101To James Madison from George W. Erving, 29 January 1811 (Madison Papers)
I was in hopes that I shoud have learnt in my communications with Senr Onis, on my passage thro’ Phila something of sufficient importance to have been communicated to you; but his conversation on every point of interest, was so extremely, & even more than usually Extravagant, that I coud not presume to trouble you by any mention of it, the less necessary since (as I presumed) the then actual...
102To James Madison from George W. Erving, 20 November 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 November 1801, London. No. 5. Encloses copy [not found] of admiralty proceedings on the New Adventure , [Ebenezer] Shearman master, should JM wish to use it as a basis for prosecution of the owners. Invoice listed value of cargo as $15,000. Condemnation is expected. Recounts report of proposal made to Rufus King to claim the property for the U.S., which would have led to recovery and...
103To James Madison from George W. Erving, 2 September 1806 (Madison Papers)
As I have been continually receiving from all the ports of Spain urgent representations respecting the extreme & indiscriminate rigor with which the Quarantine regulations are applied to all vessels of the United States, & statements of various abuses & irregularities on the part of the Officers exercising them; & having in several special cases applied for redress without effect; It seemed to...
104To James Madison from George W. Erving, 6 September 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 September 1802, American Consulate, London. No. 10. “I have just received from our Consul at Cadiz, a Circular letter of which the inclosed is a Copy; since my last of 29th. July upon this subject no other authentic information has been received here.” RC and enclosure ( DNA : RG 59, CD , London, vol. 8). RC 1 p. Enclosure (1 p.) is another copy of Richard O’Brien’s circular letter, 26 June...
105To James Madison from George W. Erving, 10 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
My last unofficial letter was of July 17th., written after the report that a peace was signed had reached this: That report proved to be well founded, and on the 3d. Inst. I transmitted an Extraordinary gazette containing the articles. The alterations which this Event may produce in the relations between France and Spain must be interesting to you: you will not probably annex much importance,...
106To James Madison from George W. Erving, 3 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
I sent I left Madrid it the gala days of the as is sooner if . My public letter acquainted you the state of affairs between France & Portugal. It was serious stated when Mr De Beauharnois re cd a courier (the 30th. at Night) announcing to him that the Emperor had declared war against the Prince Regent, ordered his legation to quit Pa ris in 24 hours: on the 31st. Count D’Ega the Po rtuguese...
107To James Madison from George W. Erving, 8 June 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving your (private) Letter of Ap. 4. 1803. Mr King has finally left this without availing himself of the priviledge which it Seems the President intended that he shoud exercise. In fact I have reason to think that Mr Gore himself had been made sensible of the impropriety of his acting as chargé des affairs & that he declined the offer of Mr King to appoint him:...
108To James Madison from George W. Erving, 8 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
With my dispatch No. 34. (of October 29th.) I had the honor of transmitting to you copies of sundry offices passed between Mr. Cevallos & myself, upon such occurrences here as seemed chiefly to merit your attention; the last of which, in point of date, was my note of October 23rd. upon the case of the "Rebecca, Nimmo"; one which from the commencement of it, has been marked by proceedings of...
109To James Madison from George W. Erving, 29 September 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 September 1801, London. No. 1. Reports his arrival at Falmouth on 16 Sept. and at London on 20 Sept. Immediately delivered commission, instructions, and JM’s dispatches to Rufus King. Williams will continue in post until Erving obtains exequatur. Has asked Williams, who has provided all information requested, to arrange papers in easily understood sequence; will then prepare statement on...
110To James Madison from George W. Erving (Abstract), 1 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
1 June 1805, London . No. 60. “The inclosed is copy of a letter from Baron Jacobi the Prussian Minister at this Court, & of my reply, respecting the estate of a certain Major Ludemann. The Baron, probably from a want of information as to the nature of our constitution, has imagined that this private affair may be controuled by the government; but as what he asks at present is only ‘to be made...
111To James Madison from George W. Erving, 12 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have but this moment received the duplicate of your (private) letter July 22d, communicating the views of the President with respect to the Agency of our affairs at Tunis; & that he has been pleased to consider me as a fit person to be employed in that situation. I beg you to be assured that I feel extremely sensible to the honor which I derive from the good opinion of the President; & that...
112To James Madison from George W. Erving, 20 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have this day received your ci rcular of the 1st: Augst:. The instructions and directions which it contains in all cases which occur shall meet with the u tmost attention. I wish it were possible in this place, to c omply strictly also with the general instructions to Consuls, which require that a semi-annual Accot: should be transmitted to the Department of State of all the American Vessels...
113To James Madison from George W. Erving, 9 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have been favord with your private letter of June 15th; its inclosures were duly forwarded. I am very happy to find by the observations which you have made with respect to the impressment of our seamen, that in my letters to Sir Evan Nepean (copies inclosed in my official letter No 23) I have not made use of a language too strong upon this interesting subject. The statement which with Mr...
114To James Madison from George W. Erving, 29 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
You will doubtless receive thro’ a variety of channels the declaration of war against the U nited States by the Emperor of Morrocco: The in closed are copies of letters which have come to me upon that subject from Mr. Simpson & from our Co nsul at Gibraltar; in consequence of which as we ll as of information from Mr. King I have published a notification to our citizens here, & forwarded the...
115To James Madison from George W. Erving, 9 August 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 9 August 1806, Madrid. No. 10. “I had the honor to address you last on the 25th. of July. In that letter I mentioned that no complaints had reached me from the Ports, but what related to Quarantine; but it was scarcely dispatched when I was informed through Mr. Young of these recent captures & Condemnations at Algeciras. These are: “The Felicity, Wm. Boyd, Master “The...
116To James Madison from George W. Erving (Abstract), 21 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
21 June 1805, London . No. 32. “I have lately heard of the unfortunate loss of the ‘Jupiter’ Captn R. Law which sailed from hence in Febuary bound to New York: by that vessel I sent as usual a large number of letters & my half yearly Accounts &c &c up to Decr 31st. My official letters to you were Nos 47, 48, 49, 50 & private 27—28—29; of the former I send duplicates herewith 47, 48, 49: No 50...
117To James Madison from George W. Erving, 19 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose Copy of a Letter which I yesterday received from our Consul at Lisbon. I am Sir with perfect Respect Your very Obt. St. The preceding is the full transcription of a document that was previously abstracted in The Papers of James Madison , Secretary of State series. The original abstract contains additional annotation and source information. Go to the original abstract
118To James Madison from George W. Erving, 12 September 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 12 September 1806, Madrid. No. 13. “Pursuant to the instructions contained in your letter of May 1st. I addressed a note to Mr. Cevallos on the 22nd. of July requesting to know whether his Calic Majesty’s approbation of the decision of the Governor of Cuba in the case of the Brigantine ’Minerva,’ mentioned in your letter to said Governor, of April 21st., had or had not...
119To James Madison from George W. Erving, 13 September 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W Erving. 13 September 1806, Madrid. No. 14. “In my letter No. 10. (August 9th.) I had the honor to submit to you the steps which I had taken with respect to the cargoes of three American Vessels lately condemned at Algeciras, & to transmit copies of my note to Mr. Cevallos (August 3rd.) & of his answer (August 6th.). The inclosed is a copy of what I wrote to him September 2nd....
120To James Madison from George W. Erving, 5 February 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your sources of intelligence are now so numerous that I hardly Expect an opportunity of making the first communication of important Events; my reflections upon the passing scene, or the political suggestions which it may give rise to, I fear at the best can be of little consideration; & according to the Eccentric course of political Events for these last few years, may more than probably be...
121To James Madison from George W. Erving, 1 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have now completed and by the Jupiter—Captain Law bound to N. York have transmitted to you the statements required by your official letter of April 22d; & duplicates of the same have been sent by the Hardware Captain Matlock—for N. York. I have endeavoured to make these as distinct & accurate as possible, so that Mr Davidson the agent at Washington for paying the compensation to the...
122To James Madison from George W. Erving, 1 November 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 November 1802, London. No. 11. Replies to the request in JM’s 1 Aug. 1801 circular instructions for information on the extent to which American captains discharge American seamen abroad in order to hire foreigners for lower wages. There is probably no port worse than London for the frequency of this and “other irregularities which can only be prevented by Legislative interference,” as the...
123To James Madison from George W. Erving, 24 February 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 24 February 1806, Madrid. No. 5. “I wrote to you on the 21st. Inst. to mention that the very severe calamity which has befallen me, the death of my Father, has rendered my presence in England for a time necessary. As you will have observed from my former letters that I have already used every proper means of obtaining some concessions from this Government which might...
124To James Madison from George W. Erving, 1 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
The return of Mr Lewis to Washington affords me an opportunity of acknowledging the rect of your private & friendly letter (May 3d) upon the subject of the assessorship to the board of commissioners; It is unnecessary I hope for me to assure you that I feel on all occasions the most perfect disposition to acquiesce in, & chearfully conform to, the Opinions & wishes of the President & of...
125To James Madison from George W. Erving, 10 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 November 1803, London. No. 27. Encloses the “Tables of Quarantine, Light-Money and other dues” [not found] that JM requested in his circular letter of 4 Apr. Trusts that these, “together with the Returns from our other Consuls,” will enable JM “to lay before the House of Representatives the Statements required by their resolution of the 3d. of March last.” Forwards “‘Mascalls Book of...
126To James Madison from George W. Erving, 14 December 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 14 December 1805, Madrid. “Private No 6. ” “I wrote to you in great haste unofficially on the 27th. Ulto. to announce some telegraphic news which had just been Received from Paris. It did not however prove to be well founded. The annexed may be depended upon as I had it from the Prussian Minister who Received it from his Court yesterday, & by the French mail to day it...
127To James Madison from George W. Erving, 7 October 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 7 October 1806, Madrid. No. 16. “ Count D’Ega the portugal embassa[d]or with whom I have the pleasure of being rather intimeately acquainted informed me some days since of an explanation which he had received from the Prince of Peace upon questions which he made as to the present warlike preparations. The Prince gave him to understand that he had no hostile project...
128To James Madison from George W. Erving, 30 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to address you in No. 12. of Jany 1st. upon several points relating to our Claims, & have now the satisfaction of confirming the assurances which I then gave, of the successful progress, and probable speedy termination of this Business. By the enclosed List you will be pleased to observe, that we have very considerably reduced the Number of Cases pending before the high Court...
129To James Madison from George W. Erving, 27 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 January 1804, London. No. 28. Received JM’s circular of 1 Oct. 1803 respecting sales of American registered vessels. Sent in his 10 Nov. letter the documents required. Has found the powers lately vested in consuls extremely useful in preventing “irregularities both in the Transfers of Vessels, and the treatment of Seamen.” “To render their effect more complete by insuring the deposit of the...
130To James Madison from George W. Erving, 26 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to write you on the 13th. Inst, & inclosed with my letter an extraordinary gazette of that da te announcing the conclusion of an Armistrice between the Em perors of France & Russia, made at Tilsit on the 1st. June. Last night a special Courier arrived with in telligence that peace between these two Powers was determ ined on the 8th. Presuming that this important ne ws may...
131George W. Erving to James Madison, 17 February 1830 (Madison Papers)
I received on the 7th of Novr the honor of your letter of October 27th from Richmond. The approbation which you have been pleased to give to my introduction of the system of Erro, is a compensation far exceeding any that I had expected for the labour of translating, and the still greater of so selecting from his works as to present that system in a continuous shape:– Tho’ much captivated by...
132To James Madison from George W. Erving, 11 November 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 November 1802, London. Has “this day” drawn on JM in favor of Laurence Williams for $2,555 at thirty days’ sight. “This is for the service of the Agency for the relief and protection of American Seamen, according to particulars contained in my dispatch of Octr: 21st: to Nov: 5th: which went by the English Ship Mary, Thomas Temple Master on board which Vessel I sent as passengers eighty two...
133To James Madison from George W. Erving, 16 July 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 16 July 1805. No. 33. “Since I wrote to you last the differences which have for a long time Existed between Mr Pitt & Lord Sid-mouth, more especially in relation to the proceedings against Lord Melville, have produced a seperation. Lord Sidmouth & his friends have resigned. Immediately after this Event the parliament was prorogued; which measure, as Mr Pitt has no...
134To James Madison from George W. Erving (Abstract), 18 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
18 May 1805, London . “I had the honor to receive on the 7th. Instant your letter of March 19th. intended for Mr. Purviance directing measures to be taken for securing the consent of the British Government to the payment of the third instalment (becoming due from the United States to this Country under the late convention) in London, instead of at Washington; and having previously ascertained...
135To James Madison from George W. Erving, 2 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 November 1803, London. No. 26. Encloses a sea letter of the brig John and Mary of Charleston, which he has canceled. The ship was sold in South America to a Spaniard, was recently brought into Plymouth for adjudication, and was reclaimed by the English supercargo, a brother of the original owners. [John] Hawker, U.S. consular agent at Plymouth, wrote Erving about the matter on 2 Oct.; Erving...
136To James Madison from George W. Erving, 14 November 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 November 1801, London. Private No. 4. Encloses recently published compendium of British commercial statistics. Believes “Mr Luffman’s” favorable representation of British export trade is too optimistic, no allowance being made under imports and exports for those imported goods that are merely lodged in warehouses and promptly exported or for those exports that are seized by the enemy and...
137To James Madison from George W. Erving, 8 January 1802 (Madison Papers)
Referring to my letter of Novr 30, I inclose a copy of a Sketch which I have sent to Mr King, it does not indeed pretend to be any thing like a correct calculation, but which brings into one view some interesting conjectures that cannot be very wide of the truth; If it be near the truth, it shews that so far from deriving any benefit from the 7t Article, (if we take into view the loss of...
138To James Madison from George W. Erving (Abstract), 23 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
23 April 1805, London . No. 55. “I had the honor to receive in course your letter of December 27th. directing my attention to the Case of the ‘Richmond’ Captain Brattell, a Vessel which has been seised by the Governor of St. Helena, and requiring my assistance to the Claim instituted by the Captain before the Courts here. “Captain Brattell on his arrival in London represented to me his case, &...
139To James Madison from George W. Erving (Abstract), 24 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
24 April 1805, London . No. 56. “On the 16th. Instant I received letters from Mr. Monroe dated at Aranjuez on the 12th. of March. Finding that Mr. Purviance’s illness has disabled him from attending to the duties of his station, & under an apprehension that the public interests might in some degree suffer by his absence, Mr. Monroe has thought proper to desire me to take charge of our affairs...
140To James Madison from George W. Erving, 1 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
By my letter No. 28. of June 20th., I had the honor to submit to you copies of sundry correspondence with the Minister of State, upon the subject of the Spanish decree; upon several Cases of Capture, and upon the quarantine regulations; together with a note to the Prince of Peace upon the particular case of the fishing Vessel "Prince" Captn. Sears: these came down to May 25th. I now transmit...
141To James Madison from George W. Erving, 25 October 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
25 October 1804, London. “ Private. No 25 .” On 24 Oct. received a 14 Oct. letter from Monroe at Rotterdam; a 16 Oct. “letter from Mr Dixon” says Monroe had left the city. “This will accompany my official report respecting the two ships ‘Louisiana’ & ‘Merrimack’ which appear to have been employed in the Slave-trade prohibited by law: It is extremely to be regretted if our regulations cannot be...
142To James Madison from George W. Erving, 20 October 1810 (Madison Papers)
I had the pleasure to receive in Boston your letter of Septr 25, acknowledging rect of that which I took the liberty of addressing to you from Philadelphia: the views of the english government as to the matter therein referred to stand now confessed in the most unequivocal form; & the hardiesse of its policy in relation to the Spanish colonies generally, seems rather to surpass all that we...
143To James Madison from George W. Erving, 1 September 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 September 1804, London. No. 42. “In pursuance of the instructions contained in your letter of April 22d : I have prepared, and have the honor herewith to transmit to you a complete and as far as the Documents in my possession have enabled me to perfect it, a correct statement of the awards made payable to me by the Board of Commissioners under the 7th: article of our late Treaty with this...
144To James Madison from George W. Erving, 30 July 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
30 July 1804, London. No. 41. “The Vessel Susan & polly called of Newport, Certificate No. 142 issued at Baltimore first of Novr. 1802, and owned as appears on it’s Documents by Thomas Eldred said to be of Newport in the State of R. Island, took her departure for Norfolk on the 18th instant. This Vessel I believe was formerly purchased by Mr. Eldred in this port, and some objections were then...
145To James Madison from George W. Erving, 18 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
By General Lyman, who arrived here on the 4th. Instant, I have had the honor to receive your letter of January 12th. and the Commission, Credentials, and Instructions with which it was accompanied; the duplicates of these reached me about four weeks since. You are pleased to communicate to me my appointment by the Executive to be Secretary of Legation at Madrid, and to act in quality of Chargé...
146To James Madison from George W. Erving, 22 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
My last dispatch dated May 27 was forwarded by post to Mr. Young at Algeciras; owing only (as I hope,) to the present disturbed state of the country & the consequent stoppage of all the couriers from Andalusia, I have not heard from him since he left Madrid on the 25th. Ulto., but lest unfortunately he may have met with any accident or detention, I lately transmitted a duplicate of said...
147To James Madison from George W. Erving, 29 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
My last dispatch dated September 18th. acknowledged the receipt of the instructions which you were pleased to give me in the case of the "Grampus": By that which immediately preceded it (of September 1st.) I had the honor to submit to you the continuation of my correspondence with this Government upon certain matters of importance: The purpose of this is merely to inclose copies of the notes...
148To James Madison from George W. Erving, 20 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
I communicated to Mr Monroe the contents of your (private) letter of June 20th; you have doubtless before this received in course the best newspapers which have been published here since that date, he having regularly forwarded them; with respect to pamphlets, few now appear which are worth attention, & scarcely any which concern our interests; that of Lord Sheffield is indeed the only one...
149To James Madison from George W. Erving, 28 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 January 1804, London. No. 29. “Having had the honor to receive your Letter (Novr. 1st. 1803) respecting Alexander Mc.Elwee an American Citizen impressed into the British Service, I lost no time in applying to the Lords of the Admiralty for his discharge. Copies of my letter and their answer are herewith inclosed. “You will please to observe that their Lordships presume Mc.Elwee not to be at...
150To James Madison from George W. Erving, 4 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 October 1801, London. Reports that on 2 Oct. Great Britain and France announced signing of peace preliminaries. Believes news of French surrender at Alexandria hastened this event. Relates unconfirmed rumor that the preliminaries provide for a French guarantee of the integrity of the Turkish Empire (which must include the surrender of Egypt) and also for the security of the Kingdom of...