1To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 2 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to inform you of my arrival in this City last night, having been appointed by His Britannic Majesty to succeed Mr. Merry as Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States. I take the liberty to request to be informed at what time I may have the Honor to present to you the Copy of my Credentials, & to have an audience of the President. With the highest...
2From James Madison to David Montague Erskine, 29 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
FURTHER Reflection on the Tenor and Tendency of the Order of His Britannick Majesty, communicated by your Letter of the 16th Instant, which was answered by mine of the 24th, induces me to resume that important Subject. From the Difficulty of supposing that the Order can have for its Basis either a legal Blockade, impossible to be extended to all the Ports described in the Order, or a supposed...
3To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 25 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose to you for the Information of the Government of the United States, the Copy of a Note which was by His Majesty’s Command delivered by Lord Howick His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Ministers of Friendly and Neutral Powers resident at the Court of His Majesty relative to the Measures which His Majesty has found it necessary to adopt...
4To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 27 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit to you herewith Copies of several Papers relative to an Extraordinary Outrage committed by the Commander of the American Schooner Enterprize by ordering Thomas Grant, a British Seaman employed in His Majesty’s Transport Service in the Mediterranean, to be tied to the Gangway and to receive Twelve Lashes on the bare back; and I have it in Command from His Majesty to...
5To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 13 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
Permit me to have the Honor of introducing to you Mr W. Penn, the Bearer, who is a Descendant of the Founder, & Son to Mr. Penn His Majesty’s Governr. in former times of the State of Pennsylvania. I have had no late letters from England; but do not doubt the truth of the last news from thence. With great Respect & Re gard, I remain Dr Sir Your’s Faithfully Mrs. E. joins me in best regards to...
6To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 26 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 20th. Inst. enclosing Copies of authentic documents concerning Frederick Porter, Jos Wixson Junr. & John Cornell, American Citizens, who are stated to have been impressed into His Britannic Majesty’s Ships, Cambrian, Indian & Bermuda, and Requesting my Interposition to procure their Discharge. I shall accordingly take the...
7To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 11 June 1807 (Madison Papers)
In Compliance with your Request contained in your Letter to me of the 11th: of March last, I wrote to Admiral Berkeley Commander in Chief of His Majesty’s Ships on the Halifax Station to inquire into the Facts stated in the inclosed Protest made by the Master and other Persons belonging to the Schooner Morning Star of Providence. I have just received an Answer from the Admiral informing me...
8To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 13 June 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your letter of the 1st. & 9th. of June, requesting my Interposition to procure the Discharge of certain Seamen, stated to be Citizens of the United States, & to have been impressed on board His Majestys Ships, John Covel, & Phineas Le fevre on board His Majesty’s Ships, Cambrian, & Melampus Joseph West on board the Osprey, supposed to be on the...
9To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 26 June 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to inform you that His Majesty has judged it expedient to reestablish the most rigorous Blockade at the entrances of the rivers, Ems, W eser & Elbe inclusive, in consequence of the present position of the Enemy, on the Continent which enables him to command the Navigation of those r ivers. I have also the Honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 23d. Inst....
10To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 10 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Erskine presents his Complts. to Mr. Madison, and requests the Favor to be informed whether the Communications between His Majesty’s Minister & Consuls, and the Senior Officer of His Majesty’s Ships, now lying in Hampton Roads, is intended to be interdicted, by the President’s Proclamation of the 2d. of July. DNA : RG 59-NFL-Notes from Foreign Legations, Great Britain.
11To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 13 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
In the present critical Posture of Affairs which has resulted from the late unfortunate Encounter between His Majesty’s Ship Leopard and a Frigate of the United States (Chesapeak) I conceive it to be my Duty to have the Honor to make the following Representation to the Government of the United States. That I have continued to receive up to the present Time, constant Assurances, by His...
12To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 16 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 13th. containing additional Documents respecting T. White stated to be a Citizen of the United States detained on board His Majesty’s Ship Elephant. I will immediately forward them to the Admiral commanding on the Station where His Majesty’s Ship Elephant is supposed now to be. I have the Honor to be, with great Respect and...
13To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 16 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
In Compliance with your Request in your Letter of the 15th: Inst. I have the Honor to inclose a Passport for a Vessel about to carry some Dispatches from the Government of the United States to Gibraltar and Leghorn. Blanks are left for the Names of the Vessel and Master, as you desired. I avail myself of this Opportunity to have the Honor to inform you that I have just received an Answer from...
14To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 7 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
The serious Inconveniences to His Majesty’s Service which have arisen from the Interruption of the Intercourse between His Majesty’s Servants accredited to the United States and the commanding Officers of His Majesty’s Ships off the Coast of the United States have induced me to take the liberty of again requesting you to lay the Subject before the Government of the United States for their...
15To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 12 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to inform you, that Captn Sir T. M. Hardy, the Senior Officer of his Majesty’s Ships off the Chesapeak does not consider himself justified, in adopting the Mode of Communication with His Majesty’s Minister & Consuls in the United States, by a Flag of Truce. I request therefore the favor to be informed, whether His Majesty’s Ships which may enter the Harbors or Waters of the U....
16To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 12 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
One of His Majestys Ships having taken a piratical Vessel with three Captains of different Nations Commanding her, one named Alexander Tardy, having a Register of American Citizenship from Charlestown, another of the name of Ross who has been advertized and a reward offered for apprehending him, by the State of South Carolina, and who also stands charged with a most atrocious Murder, on Board...
17From James Madison to David Montague Erskine, 21 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to receive your letter of the 7th. instant and at the same time one of the two dated on the 12th. The other of this Date has also been since received. I am glad to find by the Postcript to that of the 7th: that the Dispatches which had been delayed, had got safe to hand; and I cannot doubt that as far as General Matthews may have been a party to the Delay, your candour will...
18From James Madison to David Montague Erskine, 22 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit herewith proof of Citizenship of John Wharff, an American Seaman, who is stated to have been impressed on board His Britannic Majesty’s Sloop of War Rattler, and to request the interposition of your good offices to obtain his discharge. The Rattler is said to be on the Halifax station at present. I have the honor to be with great respect & consideration, Sir, Your...
19To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 1 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 22nd. ult. respecting John Wharff, who is stated to be an american Citizen; and to have been impressed on Board his Majesty’s Sloop of War, Rattler, which is supposed to be at present on the Halifax Station. I will immediately forward the Documents enclosed in your abovementioned Letter to Vice Admiral Berkely, Commander in...
20To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 8 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 21st: ultimo in which you communicate to me what you had before done verbally from the President, "That all Dispatches to and from His Majesty’s Ships off the Coast continuing or coming within the Waters of the United States in hostile Opposition (as you are pleased to term it) to the publick Authority must pass under a Flag of...
21From James Madison to David Montague Erskine, 12 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
In my answer of the 21st. Ult to the part of your letter of the 7th. which refers to a declaration made by a Sergeant Frodsham, that certain British Deserters from the British Ship of war Chichester, had been enlisted into the American service, having on, at the same time, their British uniforms, it was signified that enquiry would be made into the fact. I have now the honor to inclose a copy...
22From James Madison to David Montague Erskine, 13 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have had the honor to recieve your letter of the lst. instant, inclosing a letter to you from Admiral Berkley on the subject of certain Seamen claimed as American Citizens from British ships of war detaining them; and a copy of a letter from the officers of His Britannic Majesty’s Ship Melampus stating that the three Seamen who ran from that ship, and after enlisting on board the American...
23To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 14 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that I have received a Letter, dated Halifax September 1st. from Vice Admiral Berkeley, Commander in Chief of His Majesty’s Ships on the Halifax Station, in which he has communicated to me the Result of a Court Martial, which has been lately held on Thomas Wilson, alias Jenkin Ratford, one of the Deserters from His Majesty’s Ships, who were taken out of the...
24To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 18 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to forward to you, several Documents, which I have received respecting some Seamen, whose discharge I had requested from Vice Admiral Berkeley, at your Desire, on the grounds of their having been Stated to be Citizens of the United States, and as having been impressed and detained on Board His Majesty’s Ships. I also trouble you with an Extract of a Letter from Mr. James...
25To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 18 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to request the serious Attention of the Government of the United States to a Case of the most gross Violation of the Law of Nations; & of Insult to His Majesty, by a Citizen of the United States & an Inhabitant of this Town of Philadelphia, (W. Duane) who having by the most dishonorable Means, obtained Possession of certain Dispatches on His Majesty’s Service, from The Hon: G....
26From James Madison to David Montague Erskine, 19 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter having been put on board a Pilot bo at off the Coast of the U nite d States by an officer from an armed Vessel believed to be British, and avowing a destination p resump tively forbidden by the Proclamation of the President, doubts concerning the regularity of its introduction occasioned it to be transmitted to this Department. I hasten its co nv eyan ce to you by the first...
27To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 21 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ I cannot doubt that the Government of the United States have already received from their Ministers in London a Copy of the inclosed Note from Mr. Canning to Mr. Munroe yet I have the honor now to transmit one, lest any accident might have prevented its being before received. With Sentiments of the highest Respect & Consideration, I have the Honor to be Sir Your obedient humble servant...
28To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 31 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
Upon referring to the Papers respecting the Accident which caused His Majesty’s Cutter Zenobia to be driven on Shore, I find that it happened about Twelve Months ago, and that She was stranded about Twenty Five Miles to the Southward of Cape Henry, where she now remains notwithstanding some partial Attempts by some of His Majesty’s Ships to get her afloat. I beg Leave to repeat my Thanks on...
29To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 6 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit to you an Extract of a Letter from Captain Sir Robert Laurie Bart, respecting some British Seamen, Deserters from His Majesty’s Service, stated to be now serving on board the United States Frigate Chesapeake; and beg to request that the Government of the United States will cause such Steps to be taken as may be thought proper on the Occasion. I have the Honor to...
30To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 9 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Erskine will have the honor of waiting upon Mr. Madison on Saturday next. NN .