51To James Madison from James Monroe, 20 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
I am too recently on this theatre to give you any information of the state of public affairs which you will not obtain of the Gazettes, wh. I shall therefore not repeat. It will be more useful to go back to the transactions in which I have been lately engaged, and to communicate some incidents which occurrd in them, with which you are not yet acquainted. The pressure of business at the time,...
52To James Madison from James Monroe, 26 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
On the 20th Ulto. I wrote Lord Hawkesbury by Mr. Sumter & apprized him of my arrival in town in the character of Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States to his Britannic Majesty & requested that he would be pleased to appoint a time when I might have the honor to wait on him with my letters of credence. His Lordship answered that he would receive me the next day at one oclock at his...
53To James Madison from James Monroe, 1 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have seen Ld. Hawkesbury & expect to be presented to the King soon. I shall mention in my next publick letter what passed, which was not material, otherwise than as it alluded to the state in wh. I found the negotiation when I arrived at Paris, & the late treaty formed with G. B. for admitting her into the mississippi by Mr. King as I understand is the case of which I had heard nothing & of...
54To James Madison from James Monroe, 1 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
Jas. Monroe has the pleasure to enclose to Mr. Madison a power of attorney from Genl. La Fayette relative to whom he will shortly write him more fully. He can not omit adding here that that respectable & virtuous character merits all the regard which America has never ceased to entertain for him. RC ( DLC : Rives Collection, Madison Papers). Docketed by JM: “Monroe Js. Aug. 1. 1803. inclosing...
55To James Madison from James Monroe, 11 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
I expected to have been presented to the King at the last levee according to the intimation of Lord Hawkesbury at our interview on my arrival; but the day before the levee Mr. Hammond called to express the regret of Lord Hawkesbury that the death of Lord Bristol the father of Lady Hawkesbury, which was known only the night before, put it out of his Lordships power to accompany me to the court...
56To James Madison from James Monroe, 11 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
A knowledge that there exists a disposition to misrepresent all the facts relative to the late negotiation at Paris, induc’d me in my first private communications to you to put in your possession the means of doing justice to the parties concern’d and interested in that event. Every thing that I stated or suggested in my letters by Mr. Hughes and Mr. Jay has been confirmed since. I doubted...
57To James Madison from James Monroe, 15 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you lately by Mr. Baring since which nothing material has occurr’d here, except that I was called on yesterday by Sr. Stephen Cotterel & notified that I should be presented to the King on wednesday next. After the presentation I shall give you the result. The inclosed which I recd. last night from Paris by an American gentleman, containing important information, is therefore...
58To James Madison from James Monroe, 23 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
I intended to have written you at some length by this opportunity, but my engagements, of various kinds have put it out of my power. I send a triplicate of my last letter since which nothing interesting has occured, except my presentation to the court, or rather the King, which was attended by no remarkable circumstance. His deportment was civil & conciliating, as mine certainly was. The...
59To James Madison from James Monroe, 31 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
I was presented by Lord Hawkesbury to the King, on Wednesday the 17 instant, who recieved me with attention. The audience, according to usage was private, no other person being present. I endeavored in a short address which the occasion invites, is always expected & I believe made, to do justice to the amicable policy of our Government towards Great Britain. I informed his Majesty that I was...
60To James Madison from James Monroe, 6 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
You will receive within copies of Mr. Livingstons letter & my reply. I have made the correspondence with Mr. Marbois a publick document as it ought to be; but I prefer enclosing these in a private letter, leaving it to you to consider them as the one or other, as you find best. My publick letter will admit of either disposition. My motive for so doing is that of delicacy to Mr. L. You will see...
61To James Madison from James Monroe, 7 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you yesterday by the Iris a publick & private letter: the first bore date the 31. of augt. the 2d. of yesterday. I sent you in the first copies of mr. Marbois’s letter to me & my reply relative to the guaranty of 10. millions of livres & also of the act itself, and in the private one copies of Mr. Livingstons letter to me & my reply on the same subject. My motive for not comprizing the...
62To James Madison from James Monroe, 13 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Merry will have the pleasure to present you this, in whose favor an introduction from me is unnecessary. His official character will place him in such a relation with you as to honor him your polite attention.… The good disposition with which he goes out, towards our country, and the amiable character of himself & Lady, justify a belief that yourself & Mrs. Madison will find them an...
63To James Madison from James Monroe, 17 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have been anxious for a moment of leasure when I might enter somewhat in detail on subjects of a personal nature. I am not yet in that situation tho’ in a greater degree than I have been since my arrival at Havre. I have forwarded the last letters by the Iris Captn. Skinner for N. Yk. & by Liverpool, that there is any hope of yr. receiving before the meeting of Congress. This gives me a...
64To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
From every thing I can hear Mr. Merry is a worthy candid man, & I hope you will find him reasonable & have an easy time with him. I think it will have a good effect to apprize him of the manner in wh. I have spoken of my reception here, as of the sincerity of my desire to promote the objects of our govt. in promoting peace &ca. A like course may be equally useful with Mr. Pichon to whom I...
65To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed is an extract of a private letter of great length, which I have committed to Mr. Law, who sails in the monticello to morrow. Not having time to write a publick one, & wishing the information it contains to reach you, I have had that much copied to be forwarded by Mr. Merry, who sails also to morrow. A few weeks since Mr. Erving stated to me the conduct of the press gangs towards...
66To James Madison from James Monroe, 20 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
Since writing the within letter I have seen Mr. Merry on [ sic ] had an interesting conversation with him on our affrs. especially the impressment of our seamen. I have given you an acct. of it in a letter committed to his care, but it may be well to add it here also; He told me that he had confer’d with Ld. H. on that subject as he had promised me, and that he was instructed by Ld. H. to...
67To James Madison from James Monroe, 28 September 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 September 1803, London . Introduces the bearer, Mr. Halsey, “a respectable citizen” of Rhode Island. “He has been introduced to me as a young man of the best connections there, and I have understood from the best authority, that his character & conduct in Europe, have been such as might be expected from a person well educated and connected in the UStates. I shall thank you to present Mr....
68To James Madison from James Monroe, 29 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
Since my last nothing material has occurr’d here or in any other quarter that has come to my knowledge in which the United States are interested. On the impressment of our seamen and some other interferences with our commerce, I propose shortly to address a note to the Secretary of State for foreign affairs, to which I have reason to expect that a suitable attention will be paid. I took...
69To James Madison from James Monroe, 21 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have not yet presented a note to this govt. respecting the impressment of our seamen, as I intimated to you in my last I shod. do. Mr. Erving is very attentive to the object, who most probably obtains every thing that can be expected on it at this time. I am persuaded that at no former period had we so little cause of complaint for injuries under this practice. Some however have occurr’d...
70To James Madison from James Monroe, 22 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
I enclose you a copy of a letter recd. not long since from Mr. Marbois and of my reply relative to the guaranty of ten millions of livres, of wh. you are already informd, and also of a communication with Mr. Livingston on the same subject. I comprize the latter in a private letter for the reason mentioned in my last, subjecting it nevertheless to yr. disposition. I have been very reluctantly...
71To James Madison from James Monroe, 16 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
Within a few days past I have received your letters of the 29. of July, the first addressed to Mr. Livingston & myself, the second to me singly, with seperate letters to him & Mr. Pinckney, & also your letter to me of the 29. of september. These are the only communications that I have recd. from you since my arrival in this country. The letters to Mr. Livingston & Mr. Pinckney shall be...
72To James Madison from James Monroe, 25 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
Since my publick letter of the 16. I have recd. yr. private one of July 30th. with the originals of those of the 29th. They were sent from Paris by Mr. Livingston who expressed his satisfaction to find that our conduct had been approved in the great outline and surprise at the intimation it conveyed of a wish that the money intended for France had been so applied. He had not then (28. octr.)...
73To James Madison from James Monroe, [14] December 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have just received your circular letter of October 22d. with a copy of the President’s message to the Congress at the commencement of the session. It is with the highest satisfaction I learn, that the treaty and conventions with France are ratified by the President with the advice of the Senate; that the ratifications are exchanged; and that the ceded territory will be taken possession of...
74To James Madison from James Monroe, 15 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have yours by Mr. Purviance of the 10th. Octr. and had before recd. that of the 29. Sepr. with a list of the articles from Richmond. You will have recd. a note of the silver smith at Paris of the prices of the plate, several correspondent articles of wh. we obtaind of the same man when there last at the same prices. This note is good for the price of workmanship; your ⟨weight?⟩ of the silver...
75To James Madison from James Monroe, 17 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
The opposition of Spain to our treaty with France, by her minister in the UStates, attracts some attention here, and is the subject of speculation in certain circles as to the causes & probable effects. Some suspect France at the bottom of it, others ascribe it to the measures of this govt.: but I am far from suspecting either of any agency in the affair. I see no reason to doubt the good...
76To James Madison from James Monroe, 9 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
Every circumstance that has come to my Knowledge since my last, tends to confirm the doctrine it contains, that no time was to be lost in taking possession of Louisiana after the exchange of ratifications. It gives me great pleasure to find that the President has adopted the most decisive measures for that purpose. I hope in the course of a few weeks to hear that the ceded territory is in our...
77To James Madison from James Monroe, 12 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I enclose you the letter from Mr. Livingston wh. was referr’d to in my publick one of the 9th. It is to be presumed that this affr. is ended between him & me. I have adverted to the guaranty in my publick letter in all the lights in wh. it seemed to be applicable to the existing state of affrs. in relation to France & Spain. It appears probable that it may be necessary that some person shod....
78To James Madison from James Monroe, 16 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I sent you by Liverpool lately a copy of Mr. Livingstons last letter to me relative to the guaranty, wh. communicated his having joined me in it. I send you herewith a duplicate of it, and a copy of my answer, which shews how the affr. is wound up. It is an incident wh. has given me much anxiety, as you will readily conceive, but I now flatter myself, in consideration of the manner of its...
79To James Madison from James Monroe, 2 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my last nothing interesting has taken place in any view on this side of the atlantick. I have been told that my note was referrd to the admiralty, from whom a report had not been recd wh. was the cause of delay in the answer; that the delay in the admiralty was in part owing to some changes in it, Sr. Evan Nepean being removed to Ireland in character of chief secry. to the Ld....
80To James Madison from James Monroe, 17 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have yours of the 26th. of decr (private[)] with those which accompanied it. No change of any kind has taken place in publick affrs. since my last. It will I think be more easy to form a treaty than obtain thro’ the admiralty any important change in the system as to impressments. I expect to receive further instructions by Mr. Baring, & powers if it is yr. wish to form a treaty. The King is...