91To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 11 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have a few days since written to you transmitting you a letter which I addressed to the first Consul for tho I had got various Notes and observations under his eye, in an informal way—Yet I had reason to fear that what I wrote to the Minister particularly on the subject of the debt had not reached him, besides that I believed that he could not pass over a more direct address to him...
92To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 3 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
You will receive with this Duplicates of two letters which contain a general Statement of our affairs here—this is merely to inform you that I have received your letter of the 18th Jany in which you notify me of Mr Munroe’s appointment. I Shall do every thing in my power to pave the way for him, & Sincerely wish his mission may be attended with the desired effect; it will however cut off one...
93To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 18 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have been honoured by yours of the Novr. I am pleased to find that you are Satisfied with my applications to the Government on the Subject of the debt, I am only Sorry that those applications have hitherto been unsuccessful & as far as appears will continue to be unless Some motive more efficacious than that of justice or national faith or credit is held out. To enter into the financial...
94To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 5 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
Not knowing where to direct the enclosed I submit to your care. The bearer of this to Nantes waits so that I can write you nothing but that the Loussiana [ sic ] armament is still ice bound. The floridas not yet ceded owing I believe to some difficulty about parma & the solicitude of the Emperor of Russia to provide for the King of Sardinia. Spain is however prepared to make the cession & I...
95To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 24 January 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have just now heard of an opportunity from Havre. I am doubtful whether my letter will arrive in time for it. I therefore confine myself to inform you that Genl Bernadotte is named Minister to the United States in the place of Otto who will be employed here. Genl Bernadotte is brother in law to joseph Bonaparte & is a very respectable man & has the character of a decided Republican. I have...
96To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 20 December 1802 (Madison Papers)
As this letter will go to Rouen without being certain of finding the ship there by which I hope to send it, I must defer writing fully, and particularly to you, this being principally intended to cover the enclosed letter from Mr. Obrien, which it is of consequence that you should have as soon as possible. I have recd. your favor by Mde. Brogniard, and had as you will find anticipated your...
97To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 26 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Not knowing whether an agricultural Society is still in existence in Pennsylvania, I have chosen to adress this to you to whose Institution no useful discovery is foreign— I had heard here that the ashes of Pyrites were used as a manure, but I could meet with no satisfactory information on the subject till in a little excursion that I made lately into Flanders I was enabled to see the process...
98To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 14 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
In addition to my last (duplicates enclosed) I have obtained accurate information of the offer to Spain. It is either to sell them Parma for 48 millions of Livres or to exchange it for Florida. You see by this the value they put on Florida. I fear Spain will accede to their proposition. Lord Witworth is arrived. The affairs of Switzerland are in a train to be settled as France thinks proper...
99To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 11 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
After writing mine of this date I called on the Minister & Insisted on Some positive answer to my notes, he told me that he was expressly instructed by the first Consul to give me the most positive assurances that the Treaties we had entered into with Spain, or them relative to Louisiana Should be Strictly observed, when I expressed my Surprise that their officers should not be informed on...
100To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 10 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
France has cut the knot. The difficulties relative to Parma and Placentia that stopped the expedition to Louisiana have ended by their taking possession of the first. As you see by the enclosed paper, orders are given for the immediate embarkation of troops (two demi brigades) for Louisiana they will sail in about twenty days from Holland. The government here will give no answer to my notes on...
101To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 2 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
Nothing very important relative to our affairs having intervened for Some time past I have not thought necessary to trouble you. The affair of our debts Stand exactly as they did upon vague promises on the part of the Minister which I have little expectation of Seeing Soon fulfilled & indeed Some confidential people have taken occasion to Say in Such a way as they know I Should hear that they...
102To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 28 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed packet marked No 1, was written at the time it is dated—The subject of it is very painful to me, & I have retained it for the reasons mentioned in the enclosed letters No. 1 & 2—by which I trust it will appear how much I sacrificed both of my rights, & my feelings, to prevent this matter from causing you, or the connections of Mr. Sumter any uneasiness—I continued to act with Mr....
103To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 28 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Nothing very important having occured for some time past I have not thought it necessary to trouble you, particularly as I conclude that you would for a time have quited the seat of government & sought repose from the fatigues of politicks. While the union between France & Russia subsists, the discontents which almost every nation in Europe feels to the extreme loftiness of the first, will be...
104To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 1 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
I yesterday made several propositions to the Minister on the subject of Louisiana. He told me frankly that every offer was premature, that the French Government had determined to take possession first—so that you must consider the business as absolutely determined on. The armament is what I have already mentioned and will be ready in about six weeks. I have every reason to believe the Floridas...
105To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 19 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I write in haste in hopes that this may overtake Mr. Lyle and correct an error in my last. Notwithstanding the appointment of Genl Victor & several other officers for Louisiana, among others a Compt[r]oller of the forests, no Prefet is yet appointed—nor is the difference relative to the Floridas settled. Spain insists that they are not ceded and I have certain information that two days ago the...
106To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 16 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I informed you in my last that I found some relaxation on the subject of the floridas in my last conversation with the Spanish Minister I have reason to think that within this few days they have come to a settlement with France on that subject what it is I can not precisely say but I presume that it is whatever France wishes it to be. I find all the old French maps mark the river Perdigo as...
107To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 10 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
On the 15 Thermidor when the Ministers had a public audience the Senate were ⟨announced⟩—they entered the ⟨circle with⟩ their President Barthelemi at their head. He presented the decree declaring Bonaparte Consul for life as the result of the vote and made an address in writing upon the occasion which was answered by the first Consul from a paper he held in his hand so that it appears the...
108To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 30 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have recieved your dispatches ⟨& the Presidents by Mr. Du⟩pont de Ne⟨mours.⟩ I shall reply more particularly to them at the next opportunity as I am now very much engaged in preparing a lengthy memoir on the subject of the mutual interests of France & the United States relative to Louisiana by which I hope to convince them that both in a commercial & political view the possession of it would...
109To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 3 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
The letter from Genl Le Clerk which you will find in the Moniteur having excited some emotition [ sic ] here I thought it proper to address the enclosed note to the Minister to which I recd the reply also enclosed. As this was put in to my hands just as I was going into his house I replyed to it verbally. I took notice that the compt of Genl Le Clerc related to supplies furnished before his...
110To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 8 June 1802 (Madison Papers)
Enclosed is the answer of the Spanish ambassadour to my letter a copy of which was forwarded on the 28 ult. It accords with the conclusions I drew from the delay of the expedition & the conduct of the Minister for exterior relations. I have had a conversation with Collot & Adet separatly I find that tho they both consider their going in official characters to Louisiania as settled yet that...
111To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 28 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
Since my last I have acquired information which I can depend on relative to the intentions of this government with respect to Louissiania. Bernadotte is as I told you to command C to be 2d in command Addet is to be prefet—but the expedition is delayed till about sepr. on account ( as Tallerand expressed himself to Bernadotte ) of some difficulty which he did not explain —but which I have no...
112To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 22 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I was a few days ago honoured by your letter of the 16th. March. I called on the minister the next day & made him the communications you wished. Mr Otto is not yet returned from Great Britain & it seems still a matter of uncertainty who is to replace him or who is to come from thence to Paris Lord Wetworth not being yet appointed. A number of persons are talked of here for England among the...
113To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 20 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have just been favoured with yours of the 16h of March the letters that I have heretofore sent together with copies of my different notes to the Minister on the subject of our claims have regularly apprized you of the state of our affairs here. I am sorrey to say that the prospects of payment are yet very distant & that the construction given to the treaty on the subject of indemnities &...
114To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 12 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have only to add to my last that as I conjectured the Consul has rejected the continuance of his term for ten yrs Upon the ground of his having recd his office from the people they only can add to it. The Council of State have in consequence referred it to the people to determine not whether he shall be consul for ten years but for life. This business creates not the least sensation here Nor...
115To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 10 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
I am just informed by a letter from Mr. Curwen at Antwerp that he has brought despatches for me but that he can not come up with them in less than 10 days. This will necessarily suspend any farther application to the government on the subject of debts or Luissania having not been favoured wh. a line from you since last decr. I wish to receive your instructions on these interesting subjects. By...
116To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 10 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
Since my letter of this morning I have recieved farther information on the subjects there hinted at. In consequence of the resolution of the Tribunat mentioned in my letter a motion was brought forward in the Senate to invest the First Consul with the Consulate for life. This was violently opposed—one of the members in a most animated speech was so hurried on that He droped the following...
117To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 4 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry so soon after my arrival here to trouble you with any thing that relates personally to myself, & which I fear will be not less painful to you, than it has been to me. From Mr. Sumter’s first entrance into my family I have treated him with all the attention in my power, I have (as far as he would permit me) introduced him wherever I visited myself, & have extended indulgencies to him...
118To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 24 April 1802 (Madison Papers)
I send with this duplicates of my two last letters & the notes that have since passed between me & the minister on the subject of prizes tho I found much clamor on my arrival I confess I have found less reason for it than I expected there are not more than four or five cases on which we have any just cause of complaint. The Winyaw mentioned in my note was evidently british property covered by...
119To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 27 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
The vessel not going so soon as was expected gives me an opportunity of informing you that the definitive treaty was signed the day before yesterday differing very little from the preliminary Articles. You will find it in the enclosed papers. It is however understood that Martinique is to remain with the british till the debts are ⟨paid for French prisoners.⟩ I send you a note (No 1) from the...
120To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 22 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have nothing to add to the letters just sent you by the way of Baltimore but the enclosed note just recieved —from this you will find that the construction given to the second article of the convention differs materially from ours & will if supported greatly narrow the ground of our claims. You will also see in it rather an evasion of the points I have pressed them upon than an answer to...