1From James Madison to James Monroe, 18 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of came duly to hand, accompanied by the papers now returned, and by a note on the correspondence communicated to Congs. It appears that in most instances the parts allotted for publication coincide with your wishes. In the excepted instances, an attempt will be made, to have the confidential parts, conformed also to these, by being included in the publication ordered by the H. of...
2From James Madison to James Monroe, 30 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
I recd last evening your favor of the 26. and now inclose the promised list of the communications to Congs. which gives as much information as can be done in that form. Where Extracts were made, they generally extended I believe to nearly the whole of the letters, it being intended that the residue should be reduced as much as motives of prudence & delicacy would permit. On examining the...
3From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
In the joint letter from you & Mr. P. of October a project on impressments is referred to which does not appear. I forget what passed with you in conversation on the subject. You will oblige me by dropping me the state of the case, and if there be any document in your hands that you will be so good as to forward it or a copy of it. It can if necessary be thrown into the mass which will be...
4From James Madison to James Monroe, 18 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
I duly recd your favor of the 5th. and with it your observations, addressed to the Dept. of State, on the subject of the Treaty of Dcr. 1806: which will be communicated to Congs. with the documents relating to the negociations &c connected with the Treaty; it being understood that such a disposition of the paper will conform to your wishes. Mr. Rose’s mission is abortive. Communications on the...
5From James Madison to James Monroe, 6 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
I recd. last night your favor of the 3. and lose no time in forwarding the papers which it requests. I am sorry that they have been so long delayed; but in truth our hands have been so full in one way or other of late, that the transcripts which were to be taken for the office, could not be readily attended to. I am not sure that there may not yet be some omissions, & must therefore ask the...
6From James Madison to James Monroe, 5 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
Hoping that a post note on Norfolk will be cash in Richmond, I enclose one for $300, instead of committing bank notes to the mail. Nothing has occurred since you left us worth detailing to you. We are still uninformed of the precise circumstances which have detained Mr. Rose on board the frigate. There is a report that he will either pass up the bay to Annapolis, or possibly engage a vessel to...
7From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I inclose for your information copies of the letters which have passed on several subjects between Mr Erskine and the Department of State; and which it may be useful for you to possess. The proceedings at Halifax with respect to one of the men taken from the Chesapeake, and whose restoration was included in the demand of reparation for that outrage, are calculated to inspire great distrust of...
8From James Madison to James Monroe, 30 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of April 25th. inclosing the British project of a Convention of limits, and your proposed amendments, has been duly received. The following observations explain the terms on which the President authorizes you to close and sign the instrument. lst. The modification of the 5th. Art. (noted as one which the British Commissioners would have agreed to) may be admitted, in case that...
9From James Madison to James Monroe, 25 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
Since the communications by the Revenge which sailed on monday last, nothing very material has occurred. The British squadron, on receiving the Proclamation, fell down to the capes, near which (in Lynhaven Bay) several of the same or substituted ships remain. It is not known whether any orders have been recd. from the Admiral relative to their conduct under the Proclamation. They continue to...
10From James Madison to James Monroe, 17 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
Since the event which led to the Proclamation of the 2d. inst. the British squadron has conducted itself in a continued spirit of insolence and hostility. Merchant vessels arriving and departing, have been challenged, fired at, examined and detained within our jurisdiction, with as little scruple as if they were at open sea. Even a Revenue Cutter conveying the Vice President and his sick...
11From James Madison to James Monroe, 6 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
The documents herewith inclosed from No. 1 to No. 9 inclusive explain the hostile attack with the insulting pretext for it lately committed near the Capes of Virginia by the British ship of war the Leopard on the American Frigate the Chesapeake. No. 10 is a copy of the Proclamation issued by the President, interdicticting in consequence of that outrage, the use of our waters and every other...
12From James Madison to James Monroe, 25 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ it is not certain that this will find you in London, I cannot commit to Mr. Purviance the official dispatches without a few private lines. It has been a painful task with the President to withold from the joint work of yourself & Mr. P. the sanction which was expected; as it has been to me, to communicate the event with the considerations which produced it. I console myself with an...
13From James Madison to James Monroe, 22 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
In my letter of March l8th. to the joint Commission, it was signified that in a Conventional arrangement on the subject of Boundaries, it would be inconsistent with the views of the President, to open any part of Louisiana, to a British trade with the Indians. From the evident solicitude of the British Government on this point, it is highly probable that the determination of the President will...
14From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
My letter of March 18th. acknowledged the receipt of your dispatches and of the Treaty signed on the 31st. of December, of which Mr Purviance was the bearer, and signified that the sentiments and views of the President formed on the actual posture of our affairs with Great Britain, would without any needless delay, be communicated. The subject is accordingly resumed, in this dispatch, with...
15From James Madison to James Monroe, 31 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
In my last letter of 26. I enclosed you a copy of one from Mr. Erskine communicating the British order of Jany 7th., and of my answer. Occurring circumstances and further reflection on that extraordinary measure, produced a return to the subject; and another letter was added to the first answer. A copy is inclosed, with the same view which led to the last inclosure. The more this order is...
16From James Madison to James Monroe, 26 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Erskine has presented, by instructions from his Government, a communication of the late British order against the trade between the ports of France and others therein described. With a copy of that, I inclose one of the answer given to the communication. It will not only put you in possession of what will be transmitted by Mr Erskine to his Government, but also of the sentiments of the...
17From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
You will receive herewith a letter for yourself & Mr. P. acknowledging the receipt of your communications by Mr. Purviance, and suggesting the intermediate course to be pursued, untill the further instructions contemplated by the President can be matured. The delay will be short; but it is desireable to accomodate the instructions to the result of some enquiries as to certain facts, and the...
18From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
Your dispatch of Jany. 3d. with the Treaty signed Decr 31 with the British Commissioners, were safely delivered on the 15th. inst. Your letter of Decr. 27, notifying the approach of that event, had been previously received, in time to be included in a communication of the President to Congress then in Session. A copy of the instrument in its actual form, with the declaration of the British...
19From James Madison to James Monroe, 28 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to recommend to your attention the case of Messrs Francis and Charles Bradbury, explained in the enclosed document, in order that you may aid them in regaining the proceeds of the sales of their property at Buenos Ayres, if the suggestion of their having passed into the hands of the British, at the capture of the place should prove to be well founded. I have the honor &c. DNA...
20From James Madison to James Monroe, 9 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
By Capt. Brewster, who, with his son and two Pilots, are about to proceed to England as Witnesses in the case of Capt. Whitby, I send you copies of several of my last letters. He will also be the bearer of a letter from the Collector of New York stating the advances made to the Witnesses respectively. Two other Witnesses are expected to sail from Philada., to whom it was found necessary to...
21From James Madison to James Monroe, 3 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
The triplicate of your communication of Novr. llth. has just been received. Those of Sepr. l2, had been previously received in due time. The turn which the negotiation has taken, was not expected, and excites as much of regret as of disappointment. The conciliatory spirit manifested on both sides, with the apparent consistency of the interest of Great Britain, with the right of the American...
22From James Madison to James Monroe, 30 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed herewith is a statement of the case of the Marquis de Yrujo, which tho’ drawn up for another purpose, and not falling within the range of your official transactions, it may be well for you to possess. No step has since that date, been taken by the Executive in relation to him. He has not as yet manifested any purpose of repairing again to Washington. It seems to be understood that he...
23From James Madison to James Monroe, 13 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of Octr. 24 with the communications which passed with the British Government on the subject of Capt. Whitby was not received till last evening. Not a moment will be lost in taking the steps most likely to hasten the testimony which may establish the essential facts charged on that officer. But considering the tedious passage of your letter, the season of the year, the particular...
24From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
You will have seen by my letter of the 6th. which went by sundry other conveyances, that the Bill suspending the non importation act had passed the House of Representatives. I now inclose it in the form of a law, with an amendment providing for a further suspension by the Executive in case the state of things between the two Countries should require it. In the Senate the vote for the Bill was...
25From James Madison to James Monroe, 6 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
The detention of the Leonidas enables me to inclose a copy of the bill suspending the non-importation act of the last session; as it was passed by the House of Representatives this day with only five dissenting voices. In the object the House is supposed to have been unanimous, the difference of opinion being produced by a disagreement about the time to which the suspension should be limitted....
26From James Madison to James Monroe, 3 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
You will have seen by my letter of the 6th. inst. which went by Sundry conveyances, that the bill Suspending the non-intercourse act had passed the House of Representatives. I now enclose it in the form of a law, with an amendment providing for a further Suspension by the Executive in case the State of things between the two countries Should require it. In the Senate the vote for the Bill was...
27From James Madison to James Monroe, 3 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
The President having this day coplied with the recommendation in your letter of Septr. 12. by a special message to Congress on the subject of the non-importation act of the last Session, I lose not a moment in forwarding to Mr. Merry’s care the inclosed copy. Hoping that it will either find him still at Alexandria, or overtake him before the Vessel gets out of reach. I remain with great...
28From James Madison to James Monroe, 2 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
Yesterday being the appointed day for the meeting of Congress, a quorum was made in both Houses, and this day the message of the President w as communicated to them. I embrace the earliest opportunity of inclosing a copy, and remain, &c DNA : RG 59—IM—Instructions to Ministers.
29From James Madison to James Monroe, 28 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
Your dispatch of the 11th. of Sepr. has been duly received. Altho’ the tenor of the discussions which it recites does not exhibit on the part of the British Commissioners the readiness in yielding to the justice of our claims and to the energy of your statements, which might be wished, yet the general spirit of conciliation with which they profess and appear to have met you, cherishes a hope...
30From James Madison to James Monroe, 28 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
This goes by Merry to whom I have communicated the general complexion of your last joint despatch and the purpose of the Presid en t to recommend a suspension of the commercial act . The circumstances of return are apparently