101To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 23 July 1805 (Madison Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his affectionate salutations to mr. Madison and incloses him the extract of a letter from mr. Granger, giving information of constant trespasses committing on a certain species of timber growing on the public lands on lake Erie, of great value, and which he presumes should be the subject of a charge from the Secretary of state to Governor Hull. He presumes the Governor...
102To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 25 July 1805 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of July 22. finds me in the hurry of my departure for Bedford. I return you Erving’s letter, and inclose Rankin’s petition for a pardon; as also a correspondence sent me by Lee of Bordeaux, which tho’ a little long, is entitled to a reading, as it throws light on subjects we ought to understand. I sincerely regret that mrs. Madison’s situation confines her & yourself so long at...
103To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 4 August 1805 (Madison Papers)
On my return from Bedford two days ago I recieved your favor of July 24 and learnt with sincere regret that mrs Madison’s situation required her going to Philadelphia. I suppose the choice between Physic & Baynham was well weighed. I hope the result will be speedy & salutary, and that we shall see you in this quarter before the season passes over. A letter from Charles Pinckney of May 22....
104To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 7 August 1805 (Madison Papers)
On a view of our affairs with Spain, presented me in a letter from C. Pinckney, I wrote you on the 23d. of July that I thought we should offer them the status quo, but immediately propose a provisional alliance with England. I have not yet recieved the whole correspondence, but the portion of the papers now inclosed to you, confirm me in the opinion of the expediency of a treaty with England,...
105To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 August 1805 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 9th. has been duly recieved, & I now return the papers it covered, and particularly those respecting the ship New Jersey, on which I have bestowed due attention. I think the error of Genl. Armstrong a very palpable & unfortunate one; but one not at all chargeable on our government. By the French Convention the council of Liquidation has certain functions assigned to them, of a...
106To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 25 August 1805 (Madison Papers)
I confess that the inclosed letter from General Turreau excites in me both jealousy & offence, in undertaking, & without apology, to say in what manner we are to recieve & treat Moreau within our own country. Had Turreau been here longer he would have known that the National authority pays honors to no foreigner, that the state authorities, municipalities & individuals, are free to render...
107To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 27 August 1805 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of the 20th. has been recieved, & in that a letter from Casenove and another from Mrs. Ciracchi: but those from Turreau & to Yrujo were not inclosed. Probably the former was what came to me by the preceding post respecting Moreau: if so, you have my opinion on it in my last. Considering the character of Bonaparte, I think it material at once to let him see that we are not one of the...
108To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 16 September 1805 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter from Genl. Armstrong furnishes matter for consideration. You know the French considered themselves entitled to the Rio Bravo, & that Laussat declared his orders to be to recieve possession to that limit, but not to the Perdido: & that France has to us been always silent as to the Western boundary, while she spoke decisively as to the Eastern. You know Turreau agreed with us...
109To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 18 September 1805 (Madison Papers)
I return you Munroe’s letter most of the views of which appear to me very sound, & especially that which shews a measure which would engage France to compromise our difference rather than to take part in it and correct the dangerous error that we are a people whom no injuries can provoke to war. No further intelligence being now expected on this subject, & some measures growing out of it...
110To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 11 October 1805 (Madison Papers)
The only questions which press on the Executive for decision are Whether we shall enter into a provisional alliance with England to come into force only in the event that during the present war we become engaged in war with France ? leaving the declaration of the casus federis ultimately to us. Whether we shall send away Yrujo, Casacalvo, Morales? Whether we shall instruct Bowdoin not to go to...
111To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 23 October 1805 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 20th. came to hand last night. I sincerely regret that mrs. Madison is not likely to be able to come on so soon as had been hoped. The probability of an extensive war on the continent of Europe strengthening every day for some time past, is now almost certain. This gives us our great desideratum, time. In truth it places us quite at our ease. We are certain of one year of...
112To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 November 1805 (Madison 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 &c. 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...
113To 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...
114To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 November 1805 (Madison Papers)
How will it do to amend the passage respecting England to read as follows? ‘New principles too have been interpolated into the Law of Nations, founded neither in justice, nor the usage or acknolegement of nations. According to these a belligerent takes to itself a commerce with it’s own enemy, which it denies to a Neutral on the ground of it’s aiding that enemy. But reason revolts at such an...
115To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 25 November] 1805 (Madison Papers)
Additions proposed on some subjects suggested by mr. Gallatin submitted to mr. Madison by The object of the 1st. addition is to give a practical or ostensible object to the observations on Yellow fever: The true one however being to present facts to the governments of Europe, which in the ordinary course of things, would not otherwise reach them in half a century. RC ( DLC ). Undated;...
116To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 2 December] 1805 (Madison Papers)
As we omit in the 2d. message to enumerate the aggressions of Spain & refer for them to the documents, we must furnish the documents for every act, particularly 1. The capture of the Huntress 2. The carry ing our gunboats into Algesiras 5 3. The late depredations on our commerce in Europe. Extracts from Pinckney’s letters ⟨3⟩ 4. Oppressions on our commerce at Mobille ⟨2⟩ 5. Delays in the...
117To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 December 1805 (Madison Papers)
The Tunisian Ambassador put into my hands the packet now sent, & at his request I promised it should be safely returned to him before he went away, as it contains the originals of letters—it presents a chronological view of the Bey’s correspondence with our officers, with explanatory statements of facts connecting them. I found the whole worth reading, tho’ I had read the letters hastily...
118To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 5 February 1806 (Madison Papers)
I think the District atty of N. Y. should be immediately instructed to investigate the expedition of the Leander, & of every person concerned in it; and to learn how it has happened that the officers of the government at that place should have paid no attention & given no information of it while going on. On the report of the Atty to us we may decide what shall be done. RC ( DNA : RG 59, ML )....
119To 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...
120To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 5 March 1806 (Madison Papers)
I think the several modifications in Mr. Gallatin’s paper may be reduced to simple instructions in some such form as follows. The sum to be paid will consist I. of 2. millions ready money. II. of a residuary sum, not exceeding 3. millions, to be paid afterwards as shall be agreed. I. the ready money (as a 1st. proposition) not to be paid till possession of the whole country ceded is delivered...
121To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 16 March 1806 (Madison Papers)
Th: Jefferson submits to the heads of departments the papers in the case of the Louisiana Commrs. with the Attorney General’s opinion. He prays them to give him their separate opinions on the subject, & to hand on the papers with this note, from the one to the other, to be finally returned to Th:J. RC ( DLC : Jefferson Papers). On 16 Mar. 1806 JM replied: “The reasons given by the Attorney...
122To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 20 March 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Thomas Jefferson. 20 March 1806. “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....
123To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 11 April 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Thomas Jefferson. 11 April 1806. “As the letter proposed to the Emperor of Russia may lead to something of importance, I wish to communicate it to the other gentlemen of the admn. Will you therefore be so good as to correct it severely , and return it to me as you would approve it?” RC ( DLC : Rives Collection, Madison Papers). 1 p. For Jefferson’s 19 Apr. 1806 letter to Alexander I...
124To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 14 April 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Thomas Jefferson. 14 April 1806, Monday. “Th Jefferson recieved last night an advice of Senate to ratify the treaty with Tripoli, which of course determines the Mediterranean fund. He therefore asks a meeting of the heads of departments at 11. oclock to-day to consult on laying before Congress the state of affairs with Tunis.” FC ( DLC : Jefferson Papers). 1 p. On 12 Apr. 1806 the...
125To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 April 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Thomas Jefferson. 17 April 1806. “I presume the corresponce. between the Ambassador of Tunis & Secretary of State, must be considd. as exhibiting the only causes of difference, & that that correspondence alone need be sent to the Senate. Want of time for copies must authorize sending the originals, to be returned.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, ML ). 1 p. Below this note in an unidentified hand:...
126To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 11 May 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have recieved, signed & forwarded Poydrass’s commission, & have forwarded the letter to Prevost. I inclose for your perusal a letter from Armstrong. The fact therein stated changes considerably the idea we had formed of Bowdoin’s caution & prudence. That mentioned in Bowdoin’s letter is comfortable tho’ it be little more than a repetition of what Armstrong had communicated. Some additional...
127To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 14 May 1806 (Madison Papers)
Your express arrived at 12. oclock this day & I dispatch him in half an hour with the papers for mr. Pinckney signed. I inclos⟨e⟩ another letter to Monroe, to be forwarded by him. Affectionate salutations. FC ( DLC : Jefferson Papers). This presumably was Jefferson to Monroe, 4 May 1806 ( Ford, Writings of Thomas Jefferson Paul Leicester Ford, ed., The Writings of Thomas Jefferson (10 vols.;...
128To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 May 1806 (Madison Papers)
My letter to mr. Smith takes up the whole of the subject of his & your letters by the last post, and as he informs me he has a vessel on demurrage till he recieves my answer, I hire an express which will deliver it 5. days sooner than the post would. Not to detain him I must refer you to my letter to mr. Smith for answer to yours. I return you mr. Barlow’s letter. His anxiety makes me more...
129To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, Ca. 20 May 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Thomas Jefferson. Ca. 20 May 1806. “I observe also that I signed the following Commission omitted in the list from the office. “May 20. John Broadbent of Sicily Consul for Messina; yet I seem to have some faint recollection that this appointment had been approved by the Senate.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, ML ). 1 p. Unsigned; undated. In Jefferson’s hand. Conjectural date assigned based on...
130To 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...
131To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 May 1806 (Madison 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 Bredenhem to be filed & not otherwise noticed, and one from Vettenhort, on which we are bound by courtesy to do what can be done without inconvenience. In another package I inclose...
132To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 July 1806 (Madison Papers)
I return the Commission made out for mr. Briscoe as Commr. of the Western road, his residence at or near Fort-Cumberland being thought to make him liable to an influence which might affect the direction of the road. Baltimore being peculiarly interested in having that road conducted along the best rout without regard to the local interests of the neighborhood, I have thought it best to ask of...
133To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 July 1806 (Madison Papers)
I left at Washington a great coat of which I shall have great need. Should this reach you before your departure I will thank you to bring it; and it will be in time if I recieve it when you come to Monticello yourself, as it will be on my return only that it will be wanting. I have written to mr. Lemaire to deliver it to you. The drought in this quarter is excessive. It begins about the...
134To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 July 1806 (Madison Papers)
I return you the letter of DeWitt Clinton & your answer. I think that if he can deliver or send to Mellimelli the refractory members of his family under the ordinary laws of N. Y. it will be better; but that force should be employed if other resources fail. Airth’s letter & the anonymous one from Havanna are also returned. I send you a letter from the new King of Wirtemburg, one from some...
135To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 2 August 1806 (Madison Papers)
I return you mr Lear’s letters; in which I am sorry to find he says not a word about the Tripoline family. I presume the family has chosen not to be given up. I inclose you a letter from Salvatore Bosutti at Malta, which may be filed in the office I presume without answer. Noble’s letter & sample should I suppose be filed in the patent-office. It may be a charity tho’ it is not a duty to...
136To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 August 1806 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of the 4th. is recieved. I think the course which has been taken for sending Mellimeni home is the best: & I concur with you in the expediency of giving no answer to Turreau. Indeed his letter does not seem to call for one. In the present state of our affairs it will certainly be better not to appoint a Consul at St. Thomas’s. We must not risk great things for small. A Consul merely to...
137To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 August 1806 (Madison Papers)
I send you some papers from the Secretary of Louisiana for your office; also a letter from Sandford to mr. Gallatin for your perusal & then to be reinclosed to mr. Gallatin. Altho’ I have not heard of your arrival at home, yet I trust that you are there. I expect to set out for Bedford tomorrow or very shortly after, & shall be absent 10. days. This may account for delays of answers to your...
138To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 August 1806 (Madison Papers)
The death of Meriwether Jones having taken place, I have written to mr. Wagner directly to forward to mr. Page a Commission for the loan office, in order to save a post and shorten the term of sollicitations. I shall set out this morning for Bedford & be back about the 25th. Affectionate salutations. RC ( DLC ); FC ( DLC : Jefferson Papers). RC cover addressed and franked by Jefferson;...
139To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 28 August 1806 (Madison Papers)
On my return the day before yesterday I found here your’s of the 15th. As the Russian ships are expected at Philadelphia are connected with the Imperial family, and their report will certainly be made to the emperor, would it not be well for you to write either to mr. Gallatin, or at shorter hand, to Muhlenberg to recommend them to his particular attention good offices & indulgence, & those of...
140To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 2 September 1806 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 30th. I recieved yesterday, and now return the papers from Cathcart, Sullivan, De Ponceau, Ramage, Barnet, Merry, & that concerning Lewis. In a former letter I had suggested to you the waiting to arrest Lewis in some other state (for I believe that such an offence may be tried any where) but considering the change of the Marshall it is possible a fair jury may be obtained now in...
141To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 16 September 1806 (Madison Papers)
I inclose you a letter & sundry papers recieved from mr. Gallatin of which I will ask the return. 1. as to the refractory Tunisians I think we should pay their passage & get rid of them. If they would stipulate to deliver themselves to any Tunisian or other Barbary Agent in England, it would excuse us to the Bey of Tunis. The case of an American citizen impressed on board the Chichester, &...
142To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 23 September 1806 (Madison Papers)
Yours by yesterday’s post has been recieved, & I now return you the letters of Yznardi, Wilkinson, Cathcart, Clinton, Toulman & Turreau. In the answer to the latter I think it would be better to lay more stress on the constitutional bar to our furnishing the money, because it would apply in an occasion of peace as well as war. I submit to you therefore the striking out the words ‘It is not[’]...
143To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 September 1806 (Madison Papers)
I now return you the papers recieved by yesterday’s post. The letter to Monroe & one to Merry are forwarded mr. Wagner, that to Merry respecting a murder committed on the high seas by a British subject, on board a British vessel, & on a British subject is returned for consideration, as not being as explicit as amity to that government & the clear principle of right requires. I think he might...
144To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
I send you the draught of a proclamation dated for tomorrow. I think all the letters & orders, to the effect already agreed on, should be instantaneously got ready; and I ask the heads of departments to meet here tomorrow at 11. oclock to consider what additional measures can be taken for forcing the Cambrian off, and for preventing her entering any other port of the U.S. Would it not be...
145To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 1 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
The more I consider the letter of our Ministers in London the more seriously it impresses me. I believe the sine qua non we made is that of the nation, and that they would rather go on without a treaty than with one which does not settle this article. Under this dilemma, and at this stage of the business, had we not better take the advice of the Senate? I ask a meeting at 11. oclock tomorrow...
146To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 14 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
The following Commissions to be made out. Lemuel Trescott of Massachusets Collector of the district, & Inspector of the revenue for the port of Machias. Jonathan Palmer of Connecticut Surveyor of the port of Stonington, & Inspector of the revenue for the same. John Vemor junr. Surveyor of the port of Albany & Inspector of the revenue for the same. Robert Cockran of N. Carolina Collector for...
147To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 14 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
On further enquiry and examination, I find it necessary to correct the list of justices before given in for Alexandria county. Commissions are therefore desired for Washington & Alexandria counties according to the subjoined lists, giving to all those who were in the former commissions the order in which they were therein placed, and adding the new names to the end. Justices for Washington...
148To 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...
149To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 14 April 1807 (Madison 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...
150To 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...