James Madison Papers

To James Madison from James Monroe, 12 March 1804

From James Monroe

private

London March 12. 1804.

Dear Sir

I have recd. yr. communications by Mr. Baring, & shall write you in reply by Mr. Smith1 who sails the day after tomorrow (son of Genl. Smith) to New York. I shall avail myself of the same opportunity to write the President an acknowledgment of his. The object of this is to make known to you the bearer, a Mr. Herries, who visits our country with a view to make an establishment in the western or more southern part of it.2 His Lady is sister to Mrs. Skipwith, to wh. circumstance it is owing that I am acquainted with him: Personally however it is slight, tho’ his connections are good, & what I am told, is quite favorable to the entegrity of his character & views. He is brother of Sr. Robt. Herries who commands a regt. of volunteer horse here, a thing of no weight but wh. I mention that you may know who he is. I wish you to treat him with some degree of civility. I do not wish him to be presented to the President because so totally perverted are the understandings of men, by a false prejudice, in this region that the facility with which subalterns from it, are recd. by those in the highest stations among us, does harm instead of good here. I do not suppose that it wod. produce such effect in this case, but having occasion to give this gentn. a letter to you, I have taken it, to give you this hint. I am dear Sir yr. friend & servt

Jas. Monroe

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