101To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
Yours by yesterday’s mail is recieved & I now return Pinckney’s & Graham’s letters. I thought it best to forward the passport for Hill’s vessel to Mr. Graham direct lest it should lose a post by going in to Montpelier. With Mr. Grymes’s request of a vessel I can do nothing till further advised. The application is new, and I think unnecessary, as I presume the trade to N. O. is sufficiently...
102From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
In the wild range which Tatham’s head takes, he often hits on good ideas. those explained in the within letter merit real attention. he knows the localities of that quarter; & should the idea of an artificial bason on the Middle grounds be found impracticable (for want of foundation) Lynhaven bay, deepened at it’s entrance becomes the sole resource for defending the Chesapeake; & the...
103To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 23 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Yesterday’s post brought me, as I suppose it did you, information of the Emperor of Marocco’s declaration of war against us, and of the capture of a merchant vessel of ours (the Franklin, Morris) off cape Palos, by a Tripoline as is said in a New York letter; but a Marraquin as I am in hopes from the place, & the improbability of a Tripoline being there. The letter to the Emperor, & the gun...
104To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
Your two favors of the 18th. & 20th. were recieved on the 21st. The letters of Livingston & Monroe are sent to mr. Gallatin as you proposed. That of Simpson to mr. Smith for the purpose of execution. All of them will be returned. Thornton’s, Clarke’s, Charles Pinckney’s, Graham’s, Appleton’s, Davis’s, Mitchell’s, Newton’s, & Derieux’ letters are now inclosed. With respect to the impressment of...
105To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 18 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I returned here yesterday afternoon & found, as I might expect an immense mass of business. With the papers recieved from you I inclose you some others which will need no explanation. I am desired by the Secy. of the navy to say what must be the conduct of Com. Rogers at New-York on the late or any similar entry of that harbor by British armed vessels. I refer him to the orders to Decatur as...
106To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
In conversation with mr. Gallatin yesterday as to what might be deemed the result of our Tuesday’s conferences, he seemed to have understood the former opinion as not changed, to wit that for the Floridas East of Perdido might be given not only the 2. millions of dollars and a margin to remain unsettled, but an absolute relinquishment from the North river to the bay of St. Bernard and Colorado...
107From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 25 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours without date was recieved yesterday. about 3. or 4. days ago mr Nelson called on me with a letter from Genl. Lee informing me he was summoned in the case which is the subject of your letter, & expressing his difficulties. I had never had any information of the case, it’s parties or subject, except that I had read in the newspapers some time ago that a prosecution was commenced in...
108From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 14 September 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the several papers recieved by the last post, except those solliciting office, which as usual, are put into my bundle of like papers. I think it possible that Spain, recollecting our former eagerness for the island of N. Orleans, may imagine she can, by a free delivery of that, redeem the residue of Louisiana: and that she may withold the peaceable cession of it. in that case...
109To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 28 February 1806 (Madison Papers)
What would you think of raising a force for the defence of New Orleans in this manner? Give a bounty of 50 acres of land, to be delivered immediately, to every able bodied man who will immediately settle on it, & hold himself in readiness to perform 2 years military service (on the usual pay) if called on within the first seven years of his residence. The lands to be chosen by himself of any...
110To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, [13] August 1802 (Madison Papers)
The post having made it night before his arrival yesterday and my mail extraordinarily voluminous, I have been able to read & now return you the inclosed papers only. Mr. Livingston’s shall come by the next mail. I do not like this mistake of Capt. McNiel’s, and fear it will be very embarrassing. Other d⟨is⟩patches oblige me to close here with assurances of my affectiona⟨te⟩ esteem & respect....
111From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 9 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter from mr Simpson our Consul in Marocco was forwarded to me from your office by yesterday’s post. the demand of the emperor of Marocco is so palpably against reason & the usage of nations that we may consider it as a proof either that he is determined to go to war with us at all events, or that he will always make common cause with the Barbary powers when we are at war with...
112To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I recd. last night or rather this morning yours of yesterday, and return the remarks of Genl. S. inclosed in it. They strengthen the opinion as to the extent of his information on certain important Subjects, and the vigor of his understanding. The late scraps of intelligence from England put together make it probable that something towards an arrangement had taken place early in July, and...
113To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I now return you the letters of mr. Pichon, and of Jones; also those of Van Polanen & Thos. Sumter. The letter to be written to Van Polanen should be so friendly as to remove all doubt from the Batavian government that our suppression of that mission proceeds from any other motive than of domestic arrangement & e[c]onomy. I inclose you a draught of a letter to the emperor of Morocco, which...
114To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 November 1805 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed barbarous Italian would require more consideration to be perfectly understood than I have time to bestow on it. I believe Mr. Wagner reads Italian. If he does, a good translation should be made; and it sets up such serious pretensions as that I think we should give it to Eaton & desire him to make a statement of what passed between him & the Ex bashaw & such a one as we may...
115From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
my list tells me I signed commissions for the following persons, which being omitted in the list now recieved from the office, renders it desirable that the office be again examined to ascertain whether the error is in their list or mine. Mar. 9. Julien Poydrass of Orleans a member of the legislative council of Orleans. 20. Lemuel Trescott of Massach. Collectr. & Inspector of Machias. the...
116From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 27 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
will become able to regulate with effect their respective functions in these departments. the burthen of Quarentines is felt at home as well as abroad. their efficacy merit examination. although the health laws of the states should not at this moment be found to require a particular revisal by Congress. yet Commerce claims that their attention be ever awake to them. [Madison’s reply:] (a)...
117To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
Colo. Newton’s enquiries are easily solved I think by application of the principles we have assumed. 1. The interdicted ships are enemies. Should they be forced by stress of weather to run up into safer harbors, we are to act towards them as we would towards enemies in regular war in a like case. Permit no intercourse, no supplies, & if they land kill or capture them as enemies. If they lie...
118To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 21 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I send you a letter from the Ex-basha of Tripoli. Had we not better be done with this man by giving him a plain answer stating the truth & sending him the extracts from our instructions, by which he will see that if our agent ingaged any thing beyond that he went beyond his powers, and could not bind us. Nothing short of this can clear us of his sollicitations. We might go further and promise...
119To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
I inclose you the S. Carolina ratification of the amendment to the constitution, & presume it possible that in a week more you may recieve that of Tennisee, after which I suppose no time should be lost in publishing officially the final ratification. Prevost accepts the office of judge of the Orleans territory, & Dickerson that of Attorney. But as J. T. M. declines the place of A. G. US. can...
120From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to give this a severe correction both as to stile & matter, & as early a one as you can, because there remains little enough time to submit it to our brethren successively, to have copies made Etc. think also what documents it requires, & especially as to Spanish affairs. before we promise a subsequent communication on that subject, it would be well to agree on it’s...
121To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 1 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
I return you Monroe’, Armstrong’s, Harris’s & Anderson’s letters, & add a letter & act from Govr. Mc.Kean to be filed in your office. The proposition for separating the Western country mentioned by Armstrong to have been made at Paris is important. But what is the declaration he speaks of? For none accompanies his letter, unless he means Harry Grant’s proposition. I wish our ministers at...
122To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 5 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
I think it is dean Swift who says that a present should consist of something of little value, & which yet cannot be bought for money. I send you one strictly under both conditions. The drawing was made by Kosciusko for his own use, and the engraving also I believe. He sent me four copies, the only ones which have come to America. The others I give to my family, and ask yourself & mrs. Madison...
123From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 15 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. was recieved on the 13th. and can only be answered by tomorrow’s post, the ordinary course requiring 9. or 10. days from writing a letter to the reciept of it’s answer. I return you the exequatur unsigned, but have signed a blank paper to submit to your consideration the port which shall be inserted in it. the one filled up with Natchez admits that a consulship for...
124From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 13 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you a letter of Short’s for perusal, & one of Edgar Patterson asking what is already I presume provided for. one of General Armstrong which I do not well understand because I do not recollect the particular letter which came by Haley. I presume the counsel he refers to is to take possession of the Floridas. this letter of June 15. is written after the cession by Carlos to Bonaparte of...
125To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 12 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of the 10th. came to hand yesterday & I return you Foronda’s, Tufts, Soderstrom’s & Turreau’s letters. I think it is become necessary to let Turreau understand explicitly that the vessels we permit foreign ministers to send away are merely transports, for the conveyance of such of their subjects as were here at the time of the embargo, that the numbers must be proportioned to the...
126From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Newton’s enquiries are easily solved I think by application of the principles we have assumed. 1. the interdicted ships are enemies . should they be forced by stress of weather to run up into safer harbors, we are to act towards them as we would towards enemies in regular war in a like case. permit no intercourse, no supplies, & if they land kill or capture them as enemies. if they lie...
127From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors of the 25th. & blank were recieved yesterday; and all the papers forwarded me are returned by this post. I must pray you to direct an extract from so much of mr Clarke’s letter as relates to the dissatisfaction of the Chickasaw chief with the Spanish governor, to be taken & sent to Genl. Dearborn to whom I have written on the subject. mr Clarke’s letter cuts out a considerable...
128To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 18 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
I return you the papers recieved yesterday. Mr. Erskine complains of a want of communication between the British armed vessels in the Chesapeake or off the coast. If by off the coast he means those which being generally in our waters, go occasionally out of them to cruise or to acquire a title to communicate with their Consul it is too poor an evasion for him to expect us to be the dupes of....
129From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I pray you to peruse & consider the inclosed letter of Governor Cabell and my answer, and to exercise over the latter the same discretion I have confided to Genl. Dearborne, returning it to me for any material correction, or forwarding it to the General if you think it will do, and by the same post, as it goes so circuitously. I suspect your difficulty with the mail lock proceeded as it did at...
130To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 1 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 27th. is recieved. I put Lattimore’s letter into my bundle of Agenda to be acted on in due time. Monroe’s, Pinckney’s & Jarvis’s are now returned. I suspect that Pinckney gives us the true design of Gr.Br. to be to oust the French & Dutch from our quarter & leave the Spaniards & Portuguese. It is possible she would rather see these two last in possession of the Southern continent...
131To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 21 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 13th. came to hand only yesterday & I now return you the letters of Turreau, Yrujo & Woodward, and Mr. Gallatin’s paper on foreign seamen. I retain Monroe & Pinckney’s letters to give them a more deliberate perusal than I can now before the departure of the post. By the next they shall be returned. I should think it best to answer Turreau at once, as he will ascribe delay to a...
132To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
I return you the report, and have prepared a message, tho’ I confess myself not satisfied on the main question, the responsibility of the government in this case, and with our taking wholly on ourselves the risk of the decision. For to enable Congress to judge for themselves the record must go; & the printing that would prevent it’s being taken up this session. If we do not send in the record...
133To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 27 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
Unexpected delays in getting my carriage ready will render it impossible for me to leave this till Thursday or Friday, probably Friday: and as you will be gone or going by that time, and we shall meet so soon at Washington, I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you at your own house, but get on as far as the day will let me. Mr. Gallatin left N. York on the 21st. and expected to be at...
134From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this day written to mr Wagner to send me the commissions for the Orleans territory with blanks for names & dates. the following is the arrangement, which I sketch for your consideration. Governor. Claiborne Secretary. James Brown. written to. Judges of Superr court. Pinkney. Kirby. written to Prevost. accepts District judge. Hall. written to. Attorney. Dickerson. if Pinkney should...
135From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Of the papers I recieved from you yesterday I have sent mr Graham’s letter (in favor of R. Brent as paymaster) to Genl. Dearborne, and that of the Lowries to mr Gallatin for information. all the rest are now returned. on some of them I will make short observations merely for your consideration and determination. Rademaker & Hills. I really think the good which may result from permitting...
136To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
the article against impressment to be a sine qua non. So also the withdrawing or modifying the declaration endeavor to alter the E. India article by restoring Jay’s Art. 8. Avoid if possible the express abandonmt of free ships free goods 10. Define blockade according to the British note formerly recd. 17. Expunge stipuln to recieve their vessels of war & treat officers with respect reserve the...
137From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 14 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Rodney not being at Washington I send you the inclosed because it requires to be acted on immediately. I remember it was concluded that witnesses who should be brought from great distances, and carried from one scene of trial to another must have a reasonable allowance made for their expences & the money advanced. I expect it will be thought proper that the witnesses proving White’s...
138To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 11 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 5th. came to hand on the 8th. & I now return the papers it covered. Ferrand’s decree is serious & I have more hope of it’s being corrected by Tureau than by Buonaparte. I shall be with you by the middle of the next week, & therefore defer to verbal explanation every thing public. I shall leave my daughter in a state not immediately threatening nor yet clear of serious anxiety. A...
139From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 26th. came to hand yesterday. I now return you the letters recieved from you of Shrader, Bowdoin, Armstrong, Milner, Lee, Forbes, Merry, your’s to him, and Duplantier’s. I inclose a letter to me from Brudenhem to be filed & not otherwise noticed, and one from Vettenhort, in which we are bound by courtesy to do what can be done without inconvenience. In another package I inclose...
140From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 18th. & 21st. are recieved, and I now return the papers of Davis, Cathalan, Mansfield, Fitzsimmons, Claiborne, Pichon, Rufini, Wiggenton, Wilson, Lamson, Ridgway, Irving, Barney, & Joy. the situation of the indemnification for the Tunisian property taken by Morris has escaped my present recollection. I take for granted we have been guilty of no unnecessary delay; as were we to go...
141From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 29 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
To compleat the roll of governmental officers on the plan inclosed will give the departments some serious trouble: however it is so important to present to the eye of all the constituted authorities, as well as of their constituents, & to keep under their eye, the true extent of the machine of government, that I cannot but recommend to the heads of departments to endeavor to fill up each,...
142To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 23 May 1806 (Madison Papers)
Your’s by the last post was recieved yesterday, and I now return Monroe’s letters. That Armstrong should be returning so suddenly & without notice is quite an impossibility. Any other hypothesis for his journey to Amsterdam would be more probable. I send you a letter from Pierpoint Edwards respecting Swartout: his testimony against him cannot be suspected, considering their mutual relation to...
143To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 17th. is recieved. I concur in your ideas that the request from the Bey of Tunis of a frigate of 36. guns should be complaisantly refused. I think the greatest dispatch should be used in sending either the gun carriages or money to Simpson for the emperor of Marocco, and the stores to Algiers; &, if you approve it, the powder on account : or perhaps it would be better to authorise...
144To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 28 August 1801 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of the 26th. by Doctr. Bache came duly to hand: and I now return you all the papers you inclosed except the commission for the Marshal of New Jersey, which I retain till I see you, which Dr. Bache gives me hopes will be the ensuing week, & I suppose will of course be the day after tomorrow, as you will then be free from the pressure of the post. I inclose with those papers, for perusal,...
145From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your two letters without date on the subjects now to be answered. I do not see any objection to the appointment of mr Cocke as Agent at Martinique. that of a Consul at Mogadore is on more difficult ground. a Consul in Barbary is a diplomatic character, altho’ the title does not imply that. he recieves a salary fixed by the legislature; being independant of Simpson we...
146From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 7 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
These papers from Governor Cabell are inclosed for your perusal: I am about to answer the Governor’s letter but whether I shall be able in time for this day’s post, I do not know. if not, I will send you his letter & my answer by tomorrow’s post, with which answer I will pray you to send him the papers now inclosed, returning to me his letter Will you be so good as to direct a commission to be...
147To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
I return you the papers on Clarke’s claim, which indeed I have not considered with all the attention which should be done were this an ultimate decision, but my first impression is that the claim ought to be rejected. It is clearly a claim for money, not for land. The Commrs. of N. Y. were constituted a special court of justice to distribute the 30,000 D. of Vermont according to right, & they...
148To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 5 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
The last post brought me the counteraddresses now inclosed. That from Ipswich is signed by 40. Persons, the town meeting which voted the petition consisted of 30. There are 500. voters in the place. The Counter address of Boston has 700. signatures. The town meeting voting the petition is said to have consisted of 500. In the draught of an answer inclosed, I have taken the occasion of making...
149From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 10th. is recieved and I now inclose a letter to the Secretary of the navy, which be pleased to seal & deliver after perusal. I think not a moment should be lost in forwarding the stores to Algiers, as it is of importance to keep those powers quiet. might it not be useful to propose to the Dey with a year’s annuity in stores, to recieve another year’s in money? the answer from...
150From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you a letter from the Ex-basha of Tripoli. had we not better be done with this man by giving him a plain answer stating the truth & sending him the extracts from our instructions, by which he will see that if our agent engaged any thing beyond that he went beyond his powers, and could not bind us. nothing short of this can clear us of his sollicitations. we might go further and promise...