451To James Madison from James Monroe, 10 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit to you by Doctr. Bullus a copy of my correspondence with Mr Canning on the subject which was committed to my care by your letter of the 6th. July last. You will find by it that the pressure which has been made on this Government, in obedience to the instructions contained in that letter, has terminated in a decision to send a Minister to the U States, to adjust the...
452To James Madison from James Monroe, 10 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
We avail ourselves of the opportunity afforded by the return of the schooner Revenge to give you a brief account of the transactions of the joint mission from the time of Mr. Purviance’s arrival in England until the receipt of intelligence here of the late outrage in the American seas upon the sovereignty of our country. Your letter of the day of May was delivered to us on the day of July and...
453To James Madison from James Monroe, 8 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I hasten to inform you that this govt. has decided to send a minister to the UStates, to arrange with our govt. the reparation wh. is due for the attack on the Chesapeake. The policy of this measure in all its aspects I shall communicate to you without any avoidable delay. It may have more objects than the ostensible one, & therefore it shod. be recd. with caution. My communications with Mr...
454To James Madison from James Monroe, 16 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to receive your letter of July 6th. by Doctor Bullus on the 31. ulto. & did not lose a moment in entering on the business committed to me by it, in the manner which seemed most likely to obtain success. The details shall be communicated to you in my next dispatch. All that I can state at present is, that the whole subject has been plac’d fully before this government in as...
455To James Madison from James Monroe, 14 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to transmit you with my letter of the 4. inst. a copy of a correspondence with Mr. Canning relative to the late aggression in the case of the Chesapeak frigate. You will receive with this a copy of a more recent one on the same Subject. By Mr. Canning’s queries in his last note I was led to consider it as preparatory to an embargo on American vessels. I could not conceive why...
456To James Madison from James Monroe, 4 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
I avail myself of the opportunity afforded by Mr. Biddle to communicate to you a copy of a correspondence, and the substance of a conference, between Mr. Canning and myself relative to the late aggression on the peace and sovereignty of the U. States, by the British Ship Leopard in an attack on the Chesapeak frigate off the Capes of Virginia. Mr. Canning’s private letter of July 25. which gave...
457To James Madison from James Monroe, 4 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Biddle takes charge of a dispatch for you from me, on the subject principally of the affr. of the Chessapeake frigate. As it is possible that he may go to Washington I take liberty to mention that he has been here some months, & while Mr. Purviance was absent very much with me. He has much information of our affairs, and of those of this country with Europe generally, & can therefore be...
458To James Madison from James Monroe, 23 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
We had the honor to receive your letter of May 20th. by Mr. Purviance on the 16th. instant. The view it takes of the treaty which we signed with the British Comrs. on the 31. of Decr. last, of which he was the bearer, engages our constant attention, and it shall be the object of our most zealous exertions to obtain the amendments which are contemplated by our present instructions. The moment...
459To James Madison from James Monroe, 7 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
We had the honor to receive on the 27th. of last month your letter of the 18th. of March, to which the detailed explanations contained in our letters of the 22d. & 25th. ulto. render any particular reply unnecessary. We transmit enclosed a statement of the American prize causes for hearing in the high court of Appeals. That which was forwarded by Mr. Purviance was very hastily prepared by...
460To James Madison from James Monroe, 25 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
We had the honor to inform you in our letter of the 22d. instant that, the British Commissioners having proposed to us to endeavour to ajust the terms of a supplemental convention relative to boundary, to a trade by sea between the United States and the British northern colonies, and to the subjects reserved for future explanation by the 2d. article of our treaty, we had resumed our...
461To James Madison from James Monroe, 22 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
We had the honor to receive your letter of February 3d. on the 6th. instant, and are now to give you a detail of the measures we have pursued in obedience to the instructions it communicated. To enable you to form a just idea of those measures it will be proper to state concisely what had occurred at the time of receiving your letter, after the departure of Mr. Purviance, with the treaty and...
462To James Madison from James Monroe, 20 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
The trial of Captain Whitby took place on the 17th. inst. at Portsmouth, before a Court Martial, by which he was acquitted. As I have not heard from Mr. Canning since the decision, and no statement is given in the gazettes, of the proceedings of the court, it is not in my power to inform you, on what ground he was acquitted. I shall endeavor to obtain correct information on that point, which I...
463To James Madison from James Monroe, 14 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
I hasten to transmit you a copy of the note which I lately wrote to Lord Howick, to request a postponement of the trial of Capn. Whitby, and of his reply to it; by which you will find, that the trial is postponed to the first of May. At present, I am too much indisposed to make any remarks on the subject; though indeed, I do not know that it would be in my power, to add any thing material to...
464To James Madison from James Monroe, 5 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have just received your letter of the 13th. of January, relative to the trial of Captain Whitby, of which you desire me to obtain a postponement if possible. I shall accordingly address a note to Lord Howick on the subject, as soon as I can prepare it. The note shall be sent to him tomorrow or next day, and I shall not fail to give it all the aid I can in personal conference. I hope the...
465To James Madison from James Monroe, 26 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
We have the Honor to transmit enclosed a Duplicate of our letter of the 3d. Instant, in which several Errors of some importance which found their way into the first hasty copy of our draft, are corrected. Some of these errors were mentioned in our letter of the Instant, of which also a copy is enclosed. The others, of which the most material occurs in the explanations on the subject of Export...
466To James Madison from James Monroe, 12 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
We do ourselves the honor to enclose you a copy of the treaty which we lately concluded with the British commissioners. The original was forwarded yesterday by Mr Purviance who sailed in the enterprise from this port for New York. We send this copy to Mr Maury to be forwarded to you by the first safe opportunity from Liverpool. We have requested him to instruct the Captain of the vessel to...
467To James Madison from James Monroe, 11 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
I must request that you will be so good as to forward the enclosed to Mr Divers. As it relates to an object of some importance to me I am very desirous that it reach him soon. On publick topicks I have nothing to add to our joint communication. We have had many difficulties to encounter with this govt., & I hope that such will never occur again in our relations with it. If a favorable...
468To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 11 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive yours of Octr. 26. and shall not fail to bring with me the articles mentioned in it from Jones the Instrument maker in Holborn. I am much indebted to you that the sum they will cost on an old account so that that matter will rest of course for the present. I am very thankful to you for the information given me respecting the state of my affrs. in Albemarle....
469To James Madison from James Monroe, 10 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Purviance to whom we commit the treaty which we have lately concluded with the British government will have the pleasure to deliver you this with our publick dispatch. He acted as Secretary to the commission in the late negotiation, the duties of which office, which were laborious, he discharged in every respect intirely to our satisfaction. We had equal proof in the course of this...
470To James Madison from James Monroe, 3 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
We have the honor to transmit you a Treaty which we concluded with the British Commissioners on the 31st. of December. Altho’ we had entertained great confidence from the commencement of the negotiation, that such would be it’s result, it was not untill the 27th. that we were able to make any satisfactory arrangement of several of the most important points that were involved in it. On the next...
471To James Madison from James Monroe, 27 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
We have the pleasure to acquaint you that we have this day agreed with the British Commissioners to Conclude a Treaty on all the points which have formed the object of our negotiation, and on terms which we trust our government will approve. It will require only a few days to reduce it to form. When that is done we shall transmit it to you by a special messenger. We hasten to communicate to...
472To James Madison from James Monroe, 11 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
We flattered ourselves at the date of our last dispatch which was of September the 11th., that we should have been able to have concluded a Treaty with the British Commissioners and to have transmitted it to you before this, on all the interesting topicks which are embraced by our instructions, and on terms that would be approved by our government. The disposition which had been shewn by the...
473To James Madison from James Monroe, 27 October 1806 (Madison Papers)
I hasten to Send you a communication which I have received from Lord Howick since the date of my last letter by which you will find that the trial of Captain Whitby is postponed to some day between the 15th. and 20th. of March next. I am, Sir, with great respect & esteem, Your most obedient servant, RC and enclosures ( DNA : RG 59, DD , Great Britain, vol. 12); letterbook copy and letter-book...
474To James Madison from James Monroe, 24 October 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure to transmit you a copy of some communications which have lately taken place between this government and myself relative to the trial of Captain Whitby, which you will find is postponed till the first of March next to afford an opportunity for the witnesses to attend on the part of the United States. The time allowed is I fear rather short for the object, especially if the...
475To James Madison from James Monroe, 13 September 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure to Send you a copy of my note to Mr. Fox and of his answer respecting the misconduct of Captain Whitby at the port of New York in April last. You will find by it that that officer was removed from the command of the Leander by an order from the Admiralty of the 22d. of June, and that he is to be brought home to be tried by a Court Martial on that charge. I have lately...
476To James Madison from James Monroe and William Pinkney, 11 September 1806 (Madison Papers)
Our first meeting with Lord Holland and Lord Auckland took place in Downing Street on the 22. of August. This Date is erroneous; the first meeting took place on the 27th. After the usual exchange of powers we stated at their request the objects of our mission, and the general nature of the stipulations by which we expected them to be provided for. They took minutes of what was said by us for...
477To James Madison from James Monroe and William Pinkney, 21 August 1806 (Madison Papers)
We have the pleasure to transmit you a copy of a Note from Mr. Fox of yesterday which announces the appointment of Lords Holland and auckland to meet us on the subjects which are embraced by our joint Commission. We flatter ourselves that we shall enter on this business in the course of a few days, and that we shall be able in a short time afterwards to speak with some confidence of the...
478To James Madison from James Monroe and William Pinkney, 15 August 1806 (Madison Papers)
We have the honor to transmit herewith enclosed a duplicate of our last under date of the 11th. instant. Some circumstances have since occurred with which it is proper that you should be made acquainted. On the 13th. we dined with Lord Grenville at his house in Downing Street, where we met the Lord Chancellor, Lord Howick, Lord Auckland, Marquis Wellesley, Lord Holland, Mr Erskine and several...
479To James Madison from James Monroe and William Pinkney, 11 August 1806 (Madison Papers)
It was intimated to us by Sir Francis Vincent, soon after the date of our last, that, as the state of Mr. Fox’s health was not likely soon to permit him to attend to us on the subjects of our mission, Lord Grenville would be asked to communicate with us in his stead; and Sir Francis promised that he would endeavour without loss of time to arrange with Lord Grenville to that effect. On the...
480To James Madison from James Monroe and William Pinkney, 25 July 1806 (Madison Papers)
You will have been surprised at not hearing from us sooner on the business confided to us under the commission with which we are honored by the President. The delay proceeded from a desire to give you some satisfactory information of our progress in it, which it was not in our power to do. It happen’d unfortunately just about the time of mr. Pinkney’s arrival on the 24th. ulto., that mr Fox...
481To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 8 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The admn. likely to change its tone & I to be swept from the stage. On the 25. of April I was resolved to press the business with more earnestness than I had done; to remind Mr. Fox of his engagmts & thro’ him produce some effect in the Cabinet. In that state he found it necessary to secure quiet somewhere & asked me if Mr. M. or Mr K. were coming over. I verily believed that no one was coming...
482To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 8 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 4th. was presented to me on the 24th. ulto. by Mr Pinkney. That of March 16th. has not yet reached me. You are so good as to offer me either of the governments of Louisiana & to intimate that they shall be kept open sometime for my answer. I should be very sorry if any injurious delay proceeded from that cause; I hasten therefore to prevent it. At one time I was inclined to...
483To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 30 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
It is painful to touch on other topicks but I shod. feel myself deficient in candor if I did not observe that at no period of my life was I ever subjected to more inquietude than I have suffered since my return from Spain. I have found myself plac’d in a situation thro’ the whole of this interval altogether unexpected & in consideration of the parties to it equally novel. It was my wish to...
484To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 20 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The opportunity by Mr. Bankhead is too favorable not to be taken advantage of to write you, altho I may be able to add but little to what you find in my official dispatches. The business here has been suspended since the late appointment was known & will remain so till Mr. Pinkney arrives. It was impossible for me to move in it after that event, either with propriety or effect. besides it...
485To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 15 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
If I was not personally your friend and did not wish success to your administration, from the interest I take in your welfare, as in that of my country, I should not write you with the freedom I propose to do in this letter. It is my intention to enter fully into some topicks which are of very high importance to your reputation as to the best interests of the UStates, & I do it in confidence...
486To James Madison from James Monroe, 9 June 1806 (Madison Papers)
On the 31. ulto. accounts were received here from the U. States that the President and Senate had adopted the measure of a special mission to this country in which Mr Pinkney & myself were associated. These accounts which appeared to be well authenticated at first, have been confirmed Since by letters to individuals, so that the fact seems to be unquestionable. I have not received official...
487To James Madison from James Monroe, 20 May 1806 (Madison Papers)
I had supposed that it might be possible to have some conversation with Mr. Fox last night at his house, on our affairs, especially on his Note of the 16. instant; but in this I was mistaken. The occasion was not a favorable one being an assemblage of a vast crowd, and he apparently indisposed, as he retired early in the evening. I asked Sir Fras. Vincent the cause of the delay to which our...
488To James Madison from James Monroe, 17 May 1806 (Madison Papers)
After my interview with Mr. Fox on the 25. ulto. I waited a fortnight without hearing from him. This new instance of delay surprised me, because he had shewn a sensibility to the former one, and did not seem aware of the necessity of adding to it. Independent of the general object, the war with Prussia and the blockades incident to it, the doctrine and practice respecting which it was...
489To James Madison from James Monroe, 29 April 1806 (Madison Papers)
I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 11th. ulto. on the 25. by Mr. Prentis. I find by it that the measure of a special mission to this country was likely to be adopted, on the subject of our affrs. depending with it. Should that have been the case I beg you to be assured that I will do every thing in my power to give it effect. It is certainly my desire to get home as soon as I can...
490To James Madison from James Monroe, 28 April 1806 (Madison Papers)
Having waited a week after my interview with Mr. Fox on the 19th. without receiving either of the communications which he then promised me, I called on him on the 25th. to Know the cause and to confer freely again on our affairs if he should be so disposed. As he anticipated the object of the visit we soon entered on it. After some introductory remarks on other topicks he began by asking what...
491To James Madison from James Monroe, 20 April 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that I had an interview with Mr. Fox yesterday, in which we conferred on all the interesting topicks depending between our governments. The result was as satisfactory in respect to his own views as his more early communications had promised, and gave a prospect more favorable of the disposition of the Cabinet generally than I had anticipated. The substance of...
492To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 April 1806 (Madison Papers)
I received yesterday a note from Mr. Fox appointing to-morrow (Saturday 19.) for an interview with which I shall of course comply. I met him afterwards and had a conversation with him in the Queen’s drawingroom, which being of an interesting nature, I hasten to Communicate to you. He took me a side and observed that we must now Soon Settle our business. I replied that I hoped he was ready to...
493To James Madison from James Monroe, 3 April 1806 (Madison Papers)
As it appeared by what occurred in my interview with Mr Fox on the 28. ulto. that some weeks at least would elapse before I could hope to bring our business to any conclusion I thought it proper to make a formal application to him on the 31. for an order to Suspend the Seizure and condemnation of our vessels on the principle of the late decrees. I had not requested this in explicit terms...
494To James Madison from James Monroe, 31 March 1806 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 13. Jany. is the last that I have received. The pamphlet enclosed with it has been republished here and I have this day transmitted a copy of it to Mr. Fox, with whom I had an interview on the 28th. I had expected from what passed between us on the 11th. that before this much progress woud have been made in the adjustment of our affairs; I am however, sorry to add that this...
495To James Madison from James Monroe, 11 March 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have seen Mr. Fox and Mr. Grey to day & had long conversations with each on our affairs & have the pleasure to inform you that the sentiments which they expressed were of the most conciliating character. I cannot say that our affairs will be arranged to our satisfaction but I have the utmost confidence that it will be the case. I asked Mr. Fox if he had read my notes &ce? He had. Cannot we...
496To James Madison from James Monroe, 28 February 1806 (Madison Papers)
A bill wh. has been presented before the house of Reps. has produc’d much sensation here; I cannot say any thing positive as to the effect, as the principle of the bill seems to find no support in the country among the people. On the presumption that a particular measure alluded to in mine of the 2d. by Captn. Tompkins, had taken place, I was desirous that a certain other one shod. be taken...
497To James Madison from James Monroe, 28 February 1806 (Madison Papers)
Presuming that it may be satisfactory to the President and useful, to be made acquainted without delay with every incident that occurs, I have the pleasure to send you a copy of a late note to Mr. Fox on our concerns in his hands. In our first interview he promised to examine the papers and give me another at an early day, but as I did not hear from him within the time I had expected I called...
498To James Madison from James Monroe, 12 February 1806 (Madison Papers)
The arrangment of the new ministry was completed, & its members installed in their respective offices, in the course of the last week. It makes as you will find by the list a thorough change of character as I hope it will of principle, in its measures, at least in respect to us. It is well known that the King yielded to this change with extreme reluctance; that he offered to supply the chief...
499To James Madison from James Monroe, 2 February 1806 (Madison Papers)
It is said that a letter is just recd. in town from Phila. of the last of Decr. wh. states that Mr. Adams of the Senate is or will be appointed Envoy Extry. to this country to adjust the commercial differences between it & the UStates. The gentleman who gave me the information declined mentioning the name of the author or receiver of the letter, tho he thought the fact might be relied on. On...
500To James Madison from James Monroe, 28 January 1806 (Madison Papers)
I informed you lately in a short note by Mr. Clark who sailed in the Remitance, of the death of Mr. Pitt which took place last week. The King hath since resolved to commit the administration to the opposition as we are informed by all the gazettes of this day. It is said that he announc’d this to Lord Grenville yesterday and authorised him in conjuncion with Mr. Fox to form a new ministry from...