1From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 2 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
Since my last of which Lt. Lewis was the bearer, I have received your several letters of 27 Decr 22. Jany 15th. & 17 February with their respective inclosures. That of the 15th. Jany from Mr. Champagny to you has, as you will see by the papers herewith sent, produced all the sensations here, which the spirit and stile of it were calculated to excite in minds alive to the interests and honor of...
2From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 7 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
Representations have been made to this Department by Mr Mountflorence and his friends, relative to a dispute between him and Mr Barnet; and also as to his imprisonment. Will you be so good as to transmit to me such information on these subjects as you may think entitled to the attention of this Government and in the mean time to interpose in favor of Mr. Mountflorence any good offices which...
3From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 22 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
The two last letters received from you were of Decr. 24. and Jany 16. The decree of Novr. 21st. communicated in the first had previously reached us, and had excited apprehensions which were repressed only by the inarticulate import of its articles, and the presumption, that it would be executed in a sense not inconsistent with the respect due the Treaty between France and the United States....
4From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 8 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a copy of a letter just received at this office from Messrs. Mathew Cobb & Asa Clerp, Merchants of Portland, and to request that you will take such steps in the case as may be best adapted to it. I have the honor to be &c DNA : RG 59—IM—Instructions to Ministers.
5From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 9 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
The St. Michael not having yet returned nor any late information received thro’ any other channel as to our relations with France, I can add nothing of importance to what was communicated on that subject by Mr. Baker. A private letter from Mr. Pinkney dated about ten days before the reported arrival of the St. Michael in England, expresses hopes founded on an interview with Mr. Canning, that...
6From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 8 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
Your letters and communications by Dr. Bullus were duly delivered on the day of . The same conveyance brought a copy of the sentence pronounced by the French prize Court in the case of the Horizon, giving a judicial effect to the Decree of Novr. 21. 1806, as expounded in the answer of Mr Champagny to your letter of the . Whilst the French Government did not avow or enforce a meaning of the...
7From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 15 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
In the event of a war, or even of a general stop to the commerce with Great Britain, the renewal of the intercourse with St. Domingo, will become an object of great importance to the United States. In a letter of the 31 Jany 1804 to Mr Livingston, your predecessor, observations on the subject of this intercourse were addressed to the inte rest of France, as requiring her acquiescence in it....
8From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 10 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
When possession was delivered to our Commissioners by Mr. Laussat under the Treaty of 30 April 1803 it happened that a small settlement called Bayou Pierre was not included; altho it lies Eastward of the Sabine, is much nearer to our frontier post at Natchitoches, than to the Spanish one at Nacogdoches, and is known to have been a French settlement which was never under Spanish jurisdiction...
9From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 20 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed copy of a letter to Mr. Ervine, accompanying a statement of the case of the Marquis de Casa Yrujo, with certain other documents, will give explanations very proper to be possessed by you. To these are added other printed papers, which bring down to this date, the information and proceedings which relate to the enterprize of Burr and to such of his associates as have been arrested....
10From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 10 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
The letter, of which a copy is inclosed, from Mr Portalis, the French Minister of Worship to a Citizen at New Orleans named Castillen who is stiled President of the Fabrique of the Church of St. Louis, appears to have excited considerable sensation there, as an interposition disrespectful to the Government of the United States, and as evidence of a wish in that of France to keep alive in the...
11From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 18 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have received since my last of July 15 your letters of May 12th. June 4. 7. 26. July 12. 24. August 3d. continued 15 and one of the 23d. Your communications with Mr Champagny give some hope that our affairs with Spain may have been at length put into an effective course of adjustment; tho’ it is seen with regret that nothing has yet passed absolutely inconsistent with further delays, if...
12From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 21 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
Herewith you will receive a copy of the papers relating to one of the vessels which were destroyed at sea by the French Frigates returning from the West Indies. I observe that in your letter to Mr. Champagny of the 2d. of April, you have incidentally noticed this occurrence. If ample reparation should not have been made to the sufferers, the President thinks it proper that as their cases...
13From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 20 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
I inclose the sequel of the information respecting Mr Burr’s enterprize as communicated to Congress yesterday whereby you will perceive that he has surrendered himself to the Civil authority of the Mississippi Territory. I have the honor to be with great respect, Sir, your most Obt. Svt. Privately owned.
14From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 22 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
Your dispatches by Lt. Lewis were delivered on the 8th. inst. It is regretted that the interval between his arrival and the date of your letter to Mr. Champagny, during which I presume some verbal intercommunication must have taken place, had produced no indication of a favorable change in the views of the French Government with respect to its decrees; and still more that instead of an early...
15From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 15 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed copy of a Proclamation of the President will inform you of a late extraordinary hostility and insult committed by a British Ship of War on a frigate of the U. S. near the Capes of Virginia, and of the measure taken by the President in consequence of the outrage. The subsequent proceedings of the British Squadron in our waters have borne a like stamp of hostility; and altho’ it may...
16From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 2 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
Information has been received thro’ a channel justly claiming attention, that the people of West Florida meditate an effort to liberate themselves from the Spanish Government; and that with this view it is intended in case the pulse of this Government does not promise a taking them by the hand, to address themselves to the British Government. No doubt is entertained of the ease with which the...
17To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 15 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
You will find in this note the substance of certain observations made by the Emperor at a Diaplomatic audience given yesterday at Fontainebleau. After rebuking the infallible head of the church (through the Cardinal legate) he Said, "He has sent me an Ambassador Extraordinary whom I shall send back to him, and whom I will not even see." Then addressing the Ambassador of Portugal, he declared,...
18To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 25 October 1808 (Madison Papers)
Hearing that the Charleston packet would not sail before the 1st. of November, I avail myself of that circumstance to add a few lines to those already sent by M. Roux. Such is the apparent persuasion on the side of Russia, that England will accept the terms recently offered to her by the two Emperors, that Genl Romanzoff has come on to Paris with the view, as is reported, of avoiding all...
19To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 24 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor in a note of the 24th. ultimo to communicate the terms on which it was understood here, that a general pacification of European quarrels might be effected. Since the date of that communication an answer has been received from Great Britain expressive of a desire for peace, but declining to act on the propositions made to her, untill She had consulted her allies. The Emperor’s...
20To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 31 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
I received a few days past a letter from M. de Champagny of which a copy is enclosed. I know not that any American vessel has come to Europe in violation of the embargo, excepting one. The vessels alluded to by the Minister are no doubt those mentioned by Mr. Montgomery (or such as those) who tempted by the high freights given here will not return to the U. S. I enclose a journal of yesterday...
21To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 22 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
Mr Patterson offers so good a conveyance that I cannot but employ it. Nothing has occurred here since the date of my public dispatches (the 17th. inst.) to give to our business an aspect more favorable than it then had, but on the other hand, I have come at the knowledge of two facts which, I think, sufficiently shew the decided character of the Emperor’s policy with regard to us. These are...
22To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 6 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
As the Union may be detained by westerly winds two or three days beyond the time set for her departure, I do myself the honor to forward herewith two numbers of the Argus containing the 10th. and 11th. Bulletins from the Army and the translation of a pamphlet, written and published by order of this Government (as is supposed) on the interest which Europe in general has, in the Success of the...
23To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 15 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have this day seen a letter, from a french Officer now at Madrid and entirely in the way of knowing what is going forward, which Contains the following ideas Viz: that since the arrival of Prince Murat the french army employs all the precautions necessary in an enemy’s country; that the people of Spain, though excited by the french intrusion, are yet willing to believe, that the visit is...
24To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 24 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment been confidentially informed, that the Minister of Marine and the Council of prizes were about to receive new orders in relation to the November decree. I hasten to convey this information to you, as it may be important, (particularly at the present crisis) that it should be early known in America. It was conveyed to me in a note of which the following is a litteral...
25To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 29 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
This has no object but to inform you, that I have advanced (of the money of the Public) the sum of two thousand eight hundred & eighty francs to John Martin Baker Messenger & agent of the U. S. and that I enclose his receit for the same. With very high Consideration I am, Sir, Your Most Obedient & very humble servant DNA : RG 59—DD—Diplomatic Despatches, France.
26To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 8 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment received Mr. Lear’s packets & forward them by express to Havre. It would appear from the direction given to the march of the guards, that the Emperor is going to Germany and it is said, for the purpose solely of an interview with Alexander & not with any hostile intention towards Austria. It is even added, that overtures to England for a peace will be the result of this...
27To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 13 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
The conjecture offered in my last letter with regard to the Embargo of our vessels, turns out to be correct. The order was intended to be confined to vessels of friendly and allied powers, or powers having both these characters. The word neutral crept into it merely by mistake. An extract from the Minister’s letter to me on that subject is as follows viz "Aucun ordre n’a ete donné pour retenir...
28To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 31 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
The Court left Bayonne on the 26th & 28th. inst. The Emperor is expected at Nantes on the seventh of Augt. and at Rambouillet on the 13th. It is doubtful whether he will touch at Paris. If he should, I shall endeavor to draw from him an answer to the remonstrances I have, at different times, made since November last. These attempts shall however be so regulated as will most effectually prevent...
29To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 23 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
In a conference I had with M. de Champagny on tuesday last, that minister stated, that a M. Davis (our Consul at Tripoli) had omitted to return the ceremonial visit made to him by his Majesty’s consul at that place; that this omission (being an offense against a usual and necessary civility) was rendered more pointed & piquing by the punctuality with which M. Davis had discharged this duty to...
30To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 23 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
Orders were given on the 17th. instant, & received yesterday at the Imperial Custom house here "to seize all american vessels now in the Ports of France, or which may come into them hereafter". How is this to be explained? Is it that our vessels now in Europe, tempted by the high freights, wish to continue here, running between the belligerents? Is it that the Emperor is determined that french...