To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 2 September 1805 (Abstract)
From Fulwar Skipwith, 2 September 1805 (Abstract)
§ From Fulwar Skipwith. 2 September 1805, Paris. “I have the honor to inform you of my being about to depart from this for the United States and that I have authorized my Colleague Mr. Barnet to fill my place during my absence.
“The several marks of confidence and favour with which the President and yourself, Sir, have been pleased to honor this gentleman, leave me no doubt but my choice of him will meet your approbation—and under the belief that the Voyage I am going to undertake will be justified by the motives which have determined me to it and which I shall have the honor of making known to the President on my arrival at Washington—I shall say no more at present than to enclose Copies of the Letters I have addressed on this Subject—to the Ministers of the United States and of Exterior relations,1 to which I respectfully beg your reference.”
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, CD, Paris, vol. 1); Tr and Tr of first enclosure (ibid.). RC 2 pp.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by Skipwith. Minor differences between the copies have not been noted. For enclosures, see n. 1.
1. Skipwith enclosed copies of (1) his 29 June 1805 letter to John Armstrong (2 pp.), informing the latter of his impending visit to the United States and his designation of Isaac Cox Barnet as acting consul, and asking Armstrong to inform the French government of the change and to obtain an exequatur for Barnet allowing him to act as U.S. consul at Paris; and (2) his 2 Sept. 1805 letter to Talleyrand (2 pp.; in French), requesting a passport for his departure, offering to carry any dispatches Talleyrand might have for French agents in the United States, and announcing his selection of Barnet to serve as interim acting consul.