1To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 15 May 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
15 May 1812, New York. Introduces Mr. Budd, who wishes to meet JM and has applied to Livingston for a letter of introduction. His standing in New York “both as a Gent. & a Lawyer is very respectable, & his political principles perfectly correct.” “He has not explained to me his views but I am satisfied that he has too much modesty & good sense to ask any thing that it would be improper to...
2Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 20 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not hesitated to send you one of the inclosed because I know that your mind will view in it nothing but the abstract question of right; and in the opinion of my fellow citizens on that question it will be my duty to acquiesce. I owe it to you also in return for your excellent book on the subject of sheep, now becoming daily more and more interesting to us. I am embarked a little in that...
3From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 3 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
It has been my wish to find some specimen of manufacture within my domestic precincts worthy of being presented to your daughter Mrs. Livingston. Delay has not relieved me from the mortification of betraying the poverty of our resources, by resorting to Mrs. M’s Smokehouse; from which are forwarded a few Virginia Hams, in a The Box contains 2 dozen, & Mr. G. is requested to forward it to...
4To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 8 January 1810 (Madison Papers)
When I look at the date of your letter, I am actualy asshamed [ sic ] of the time I have kept the pamphlet you were so obliging as to lend me. But the fact is, that it has gone the round of the neighbourhood, every body in this vicinity being infected with the merino influenza, & eagerly seeking whatever may afford them information, or furnish food to their disease. Having the same feelings...
5From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 9 December 1809 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 25th Oct. afforded me much pleasure by the information it gave of the success with which you prosecuted your plan of enlightening your countrymen on the subject of sheep & wool, and of aiding them in the manner of increasing & improving both. I sincerely wish your example may be duly felt in all the states adapted to those objects, and I believe this is the case with all that...
6To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 25 October 1809 (Madison Papers)
Tho I know that your time is occupied by more important concerns, yet the interest you take in the introduction of merino sheep induces me to hope that you will find leasure (at least when you return to your farm) to run over the little treatize which accompanies this letter. It was written with a view to remove the prejudices of common farmers, who are suspicious of every thing new, & to...
7From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 13 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ I have been very tardy in acknowledging your favors of Jany. 17 & 24th. and the very valuable present from Mrs. E. Livingston, I am not the less sensible of them. I pray you to tender her in my behalf, my sincerest thanks for such a token of her kindness. The cloth has been highly admired both for the manufacture, of which she has the merit, and for the material which affords a specimen...
8To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 24 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
I send by this post a roll containing a patern for a coat, of cloth which Mrs. Edward P Livingston begs you wd. do her the honor to accept. It is a fine specimen of domestic manufacture, & of the superiority of Cler Mont Merino wool, as you will Judge by its being much finer than the superfine british broad cloths made from Spanish wool, since it took 1/ 4 less wool to make the same quantity...
9To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 17 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the 11th. which I have just now recd. I feel much more indifferent to the measures of the belligerents with respect to us than many of my fellow citizens not because I am more regardless of the general welfare but because I sincerely believe that "all things are working together for good". In our infancy we had the powerful protection we required. When we attained...
10From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 11 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
I recd. from the hand of Col. Livingston your favor of Novr. 23. His return having been unexpectedly sudden, I could not conveniently then acknowledge it, and in the hope that I might be enabled by procrastination to communicate some thing or other sufficiently interesting on our public affairs, I have arrived at a very late date, and without the advantage of making any amends for it. We have...
11To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 23 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
This will be delivered by my sons in Law Robert L. and Edward P Livingston. One being a senator may give you the politics of this State, & the other that of France, as far as a traveller could collect it. For myself I am content to be a mechanic & a farmer & find more pleasure in these occupations than you statesmen do in buffeting the storm that beats around you at Washington. I mentioned to...
12To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 12 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
I take the Liberty to enclose a letter to Genl. Armstrong, containing letters to my sister, & my children, which I pray you to have the goodness to forward. My extreme anxiety to let my Children hear from me, & to have them home again, must be my appology for the trouble I give you since I find that none of my letters by the Ossage reached their destination, except that which you had the...
13To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 5 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
This will be delivered by Mr. Jasper Livingston grandson of your old acquaintance Mr. Philip Livingston who died in attendance on Congress at York town, & son in law of Judge Livingston. He is established in the Island of Jamaica The office of agent for seamen being vacant by the death of Mr. Lenox, he thinks it might be of use to him in his business to have it confered upon him. As it is a...
14From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 23 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd yours of the 8th. and will pay to it the attention you wish. We expect an opportunity for Genl. Armstrong about the 10th. Feby. The Vessel will sail from N. York. I mention the circumstance as this may convey the information sooner than the newspapers which are to publish it, and as you may be willing to avail yourself of the opportunity for later communications. The Embargo...
15To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 8 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
Presuming that you will have some means of keeping open the intercourse with Genl. Armstrong, & being very anxious to inform my children in France of the necessity there is for their immediate return, I take the liberty to inclose a letter to my sister, covering one to my daughter, which I pray you to have the goodness to send with your dispatches. I should not have taken the liberty to...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 3 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 20. has been recieved. the copy of the late volume of agricultural proceedings is not yet at hand, but will probably come safe. I had formerly recieved the preceding volumes from your kindness, as you supposed. writings on this subject are peculiarly pleasing to me, for, as they tell us, we all sprung from the earth, so to that we naturally return. it is now among my most...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 20 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Knowing that you find leasure amidst the bustle of politicks to amuse yourself with less important, but more pleasing studies, I have taken the liberty to send you the 3d Vol: of the proceedings of the society for agriculture & useful arts in this State. The first parts, I beleive I have had the honor to send you some years ago, if not, be so obliging as to let me know, & they shall be...
18To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 12 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I ought long before this to have returned you my thanks, & those of Coll. Livingston for your kind compliance with our request in forwarding to him the passport & dispatches, with which he sailed the 21st. of last month for Bordeaux. But indeed my mind has been harrassed by anxiety on his departure, & that of my daughter & two of her children, who accompanied him. As they all lived in the...
19From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 30 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
I lost no time, after the receipt of your letter requesting a passport for Col. Livingston, in forwarding that document to Mr. Juhel ; and found it very convenient to add to it duplicates of letters for Genl. Armstrong & Mr. Bowdoin, the original of which had just been dispatched by another conveyance. Your preceding letter was recd. also in due time. I thought it most proper not to answer it...
20To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 17 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
The state of my son in law, Col. Livingstons, health compels him to make a voyage. He accordingly proposes to sail for France in the course of a fortnight at furthest, & will afford you a convenient opportunity of writing. He is very desirous of being the bearer of dispatches from you, & of obtaining your passport, as he thinks it will afford him protection against british & French privateers,...
21From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 1 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have been favored with yours of the 25th of Feby. in answer to mine on the subject of the papers in your hands relating to the Ship business of the Legation of the United States at Paris. As it is a task which you can best perform, I request the favor of you to select the papers which may be most properly returned to Paris, and send them to Mr. Gelston to be forwarded to Genl. Armstrong: and...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 24 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The two reciepts of Pougens have come safely to hand. the account had been settled without difficulty. The federal papers appear desirous of making mischief between us & England by putting speeches into my mouth which I never uttered. percieving by a letter recieved in January that our Comrs. were making up their mind to sign a treaty which contained no provision against impressment, we...
23To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 22 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
Knowing your engagements during the session of Congress, I have not thought it proper to break in upon your time by an earlier answer to your favor of the 28 Janry. The enclosed note you will have the goodness to read, & deliver to the auditor, as it contains the only explanation I can at present give to his inquiries. I sincerely congratulate you upon the total defeat of Mr. Burrs plans, for...
24From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 5 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
Having written to you some time past, that the papers respecting the claim of William Lewis were not in the possession of the Legation at Paris, you were good enough to promise that you would review your papers, in order to separate such as related to unfinished business of individuals, which it was your intention to forward to Genl. Armstrong. An application lately made respecting Lewis’ case...
25From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 24 Ult: has lain longer by me without an acknowledgt. than I intended. One cause of the delay was an omission to address myself to the Auditor instead of the Sey. of the Treasy. and his taking some little time in the crowd of business, to prepare the inclosed note on the subject of your accts. which contains all the information I can now give. I have myself recd frequent...
26To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 24 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. so many letters from Mr. Mitchel soliciting my interest with you in relation to his question on the consulate at Havre, for which two commissions exist that I can not but beg the favor of you to procure the presidents determination. If Mr. Barnets commission supercedes that of Mr. Mitchel I presume that he might be otherwise provided for, as he is realy an attentive & good...
27To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 18 January 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have but just received the enclosed from Mr Mitchel with a request to forward it to you. He complains in his Letter to me of Mr. Barnets exercising authority within his Jurisdiction. When a commission of Vice Consul was sent him I considered it either as a supersedins [ sic ] of Mr Barnets commission, or at least as vesting the right in Mr. Mitchel till Mr Barnet by removing to Havre put...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 11 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
After my return home I made search among my papers for the catalogue of Pougens that you expressed a wish to have, & I was so fortunate as to find it. I send it with this. I mentioned to Mr Madison, in some of my letters, that there was a ballance in the hands of the bankers on the book account, which stood to my credit. I find by looking over their letters, that this ballance is fr. 1236.7....
29To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 16 November 1805 (Madison Papers)
Mr ⟨F⟩; Skipwith may probably have brought letters for me. If so I shall deem it a favor to have them sent to me at Philadelphia where I shall remain till the 23d. of this month. I saw here the new order of council relative to colonial commerce. It led me to reflect upon what you observed with respect to Russia but not only Russia but Sweden Austria & Germany are deeply interested in a change...
30To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 10 October 1805 (Madison Papers)
I received on the fifth Inst your favor of the ⟨2⟩;8th. Septr. I began immediately to unpack my papers and have been since employed in examining them, this took ⟨s⟩;ome time, as they were all unsorted & put into a trunk for the convenience of transportation. I can find none of the papers you refer to. It was my practice in all ship cases t⟨o⟩; put the papers into the hands of Mr. Skipwith for...
31From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 September 1805 (Madison Papers)
The case of Mr William Lewis, whose vessel was carried into Tobago by a French Cruizer, as stated and referred to in the letter I had the honor to write to you on the 27th Octr 1803, has been since renewed to Genl Armstrong, who returns for answer, that he has neither seen nor heard any thing of it, that none of your papers have been left with him, and that Mr. Skipwith’s memory does not...
32From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 5 July 1805 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 29 Ulto. was duly handed to me by Mr. Townsend. I congratulate Mrs. Livingston & yourself on your safe arrival, and the shortness of the passage. Your trip up the river was but a reasonable preliminary to your Visit to Washington, and was advised also by the approaching departure of the President, which will take place in 8 ⟨or⟩; 10 days. Mine will be a few days before or...
33To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 29 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
I arrived here with my family this Morning, having <left> Nantes the 26th. May. I should proceed to Washington as <soo>n as I had a little recovered the fatigue<s> of my voyage, <did> I not apprehend that at this season both the president & <your>self would have left it before I could arrive. I am extrem<ely> <an>xious to have the pleasure of seeing you both, & to give <you an> accomt of my...
34To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 4 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
I returned to Paris a few days ago from my tour thro Italy & Germany. When the Emperor was <o>n the point of leaving this for Milan. The day of his <de>parture I was honoured to my great surprize by the <le>tter of which the enclosed is a copy accompanied by the Emperors portrait in a gold box, very richly set with dia<m>onds of very considerable value. I made no difficulty <in> accepting this...
35To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 21 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
Being now entirely divested of my diplomatic functions it becomes my duty to Send you the concluding Scene: on Sunday Genl Armstrong & myself were admitted to a private audience when I delivered my letter of recall together with an apology for its adress to the first Consul, & referring to Genl Armstrong for the assurances of the President’s recognition of the change of Government here,...
36To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 17 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
Circumstances have prevented my availing myself of your kindness, in permitting me to retire: before this. The peculiar State of our money transactions, the critical Situation of Europe & of our own affairs with Spain, made me think it Essential to remain here till my place could be Supplied, & the rather as Mr Graham the only man in whom I had Sufficient confidence to leave our business with,...
37To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 23 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have just returned from the Minister’s & have the Satisfaction of informing you that he has Spoken to the Emperor on the Subject of Consular agents in their Colonies & that he has agreed to allow them during the war & has promised to Send me a note to that effect as well as to give the most precise orders on the Subject of the Depredations committed on our Commerce. I can not but think this...
38To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 10 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
As I am in daily expectation of the arrival of General Armstrong, this will probably be the last official letter which I Shall have to write. It is proper then that I Should give you a Short State of your affairs at this time. First with respect to the debt I have laboured thro’ the principal difficulties, & in ten days from this time I hope to commence the drawing of the bills—as the business...
39To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 21 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
The ambassador of Spain has this moment left me. In the course of our conversation he dropped Some things that it is important you Should know as indicative of the Sentiments of his Court & perhaps as necessary to form the basis of the measures that it may be proper immediately to take. He of course insisted that West Florida made no part of our purchase, but as he Supported this Sentiment by...
40To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 14 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I enclose the reply of the Minister upon the Subject of the debts, it is in the language I expected, & were it not that I was in hourly expectation of the arrival of Genl Armstrong who will have your full instructions I Should reply to it, & Shew that when we assumed to pay to the amount of the 20 millions it was not intended to discharge France from any excess, Since the words of the treaty...
41To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 4 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd the enclosed from Mr Pinkney with directions to forward them to you after having read them, which I have but just had the leisure to do as the gent who is to carry them sets off directly. They contain the only direct intelligence on the subject of our affairs in Spain that I have recd. Mr. Pinkneys letters to me having never reached me. Tho the conveyance by which you will...
42To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 4 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my last Mr d’Oubril has received an answer to the Note of the Emperor of Russia; this answer not only refuses all Satisfaction on the points raised by him, But recriminates in Strong terms & charges Alexander with having himself violated the Convention between the nations, in giving protection to the ennemies of France, & in taking possession of the Grecian Isles &c. In consequence of...
43To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 29 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my letter of yesterday I have received the enclosed note on the Subject of the trade with hispaniola: You will find in it a certain degree of asperity, which I feared from the Soreness that they yet feel relative to that Island, & the massacre of which they have just heard: But as this note was written too Soon after the receipt of mine to admit of any communication with the Emperor who...
44To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 28 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
I yesterday received your letter of 26th of June announcing the appointment of Genl Armstrong as my Successor, & covering a letter of leave to the First Consul . Notwithstanding my wish to go at an earlier period, I found it impossible in then [ sic ] State of our affairs, as I knew no person with whom I could leave the charge. I had hoped to have prevailed on Mr Graham, but he refused to...
45To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 8 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
Nothing extraordinary has occurred Since my last, a duplicate of which you will receive with this, as I find Some errors in the copy Sent you; if you have received it, be pleased to correct it by the duplicate: I had Strong hopes while in England that a change of Ministry would take place, in which case we Should doubtless have had peace; at present, Mr Pitt appears to be able to Stand his...
46To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 26 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
A courier has just arrived from Russia. The emperor demands the fulfilment of certain secret articles in his treaty with France among which are compensation for the king of Sardinia the perfect independance of the Italian states the affairs of Germany to be regulated jointly between them and as a consequence of it the withdrawing the troops from Hanover or the Russian chargé d’affaires is to...
47To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 25 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my last 24 June, I have in pursuance of your instructions put in the enclosed notes on the Subject of the Convention, I have yet received no Such official answer as will Justify my further proceedings, since till they determine either to open the negotiation you require, or reject it or till they consent to a partial draft. Mr Talleyrand is now absent, & Mr Marbois’s powers do not go to...
48From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 29 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
In my letter of the 7th. February I intimated that if your desire of returning to the United States required it, the letter of leave with which you were provided, though calculated for another event, might be made subservient to this purpose, and the expectation that you would charge a trust worthy person with our affairs as is usual on such occasions. Genl. John Armstrong of New York, being...
49To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 22 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
Last Night General Moreau was sent from the Temple in a Coach and six to Bayon (You have seen that he was sentenced to two years imprisonment). This is commuted into an exile of at least 100 leagues from France. He has therefore determined to go to America where you may expect him soon after the receipt of this letter. Having learned these circumstances, I called this morning on the Minister...
50To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 20 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have reflected much upon the state of our affairs with respect to the Floridas. My sentiment still is as it always has been that we should not hesitate to take possession of West Florida and act as if no doubt could be entertained of our title. Once in possession France would find it necessary to make Spain acquiesce in it as it would be very repugnant to her interest at this time to suffer...