Thomas Jefferson Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Warden, David Bailie" AND Period="Madison Presidency" AND Correspondent="Jefferson, Thomas"
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-08-02-0030

David Bailie Warden to Thomas Jefferson, 20 October 1814

From David Bailie Warden

Paris, 20 october, 1814.

Dear Sir,

mr. mazzei has sent me the inclosed letter, with a request to forward it to you by a safe channel of conveyance, which I now find by a french1 flag-vessel bound to new york.

I had the honor of writing to you in may last, and of sending, for your acceptance, a copy of my “Essay on Consular Establishments” and brochures by mr. Corran—In June last, I sent to the care of mr. Shaler, at Ghent, a trunk containing several volumes and brochures to your address, which he promised to forward by the John Adams, and to have it delivered to mr. Short, to whom mr. Rochon has written on this subject.

In my letter, of the 5th of may last, forwarded by mr. Corran, I informed you of the delivery of the letters, which you were pleased to Send to my care. I lately wrote to you by mr. Todd, son of mrs. madison, and took the liberty of informing you of the suspension of my Consular powers, inclosing at the same time, a copy of my justification on the two points of accusation which mr. Crawford states as the ground of this suspension. With regard to the first—my conduct in relation to the prizes of Commodore Rodgers—I have proven by strong testimony that my opinion was correct; namely, that the Commodore had a right to the consignment of his prize; and, that I, as his legal consignee, was authorised to direct, and manage the sale and proceeds. mr. Crawford, on his arrival in France, gave a different opinion, and in favor of mr. Lees’ pretentions, to which I immediately submitted, as the ministers’ interference freed me from that responsability to which I was liable in virtue of the Commodore’s powers. In this affair, as in all others relating to my office, I had no personal interest:2 I acted from motives of duty having solely at heart the interests of my Government, and those of Commodore Rodgers.—I beg leave to inclose a copy of a letter from the Prince of Benevent, minister of foreign affairs, which justifies my conduct concerning the correspondence with the french Government after mr. Barlows’ death, and untill the time when mr. Crawford delivered his letters of credence.—I have been informed, that this correspondence was the only cause of the Presidents’ displeasure,3 and the reason for granting to mr. Crawford large discretionary powers.—The intended appointment of the nephew of mr. Barlow as Secretary of Legation was entirely unknown to me. my Correspondence with mr. Crawford shews, that I submitted every4 affair to his direction, or decision, except the Legalisation of documents5—I never gave him cause of displeasure—It is my wish to be employed by the Government, and if the President would reinstate me, or give me some appointment as chargé d’affaire, he will find me faithful, and active in the discharge of my duties—I wait here his further orders.—

The depredations of the English6 have excited a general indignation throughout france, which is strengthened by a knowledge of the commercial projects of England in relation to this Country. The productions of the islands ceded to France have been purchased in advance for the two ensuing years by British agents, who have also bought up the raw materials for manufactures in France, which they have actually transported to England, for the purpose of sending them back to the former Country in a manufactured state.7 But all this will be of little8 avail9—The manufactures of france, for general consumption, have been carried to a high degree of improvement during the last fifteen years, and cannot be destroyed except by very impolitic measures of this Government, which, I do not think can be adopted, for reasons well known to all.

Professor Leslie of Edinborough, who lately visited Paris, made much enquiry concerning mr Randolph and family, and expressed a great desire to hear from him.

mr. De Tracy is anxious to know whether the translation of a certain work has yet appeared.

I have some pamphlets for you which I shall forward by the first opportunity. I am, dear Sir, with great respect, your very obliged Servant.

David Bailie Warden

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esquire, monticello”; endorsed by TJ as received 15 July 1815 and so recorded in SJL. Dft (MdHi: Warden Papers); incomplete. Enclosures: (1) Philip Mazzei to TJ, 24 Sept. 1814. (2) Talleyrand to Warden, Paris, 29 Aug. 1814, indicating as requested by Warden that after William H. Crawford presented his letters of credence, the French foreign ministry discontinued the correspondence it had kept up with Warden following the death in 1812 of Joel Barlow, but that this change came as a matter of course, in order to streamline the conduct of its affairs, and not because of any actions taken by Warden (Tr in DLC: TJ Papers, 202:35939, entirely in Warden’s hand and attested by him: “the above is a true copy of the original,” above attestation: “mr. Warden, Rue St Dominique D’Enfer, no. 18”; Tr in DLC: TJ Papers, 202:35934, attested “a true copy of the original” by Warden; Tr in DLC: TJ Papers, 202:35938, attested “a true copy” by Warden; Tr in DLC: TJ Papers, 202:35935; all Trs are in French).

Warden’s letter to TJ was dated 6 May 1814, not the 5th of may. The letter he sent to TJ through John Payne todd was dated 18 June 1814. Under the Treaty of Paris of 30 May 1814, Great Britain agreed to return to France most of the colonies it had captured during the conflict, including the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Réunion (Lawrence James, The Rise and Fall of the British Empire [1994], 154, 165; Connelly, Napoleonic France description begins Owen Connelly and others, eds., Historical Dictionary of Napoleonic France, 1799–1815, 1985 description ends , 382).

1Word interlined in Dft.

2Preceding nine words interlined in Dft.

3Remainder of sentence not in Dft.

4Dft here adds “important.”

5Preceding five words not in Dft.

6Dft here adds “in the U.S.”

7In Dft, sentence reads “The agents of the former have purchased for the three ensuing years, the productions of the Islands lately ceded to England: they have also bought the raw materials for french manufactures.”

8RC: “litle.” Dft: “no.”

9Dft ends here with “Yours &c.”

Index Entries

  • A Treatise on Political Economy (Destutt de Tracy) search
  • Barlow, Joel; death of search
  • Barlow, Thomas search
  • Bordeaux; U.S. consul at search
  • Corran, Patrick; forwards book to TJ search
  • Corran, Patrick; forwards letter to TJ search
  • Crawford, William Harris; and D. B. Warden’s removal as consul search
  • Crawford, William Harris; as minister plenipotentiary to France search
  • Destutt de Tracy, Antoine Louis Claude; A Treatise on Political Economy search
  • France; and Great Britain search
  • France; colonies returned to search
  • France; manufacturing in search
  • Great Britain; and France search
  • Great Britain; manufacturing in search
  • Great Britain; returns colonies to France search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; works sent to search
  • John Adams (ship); carries packages search
  • Lee, William (1772–1840); consul at Bordeaux search
  • Leslie, Sir John; inquires about TJ’s family search
  • Madison, Dolley Payne Todd (James Madison’s wife); mentioned search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); and D. B. Warden search
  • Mazzei, Philip; letters from mentioned search
  • On the Origin, Nature, Progress and Influence of Consular Establishments (D. B. Warden) search
  • Paris; Treaty of (1814) search
  • political economy; works on search
  • Randolph, Thomas Mann (1768–1828) (TJ’s son-in-law; Martha Jefferson Randolph’s husband); family of search
  • Rochon, Alexis Marie; sends books and pamphlets to TJ search
  • Rodgers, John; and D. B. Warden’s removal as consul search
  • Shaler, William; and trunk for TJ search
  • Short, William; D. B. Warden sends publications through search
  • Talleyrand-Périgord, Charles Maurice de; and D. B. Warden search
  • Todd, John Payne; carries documents search
  • Warden, David Bailie; and Destutt de Tracy’s book manuscript search
  • Warden, David Bailie; and Talleyrand-Périgord search
  • Warden, David Bailie; and TJ’s foreign correspondence search
  • Warden, David Bailie; as consul at Paris search
  • Warden, David Bailie; letters from search
  • Warden, David Bailie; on Anglo-French relations search
  • Warden, David Bailie; On the Origin, Nature, Progress and Influence of Consular Establishments search
  • Warden, David Bailie; removed from consulship search
  • Warden, David Bailie; sends publications to TJ search