you return to your farm) to run over the little treatize which accompanies this letter. It was written with a view to remove the prejudices of common farmers, who are suspicious of every thing new, & to...
4To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 24 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
I send by this post a roll containing a patern for a coat, of cloth which Mrs. Edward P Livingston begs you wd. do her the honor to accept. It is a fine specimen of domestic manufacture, & of the superiority of Cler Mont Merino wool, as you will Judge by its being much finer than the superfine british broad cloths made from Spanish wool, since it took 1/ 4 less wool to make the same quantity...
5To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 17 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the 11th. which I have just now recd. I feel much more indifferent to the measures of the belligerents with respect to us than many of my fellow citizens not because I am more regardless of the general welfare but because I sincerely believe that "all things are working together for good". In our infancy we had the powerful protection we required. When we attained...
6To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 23 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
This will be delivered by my sons in Law Robert L. and Edward P Livingston. One being a senator may give you the politics of this State, & the other that of France, as far as a traveller could collect it. For myself I am content to be a mechanic & a farmer & find more pleasure in these occupations than you statesmen do in buffeting the storm that beats around you at Washington. I mentioned to...
7To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 12 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
I take the Liberty to enclose a letter to Genl. Armstrong, containing letters to my sister, & my children, which I pray you to have the goodness to forward. My extreme anxiety to let my Children hear from me, & to have them home again, must be my appology for the trouble I give you since I find that none of my letters by the Ossage reached their destination, except that which you had the...
8To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 5 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
This will be delivered by Mr. Jasper Livingston grandson of your old acquaintance Mr. Philip Livingston who died in attendance on Congress at York town, & son in law of Judge Livingston. He is established in the Island of Jamaica The office of agent for seamen being vacant by the death of Mr. Lenox, he thinks it might be of use to him in his business to have it confered upon him. As it is a...
9To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 8 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
Presuming that you will have some means of keeping open the intercourse with Genl. Armstrong, & being very anxious to inform my children in France of the necessity there is for their immediate return, I take the liberty to inclose a letter to my sister, covering one to my daughter, which I pray you to have the goodness to send with your dispatches. I should not have taken the liberty to...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 20 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Knowing that you find leasure amidst the bustle of politicks to amuse yourself with less important, but more pleasing studies, I have taken the liberty to send you the 3d Vol: of the proceedings of the society for agriculture & useful arts in this State. The first parts, I beleive I have had the honor to send you some years ago, if not, be so obliging as to let me know, & they shall be...
11To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 12 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I ought long before this to have returned you my thanks, & those of Coll. Livingston for your kind compliance with our request in forwarding to him the passport & dispatches, with which he sailed the 21st. of last month for Bordeaux. But indeed my mind has been harrassed by anxiety on his departure, & that of my daughter & two of her children, who accompanied him. As they all lived in the...
12To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 17 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
The state of my son in law, Col. Livingstons, health compels him to make a voyage. He accordingly proposes to sail for France in the course of a fortnight at furthest, & will afford you a convenient opportunity of writing. He is very desirous of being the bearer of dispatches from you, & of obtaining your passport, as he thinks it will afford him protection against british & French privateers,...
13To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 22 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
Knowing your engagements during the session of Congress, I have not thought it proper to break in upon your time by an earlier answer to your favor of the 28 Janry. The enclosed note you will have the goodness to read, & deliver to the auditor, as it contains the only explanation I can at present give to his inquiries. I sincerely congratulate you upon the total defeat of Mr. Burrs plans, for...
14To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 24 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. so many letters from Mr. Mitchel soliciting my interest with you in relation to his question on the consulate at Havre, for which two commissions exist that I can not but beg the favor of you to procure the presidents determination. If Mr. Barnets commission supercedes that of Mr. Mitchel I presume that he might be otherwise provided for, as he is realy an attentive & good...
15To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 18 January 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have but just received the enclosed from Mr Mitchel with a request to forward it to you. He complains in his Letter to me of Mr. Barnets exercising authority within his Jurisdiction. When a commission of Vice Consul was sent him I considered it either as a supersedins [ sic ] of Mr Barnets commission, or at least as vesting the right in Mr. Mitchel till Mr Barnet by removing to Havre put...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 11 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
After my return home I made search among my papers for the catalogue of Pougens that you expressed a wish to have, & I was so fortunate as to find it. I send it with this. I mentioned to Mr Madison, in some of my letters, that there was a ballance in the hands of the bankers on the book account, which stood to my credit. I find by looking over their letters, that this ballance is fr. 1236.7....
17To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 16 November 1805 (Madison Papers)
Mr ⟨F⟩; Skipwith may probably have brought letters for me. If so I shall deem it a favor to have them sent to me at Philadelphia where I shall remain till the 23d. of this month. I saw here the new order of council relative to colonial commerce. It led me to reflect upon what you observed with respect to Russia but not only Russia but Sweden Austria & Germany are deeply interested in a change...
18To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 10 October 1805 (Madison Papers)
I received on the fifth Inst your favor of the ⟨2⟩;8th. Septr. I began immediately to unpack my papers and have been since employed in examining them, this took ⟨s⟩;ome time, as they were all unsorted & put into a trunk for the convenience of transportation. I can find none of the papers you refer to. It was my practice in all ship cases t⟨o⟩; put the papers into the hands of Mr. Skipwith for...
19To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 29 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
I arrived here with my family this Morning, having <left> Nantes the 26th. May. I should proceed to Washington as <soo>n as I had a little recovered the fatigue<s> of my voyage, <did> I not apprehend that at this season both the president & <your>self would have left it before I could arrive. I am extrem<ely> <an>xious to have the pleasure of seeing you both, & to give <you an> accomt of my...
20To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 4 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
I returned to Paris a few days ago from my tour thro Italy & Germany. When the Emperor was <o>n the point of leaving this for Milan. The day of his <de>parture I was honoured to my great surprize by the <le>tter of which the enclosed is a copy accompanied by the Emperors portrait in a gold box, very richly set with dia<m>onds of very considerable value. I made no difficulty <in> accepting this...
21To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 21 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
Being now entirely divested of my diplomatic functions it becomes my duty to Send you the concluding Scene: on Sunday Genl Armstrong & myself were admitted to a private audience when I delivered my letter of recall together with an apology for its adress to the first Consul, & referring to Genl Armstrong for the assurances of the President’s recognition of the change of Government here,...
22To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 17 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
Circumstances have prevented my availing myself of your kindness, in permitting me to retire: before this. The peculiar State of our money transactions, the critical Situation of Europe & of our own affairs with Spain, made me think it Essential to remain here till my place could be Supplied, & the rather as Mr Graham the only man in whom I had Sufficient confidence to leave our business with,...
23To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 23 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have just returned from the Minister’s & have the Satisfaction of informing you that he has Spoken to the Emperor on the Subject of Consular agents in their Colonies & that he has agreed to allow them during the war & has promised to Send me a note to that effect as well as to give the most precise orders on the Subject of the Depredations committed on our Commerce. I can not but think this...
24To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 10 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
As I am in daily expectation of the arrival of General Armstrong, this will probably be the last official letter which I Shall have to write. It is proper then that I Should give you a Short State of your affairs at this time. First with respect to the debt I have laboured thro’ the principal difficulties, & in ten days from this time I hope to commence the drawing of the bills—as the business...
25To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 21 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
The ambassador of Spain has this moment left me. In the course of our conversation he dropped Some things that it is important you Should know as indicative of the Sentiments of his Court & perhaps as necessary to form the basis of the measures that it may be proper immediately to take. He of course insisted that West Florida made no part of our purchase, but as he Supported this Sentiment by...
26To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 14 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I enclose the reply of the Minister upon the Subject of the debts, it is in the language I expected, & were it not that I was in hourly expectation of the arrival of Genl Armstrong who will have your full instructions I Should reply to it, & Shew that when we assumed to pay to the amount of the 20 millions it was not intended to discharge France from any excess, Since the words of the treaty...
27To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 4 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd the enclosed from Mr Pinkney with directions to forward them to you after having read them, which I have but just had the leisure to do as the gent who is to carry them sets off directly. They contain the only direct intelligence on the subject of our affairs in Spain that I have recd. Mr. Pinkneys letters to me having never reached me. Tho the conveyance by which you will...
28To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 4 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my last Mr d’Oubril has received an answer to the Note of the Emperor of Russia; this answer not only refuses all Satisfaction on the points raised by him, But recriminates in Strong terms & charges Alexander with having himself violated the Convention between the nations, in giving protection to the ennemies of France, & in taking possession of the Grecian Isles &c. In consequence of...
29To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 29 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my letter of yesterday I have received the enclosed note on the Subject of the trade with hispaniola: You will find in it a certain degree of asperity, which I feared from the Soreness that they yet feel relative to that Island, & the massacre of which they have just heard: But as this note was written too Soon after the receipt of mine to admit of any communication with the Emperor who...
30To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 28 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
I yesterday received your letter of 26th of June announcing the appointment of Genl Armstrong as my Successor, & covering a letter of leave to the First Consul . Notwithstanding my wish to go at an earlier period, I found it impossible in then [ sic ] State of our affairs, as I knew no person with whom I could leave the charge. I had hoped to have prevailed on Mr Graham, but he refused to...
31To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 8 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
Nothing extraordinary has occurred Since my last, a duplicate of which you will receive with this, as I find Some errors in the copy Sent you; if you have received it, be pleased to correct it by the duplicate: I had Strong hopes while in England that a change of Ministry would take place, in which case we Should doubtless have had peace; at present, Mr Pitt appears to be able to Stand his...
32To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 26 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
A courier has just arrived from Russia. The emperor demands the fulfilment of certain secret articles in his treaty with France among which are compensation for the king of Sardinia the perfect independance of the Italian states the affairs of Germany to be regulated jointly between them and as a consequence of it the withdrawing the troops from Hanover or the Russian chargé d’affaires is to...
33To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 25 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my last 24 June, I have in pursuance of your instructions put in the enclosed notes on the Subject of the Convention, I have yet received no Such official answer as will Justify my further proceedings, since till they determine either to open the negotiation you require, or reject it or till they consent to a partial draft. Mr Talleyrand is now absent, & Mr Marbois’s powers do not go to...
34To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 22 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
Last Night General Moreau was sent from the Temple in a Coach and six to Bayon (You have seen that he was sentenced to two years imprisonment). This is commuted into an exile of at least 100 leagues from France. He has therefore determined to go to America where you may expect him soon after the receipt of this letter. Having learned these circumstances, I called this morning on the Minister...
35To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 20 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have reflected much upon the state of our affairs with respect to the Floridas. My sentiment still is as it always has been that we should not hesitate to take possession of West Florida and act as if no doubt could be entertained of our title. Once in possession France would find it necessary to make Spain acquiesce in it as it would be very repugnant to her interest at this time to suffer...
36To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 19 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I left Paris the 12th of last month upon a visit to England & returned on the 15th of this; I chose this time to avail myself of the President’s permission long Since obtained, not only for the reasons mentioned in my former letters, but because I knew that the whole attention of the Ministers being engrossed by the new arrangement[s] that were making no business of any Sort could be done; I...
37To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 5 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
My public letters have Shewn you the State of our affairs here & the very disagreable Situation in which they are placed by the obstinacy (to ascribe the mildest motive) of one, & the weakness of the other two Commissioners. I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your friendly private letter. With respect to the correspondence of Mr Monroe & myself on the Subject of the guarantee, I have no...
38To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 4 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
I informed you in my last of my intention to comply with your instructions & to obtain from this Government Such an explanation of the Convention as would embrace all the objects the President wished & then to have proceeded to draw bills for the principal of the debts, leaving the interest as a fund for equalizing the demands by dividing it among the creditors, by this means the further...
39To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 3 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
Mr Leonard delivered on the 26th. April your favor of the 31. January together with a triplicate of the Same. The duplicate, which I suppose has been Sent by some other conveyance, has not yet reached me, so that till his arrival I had had no letter from you Since the 15th. January. I also recd. by the same Messinger your favor of the 7th. Feby. Nothing could be more happy than the arrival of...
40To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 14 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
The only Subject which engages the public attention Since the date of my last letter is the Death of Pichegru who as you will find by the enclosed papers contrived to Strangle himself in prison, & the flight of Drake & Smith from their respective missions at Munich & Stuttgard, together with further discoveries of their intrigues as these are minutely detailed in the papers I enclose, it will...
41To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 31 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
Enclosed are some letters that have passed between Mr. Skipwith and me. They sufficiently explain themselves—I shall make no comment upon them. I would only observe that the President having left it in my discretion to fix the salary of Mr Skipwith as agent of prizes at any sum not exceeding 2000$ I was induced to go to the extent of the allowance because at the time there were many prize...
42To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 29 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
I enclose you the papers containing a circular letter from the Minister of Exterior Relations to the foreign Ministers accompanying a correspondence of Mr Drake the British Minister at Munich you will find these in one of the Moniteurs inclosed, you will also find the replies of the foreign Ministers, my note is enclosed as delivered in English accompanied by the French translation which I had...
43To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 24 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have not time to write a public letter by this conveyance of which I have just heard & the post is going out. This is to convey information of a fact that excites much sensation here & will probably thro’ all Europe. A body of french troops were sent into the electorate of Bade[n] & to the castle of Ettenheim inhabited for some time past by the duke d Enghien. He with many others was...
44To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 12 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
I received from Mr. Paterson your favor of 28th Octr yesterday. I had previously been honoured by one from the president on the same subject. On hearing of Jerome Bonapartes marriage I broke the business to some of the ministers & to Mr. Joseph Bonaparte. They all agreed in sentiment with each other, & believed that the first Consul would be very much irritated & extreamly hurt, tho they...
45To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 15 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
I mention[ed] in my last the existence of an assassination plot it has at present assumed a very [im]portant aspect I have thro a lady intimately connected with the family of the first consul who has the means of information and upon whom I can depend [as] well as thro another channel of great respecta[b]ility the following facts not yet known in Paris tho they must soon be Joly the aid de...
46To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 13 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
The principal object of this is to Send you an extract of a letter Just received from Mr Graham, as it is possible that Mr Pinkney may not find So early an opportunity of writing to you. It appears by Mr Graham’s letter that Mr Pinkney had not yet received information of the Communication made by the Spanish Court to the First Consul on the Subject of our Treaty. After this I think it...
47To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 8 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you my answer to the Minister’s notes enclosed in my last —they amount to little as I have thought it best to dwell in generals, not knowing the President’s instructions to Commodore Preble. I find by a letter of 22 January just received from Mr Pinkney, that the Minister of Exterior Relations has kept his word with me relative to Florida . I wrote you some time...
48To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 2 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
I mentioned to you in one of my former letters that so soon as I learned from Mr Pichon (your letters not having arrived till Some time after) the opposition that the Spanish Envoy had given to the Treaty, I wrote to the Minister, & afterwards I called upon him & entered into a full discussion of the Subject. That he candidly Shewed me Mr. Pichon’s letter, & assured me the discontents of Spain...
49To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 30 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I find I was under a mistake, when in my last I informed you that the Commissioners were going on with their liquidations; none have been sent up with their final determination, but the first Seven, as I now am informed (tho not from them, for they communicate nothing to me) these were Sent up before the arrival of Mr Maclure from England. They are yet retained in the French Treasury, from...
50To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 18 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I enclose a copy of the instructions of the French Government to their Commercial agent at Tripoli upon the Subject of our prisoners. I Shall Send it by the Post to morrow to Leghorn, with directions to Mr Appleton to forward it by the first conveyance, & if none offers to Send a Small vessel with it, & the notes I have Sent him to Commodore Prebble to whom I have written on the Subject, &...