To James Madison from John Dawson, 7 May 1804
From John Dawson
Philadelphia. May 7. 1804
Dear Sir,
Some private business brought me from New York, & will hurry me back in three or four days. I met Mr Cutts & his lady at the North river & they were well.
It is reported that Mr. Monroe, Mr. Livingston and perhaps Mr. Pinkney are about to return—shoud that be the case & the administration shoud think proper to appoint me I will go, & shoud prefer France.1
Accounts are receivd on this morning, which are accredited, that the King of England is dead.2 With much esteem Your friend
J Dawson.
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. Upon learning that Dawson wanted to be appointed minister to France, Dolley Madison wrote her sister Anna, “Oh vanity—vanity” (Dolley Madison to Anna Cutts, 18 May 1804, owned by Mr. and Mrs. George B. Cutts, Brookline, Mass., 1982).
2. The report was erroneous. George III lived until 1820.