James Madison Papers
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From James Madison to John G. Jackson, 1 April 1805

To John G. Jackson

Washington Apl. 1. 1805

Dear Sir

Having sent you a part of the papers relating to the rupture between G. B. & Spain, I inclose the sequel so far as it has been yet published in G. Britain.1 In addition is an Albany paper which does not augur well either for the credit or the cohesion of republicanism in that State.2 I have a letter from Monroe dated at Madrid Jany. 19.3 He had had a formal and friendly interview with the Spanish Minister; but nothing had passed beyond those general professions which mean nothing. Referring to letters which accompany this and offering to Mrs. J. sincere affection, with friendly respects to your father I remain Dr. Sir Yrs truly

James Madison

RC (InU: Jackson Collection). Enclosures not found, but see nn. 1–2.

1For articles in the London papers about the rupture between Spain and Great Britain, see George W. Erving to JM, 21 Feb. 1805, and n. 1.

2JM probably referred to the quarrel that had begun in the spring of 1804 over the incorporation of the Merchants’ Bank of New York, an issue on which New York Republicans were deeply divided. On 14 Mar. 1805 the lower house of the New York legislature began debate on a bill granting the bank a charter. Although charges of legislators being bribed to support the bill led to the appointment of an investigative committee, the measure nevertheless passed both houses. Anthony Merry described the disagreement as having “produced some very scandalous Scenes,” adding that “two of the Senators (holding the office of Judges, and being each aboat Seventy Years of Age) became so irritated on the Occasion as to use the most opprobrious Language to each other, and to terminate their Dispute by Blows” (Albany Centinel, 22, 26, and 29 Mar. 1805; Philip G. Hubert Jr., The Merchants’ National Bank of the City of New York [New York, 1903], 52–74; Merry to Lord Mulgrave, 29 Apr. 1805 [UkLPR: Foreign Office, ser. 115, 14:82).

3PJM-SS description begins Robert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (9 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986–). description ends , 8:492–93.

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