1To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 15 October 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I feel sensibly the want of some papers which I left in a little trunk under the care of Mr. Short, whom I presume is in Italy, therefore Sir I take the liberty of requesting that you will do me the favour to have it put in some early channel of conveyance to me at No. 66 New bond Street. A private opportunity probably may offer. With best wishes for your Health I remain my Dr. Sir with much...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 6 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 6 Dec. 1788. Encloses a letter which he asks TJ to forward to William Short; asks him also to look over Short’s mail to see whether there is among his letters one with a “superscription” which agrees with “the Direction herein transmitted” this request arises from his having “recently received advices from Virginia, of a letter being forwarded under cover to Mr. Short, inclosing...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 1 Feb. 1789 . Intends to embark for Virginia this month or next, and asks TJ’s commands, as well as whether he intends to embark in the spring, “that I may bear the pleaseing intelligence to your friends on Appomatox,” who were well in November but reported the sickliest autumn in memory. Crops were plentiful in Virginia last year, and “what is much to her benifit and Credit,...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 November 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 1 Nov. 1789 . He thinks it probable that TJ has heard through Short “of the almost unparalleled misfortunes, which through an act of Providence in one instance and the bankruptcy of a man in another, are likely to deprive me of a handsome Competence … made by prudence and industry.” An “evil of no less magnitude” is that he is likely to “be thrown out of all Connexions in business.”...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 8 January 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Hors-du-Monde, 8 Jan. 1790 . From his conversation with TJ here and “from what passed between you and our common friend Colo. Tom, on the subject of my pretensions” to a consulate, Skipwith cherishes “a pleasing expectation of your intercession…with the President and Senate.” Hopes TJ will help him obtain such a post or “some employment, that may place me out of the reach of idleness, or...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 18 September 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 30th. Ulto. I did myself the pleasure to address your Excellency, expressing the hope I daily entertained of receiving the instructions necessary to my entering into the office of Consul for the United States at this Port &c. &c.; and likewise informing of the awkward situation in which I may stand with the Governor, in regard to the exequatur required by the 1st. Art. of the convention...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 10 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 30th. Ulto. I did myself the pleasure to address your Excellency, expressing the hope I entertained of receiving the instructions necessary to my entering into office, and likewise informing of the aukward situation in which I may stand in regard to the exequatur required by the 1st. art. of the convention existing between his M. C. Majesty and the U. States, should government here not...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 10 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Owing to the long and obstinate continuance of the unhappy disputes of Martinique, and finding myself on that account no less than for want of instructions from you, unable to render much service in my official capacity, I have within the last fortnight been induced to make this my place of residence, meaning to await the reestablishment of order in that distracted island and likewise the...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 20 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave again to remind your Excellency that in none of the french colonies have they received from the Court of France (officially) the Convention with the United States respecting Consuls &c.—therefore no one of their Governors or Commandants can grant me the necessary exequateur or receive me in any form. With Respect I have the honour to be Your Excellys Mo Obt. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD );...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
St. Pierre, 1 May 1791 . The lack of an exequatur and tardiness of Congress in framing instructions or providing for consuls, the troubles of this island and consequent losses in commerce, added to the exhausted state of his finances, have driven him to the mortifying resolution to return to America until the obstacles can be removed and Congress “think proper to regulate the Consular Powers...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 20 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 20 July 1791 . He will not repeat reasons for leaving Martinique given in two letters written from there, being assured TJ will understand that his return as consul cannot take place with propriety or justice to himself until France shall communicate the Convention and until Congress provides for the support and authority of consuls. He has left in Martinique a capable representative...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 4 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 4 Aug. 1791 . He encloses a packet lately received from the governor of Martinique, the purpose of which is to solicit from “the … Cincinnatus their honorary badge.” If granted, he will be happy to convey it to the governor. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , T/431); endorsed by TJ as received 11 Aug. 1791 and so recorded in SJL .
13To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 October 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
For some time back I had been looking forward to the agreeable event of your arrival at Monticello that there above all other places I might have the pleasure of paying you my respects in person. This satisfaction I am now compelled to defer untill your return to Philadelphia, being called to Norfolk by some little business of such urgency as will not indulge me with delay. The same reasons...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 21 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeably to your request I have called on Colo. Smith and afforded him all the information which, I am possessed of, respecting the seisure of the Sloop Jane.—I now do myself the pleasure to subjoin the names of the few citizens of the U. States, who at present reside in the french W. Islands. Say. Geo. Patterson, St. Pierre M/que from Balto., brother of Mr. Patterson Director of the Bank....
15To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 28 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Soon after my late address from Norfolk I embarked for this Island and have been now some weeks arrived. Government here continuing still without any official communication from their Court touching the reception of a Consul from the United States places me in my former state of suspense; yet whenever the obstacles which keep me out office shall be removed, I shall with pleasure undertake to...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 18 September 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The death of my late Partner, my want of health in the West Indies and the still existing obstacles to my recognition of Consul from the United States to Martinique, have driven me to the necessity of taking a final leave of that Island. Under the many inconveniences naturally resulting from so many disadvantages, my present Situation will not be problemetical—and having in many preceeding...
17To George Washington from Fulwar Skipwith, 25 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
In the present urgency and peculiar hardship of my situation I am led with some persuasion of success to call a moment of your Excellencys attention to a short history of my distress, and to hope, that if I may be found to possess merit or talents sufficient to fit me for any little employment under Government, your Excellency may be induced to confer on me the honor of a future and second...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 12 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
In order to save the remnant of a little property, which, from the Situation of Martinique, I have been obliged to leave behind me, I am under the necessity of returning once more to that unhappy Island. What the posture of affairs there, may be on my arrival I can hardly hazard a conjecture; should, however, its Inhabitants have been brought under obedience to the reigning Government of...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
It is now a week since the Vessel in which I took my passage from Boston, came into this place, (a small port in the Windward part of the Island) where is exhibited the most terrible scene of distress and Confusion immaginable. About a month ago it seems that the Planters were advised of the arrival of the British fleet, at Barbados, and at the same time they received Assurance that the object...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Many details of the disaster which have befallen this devoted Island have doubtless reached you e’er this—and in no one can any great exaggeration have been made of the waste and horrors mutually committed by the two contending parties. The Royalists, however, are entirely driven from the Island with the British armament at their heels. Whether they will repeat their visit or not after the...
21To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 27 July 1796 (Madison Papers)
The letter which I now take the liberty of transmitting under cover hereof, I had intended to address particularly to you; but it occurring to me that you may have reasons for not wishing to incur the risk of being thought interested or concerned in its publication as well as of the documents inclosed therewith, I have left its address in blank; requesting that you will have the goodness to...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 17 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I leave to Mr. Barlow , who writes to you by Mr. Lee the confidential bearer of his and this letter, to trace the rise and progress of the present alarming indisposition of this Government towards ours; but being more frightened than perhaps my friend Mr. Barlow is at the dangers which threaten the peace and safety of my Country, I am irrisistably led to express my fears to the man of my...
23To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 12 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 October 1801, Paris. Acknowledges receipt on 28 Sept. of JM’s 9 June letter with commission appointing him commercial agent for Paris. Encloses required bond with two sureties. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Paris, vol. 1). 1 p. Enclosure not found. JM to Skipwith, 9 June 1801 ( DLC : Causten-Pickett Papers). A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.
24To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 12 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
On the 28th. Ulto. I had the honor of receiving your letter of the 9th. of June last accompanying a Commission from the President, by which I am appointed Commercial Agent of the United States for the City of Paris during his pleasure, and untill the end of the next Session of the Senate. I accept this mark of the President’s confidence, and I promise to discharge the duties which the trust...
25To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 29 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 October 1801, Paris. Since his letter of 12 Oct. acknowledging receipt of his commission, has received his exequatur as well as authorization to grant passports. Encloses list of judgments made by the Council of Prizes from its inception. Also encloses various documents relating to the condemnation of the Rodolph Frederic and its cargo as he believes the principles in the case may “interest...
26To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 29 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
By my letter of the 12th. Inst. I had the honor of acknowledging receipt of my Commission to this Agency, with the two letters accompanying, and of forwarding under cover thereof my Bond, as required by the Circular from your Department, for the faithful execution of the duties of my Office. I have since obtained my Exequatur from this Government, and am now in the exercise of those functions,...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 30 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot let pass the opportunity by Mr. Dupont, of saying in this private manner some things which I am desirous of communicating to you, my dear Sir, but which I should feel an awkwardness in making the subject of a letter to the Department of State.—I shall in doing this expect your indulgence; perhaps, because I have so often experienced it. In a sketch here inclosed I have hazarded, for...
28To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 14 March 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 March 1802, Paris. Has not written to JM since Livingston’s arrival, having had nothing to report on American claims. “Respecting those Claims, I here submit two separate Statements, the first comprehending, under different heads, such as were committed to my charge, whilst in the Office of Consul General, and those … that have been intrusted to me, since my coming to the place of...
29To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 14 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
Since Mr. Livingston’s arrival at Paris, I have not had the honor of writing to you, having been in communication with him, concerning the Claims of our fellow-citizens, against this Government, and having had nothing within the Sphere of my Office interesting to impart. Respecting those Claims, I here submit two separate Statements, the first comprehending, under different heads, such as were...
30To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 30 March 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
30 March 1802, Paris. “With the approbation of Mr. Livingston I have taken on myself to appoint Mr. James Anderson of Charlestown, So: Carolina sub commercial Agent for the port of Cette in the Mediterenean, and I take the liberty of adding my own request to his, that the President may be pleased to confer on him the appointment of Agent or vice-commercial for the aforesaid port and its...
31To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 30 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
With the approbation of Mr. Livingston I have taken on myself to appoint Mr. James Anderson of Charlestown, So: Carolina sub commercial Agent for the port of Cette on the Mediterenean, and I take the liberty of adding my own request to his, that the President may be pleased to confer on him the appointment of Agent or vice-commercial for the aforesaid port and its dependences. The interests...
32To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 29 July 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 July 1802, Paris. Introduces John Jones Waldo of Massachusetts and recommends him for “one of the vacant commercial Agencys of this Country.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR , 1801–9, filed under “Waldo”). 1 p. Addressee not indicated. Skipwith wrote a similar letter to Jefferson on 30 July (ibid.).
33To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Under cover of my last letter of the 14th. March I had the honor of inclosing to you two seperate statements of the American claims in my charge, the first comprehending those commited to me while in the Office of Consul General, and the other those that have lately been placed in my hands as Agent of Claims for the United States. I informed you of my having submited both descriptions of said...
34To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 August 1802, Paris. “The foregoing being from a very respectable merchant of Philadelphia, and on a subject in my opinion of sufficient importance to shew the expediency of there being as speedily as may be a Commercial Agent at Antwerp, I beg leave to recommend its contents to your attention.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR , 1801–9, filed under “Skipwith”). Skipwith wrote this note to JM on the...
35To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith and Others, 8 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 August 1802, Paris. “Mr. Dobell lately appointed by the President, to the Commercial Agency of Havre, has declined accepting that Office.” Recommends John Lyle of New Jersey, “one of our best Republicans, an excellent Citizen, a Gentleman of very amiable mind, and as a Merchant, completely calculated to discharge the duties of the Office he now solicits with advantage to the Public.” RC ( DNA...
36To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 8 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Dobell lately appointed by the President, to the Commercial Agency of Havre, has declined accepting that Office. Mr. John Lyle a native of the State of New-Jersey is desirous of succeeding to it, and not having the advantage of being known to you, has requested of us to offer you the informations which a long acquaintance with him may enable us to afford of his Character and fitness to...
37To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 10 October 1802 (Madison Papers)
I beg you to excuse, my dear Sir, my writing to you personally on the subject of my Countrymens claims against this Government. I know that any communication of mine on that head, to be either correct in its manner, or useful to the public, ought to be addressed to the Department of State. But as in the present instance I have a personal motive of doing justice to myself, and cannot render all...
38To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 20 November 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 November 1802, Paris. “The papers accompanying this were left with me by Mr. Clarke, three days ago on his departure from hence for London, with a desire that I should transmit them under cover to you by the American Ship Plow-boy about to sail from Bordeaux for Philadelphia. Mr Clarke, who, I have some reason to suppose is personally known to you, remained a fortnight in Paris … in great...
39To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 20 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
The papers accompanying this were left with me by Mr. Clarke, three days ago, on his departure from hence for London, with a desire that I should transmit them under cover to you by the American Ship Plow-boy about to sail from Bordeaux for Philadelphia. Mr. Clarke, who, I have some reason to suppose, is personally known to you, remained a fortnight in Paris, and was during that time in great...
40To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 December 1802 (Madison Papers)
The President, by the time this reaches you, will have received from Mr. Livingston & Mr. Sumter respectively a statement of the causes & issue of their present open and avowed rupture, being in a great degree the renewal of a misunderstanding that unfortunately commenced between them last Winter. On that occasion, as well as on the present, the Ministers conduct in respect to some of the...
41To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 3 February 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
3 February 1803, Paris. “The Council of Liquidation having refused to liquidate several Claims committed to my charge, for supplies made at different Periods to the french Colonies by our Countrymen, & having refered the Claimants to the respective Colonial Administrations, I supposed these particular Decisions were the Effect of a general Regulation or Arrêté, and therefore I applied to them...
42To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 3 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
The Council of Liquidation having refused to liquidate several Claims committed to my charge, for supplies made at different Periods to the french Colonies by our Countrymen, & having refered the Claimants to the respective Colonial Administrations I supposed these particular Decisions were the Effect of a general Regulation or Arrêté, and therefore I applied to them for an authentic Copy of...
43To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 6 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer of this Mr. Thos. L. Halsey , a Gentleman of very distinguished connexions in the State of Rhode Island informed me of his intention of waiting on you soon after his return to his native Country, and having expressed his design of soliciting a grade in the army of the U.S. is willing to charge himself with a letter of recommendation from me, with others from several of your friends...
44To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 20 May 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 May 1803, Paris . Conceives the business of American claims against the French government and of his agency “to be drawing to a close.” “The emoluments of my Office of Consul are almost nothing. My own fortune is unequal to the support of myself & family. My zeal & exertions to serve my Country at some of her most difficult periods both here & in the W. Indias have been great. My sacrifice...
45To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 7 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I was favored about the middle of June with your letter of the 4th. May, with a remittence, in a bill on Messrs. Dupont de Nemours pere et fils & Co., for 2100 francs, to be invested in Wines, principally of the non-mosseux Champagne. Your predilection in favor the Wines raised formerly by Mr. Dorsay induced me to address myself to his family, he though living being ruined & insane. By his...
46To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 24 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
Being charged by Mr Livingston, during his absence from Paris, with his Correspondence with this Government, I think it proper to inclose here Copy of a letter lately delivered me from the Minister of foreign Relations, in reply to one written to him by Mr. Livingston on the subject of certain Negros forcibly embarked by the Captain General at Guadalupe on board of Vessels of the U. S. Having...
47To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 11 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 11 September 1803 . Calendared as a three-page letter in the lists probably made by Peter Force (DLC, series 7, container 2).
48To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 13 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
With this I have the honor of forwarding a Copy of my last letter to you of the 24th. Ulto. Mr. Livinston has since returned to Paris, and of course it becomes less necessary for me to continue my communications with you respecting most of the public concerns between our Government and this. My situation however, in relation to the late Convention & the business of our Countrymens claims,...
49To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 25 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
For some time past, I have been waiting to obtain from Havre & Rouen, a note of the expences paid by Mr. Mitchell & Mr. White on the ten hampers of Wine shipped from Havre for your account, in order to furnish you with a general account of their cost & charges, which are as follows fs. C. fs. for 400 Bottles non-mosseux Wine a 3.75 1500.—. 101 do Chambertin do. 3.25 353.50. Expences paid...
50To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 14 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
You have here a copy of my last Letter to you of the 13th. of Septemr. The Board, as I there informed you, Since Mr. M.clures accession to it, had thought proper to suspend granting their certificates for the final Liquidation of claims untill they Should hear of the Ratification of the Treaties, It was then my opinion, & is now, that they might with Safety & propriety have concurred with the...