1George 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...
2To James Madison from George W. Erving, 5 January 1823 (Madison Papers)
I am highly flattered by the very obliging manner in which you have condescended to receive the small articles which I took the liberty of offering to you; I wish that I could devise more adequate means of expressing my respectful & grateful feelings towards you & Mrs Madison: You still augment my obligations by your joint good wishes for my happiness, but alas! that to which Mrs Madison more...
3To James Madison from George W. Erving, 10 October 1816 (Madison Papers)
There is reason to apprehend that the Expedition under Count Abispal mentioned in my last letter to you in Cypher, will be suspended, if not altogether stopped. The two millions which were appropriated for the expences of it, & which were lodged at Cadiz, have just now been drawn into the Treasury here, & from thence will go probably, as all other monies do to the palace; from whence nobody...
4To James Madison from George W. Erving, 10 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
The matter which follows in Cypher I received yesterday in the strictest confidence; but have finally obtained permission to communicate it to you in Cypher; what is personal in it is known only to the principal party, to my informant & to myself; it may become, if no accident or caprice, or change of policy or of personal credit intervenes of very great importance to the United States. My...
5To James Madison from George W. Erving, 9 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
On my arrival in this city I found Mr Morris; the account which he gives of the state of King Ferdinands domestick affairs, is most unfavorable; it conforms however Entirely with all the respectable opinions which I have heard: were one to receive these in full faith, without any of the allowances which are ordinarily to be made, one woud say that it is impossible that the system shoud stand...
6To James Madison from George W. Erving, 4 December 1814 (Madison Papers)
When I took the liberty of addressing you on the 6th Oct. it was to be expected that the negotiations at Gand woud be soon terminated, & I intended to send my letter by those of the commissioners who might return home; the private letters mentioned in the last paragraph of that letter I yet retain, to be sent either by Mr Clay or Mr Gallatin, not wishing to trust them by an ordinary hand. By...
7To James Madison from George W. Erving, 6 October 1814 (Madison Papers)
On the 23d of September I received a despatch from the secretary of State inclosing the commission to Madrid with which you have been pleased to honor me. I am extremely sensible Sir to this new proof of your confidence, & shall use every effort to render myself worthy of it. I took the liberty of submitting to you on the 11th July some speculations respecting the then state of affairs in...
8To James Madison from George W. Erving, 11 July 1814 (Madison Papers)
Amongst the various changes produced, & to be produced in Europe, by the abdication of the emperor Napoleon, I presume that the actual transactions in Spain, & the future fate of that country, may be considered as peculiarly, & most immediately interesting, to the United States: The english papers relate most of the important occurrences, but in what is speculative, I observe that they do not...
9To James Madison from George W. Erving, 25 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
All the papers of the legation have been delivered to Mr Crawford since the 30th July; Mr Barlows private correspondence, (amongst which are your letters to him,) as well as duplicates of his public correspondence, (he having kept a copy amongst his private papers,) remain in my possession; the reluctance with which as it seems the cartel was granted as well as other circumstances belonging to...
10To James Madison from George W. Erving, 5 March 1813 (Madison Papers)
I had visited the principal ports of Italy, & resided two months at Naples, when (on 26 Jany) I received the distressing intelligence of Mr Barlows decease; duty to my excellent friend induced me to abandon my further plans with regard to Italy, & immediately to return hither, for the purpose of giving comfort & assistance as far as in my power to his disconsolate widow. I left Naples on the...
11To James Madison from George W. Erving, 23 June 1811 (Madison Papers)
Soon after my arrival here (viz on the 1st. inst) I saw Mr Joy, & delivered to him the letter which you was pleased to put under my care. I find that this gentleman has done very considerable service to several cases wherein he has been employed, & has obtained the liberation of property which stood in very perilous predicaments, yet it is the general opinion amongst the americans here, by all...
12To James Madison from George W. Erving, 10 March 1811 (Madison Papers)
I arrived here on the evening of the 8t, & yesterday received from Mr Hamilton your letter of Feby 1st; to the five letters which it inclosed the most exact attention shall be paid. If affairs in Florida have not progressed according to the reasonable views & expectations of government, this may be owing in part or principally to the encouragement which Folch has received to deviate from his...
13To 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...
14To 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...
15To James Madison from George W. Erving, 2 September 1810 (Madison Papers)
You have doubtless noticed lately in our gazettes, an informal paragraph relative to the line of conduct which G. B. will probably observe, towards the spanish colonies in this delicate crisis of their affairs: that paragraph comes from Onis, & I had yesterday an opportunity of seeing a dispatch to him from his government which communicates a declaration formally made to it by the english...
16To James Madison from George W. Erving, 5 August 1810 (Madison Papers)
In my last letters to Mr Smith I mentioned my intention of returning to the United States; pursuant to which, after about a month passed with Mr Pinkney in London I embarked at Liverpool on the 23d June, and arrived at N. York on the 1st instt. It was my purpose to proceed to Washington without any delay, but I was induced to stay a day at N. York for the pleasure of conversing with Mr...
17To James Madison from George W. Erving, 28 November 1809 (Madison Papers)
The last letter which I took the liberty of addressing to you was dated Cadiz June 10t. I do not now propose to trouble you with any political reflexions in addition to what are contained in the official dispatch of this date to the department of state, inclosed herewith; but write for the purpose of earnestly solliciting your attention to the request which I made for leave of absence in my...
18To James Madison from George W. Erving, 10 June 1809 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to write to you on the 5t May, since then I have received a letter from Mr Smith, dated April 1st, in which he acquaints me that you have disapproved of the agreement made some months since between Mr Yznardi & Mr Hackley respecting the management of this consulate: that agreement is consequently now annulled: in the month of Jany soon after it had been formed, I found that Mr...
19To James Madison from George W. Erving, 5 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
With my last dispatches to the department of state I had the honor to address you a private letter dated April 14t; since then the spaniards have been rapidly repairing their military disasters in this quarter, but king Joseph is regulating the affairs of his government at Madrid by the appointment of Tribunals, councils &c as tho he had possession of the whole country; nevertheless his army...
20To James Madison from George W. Erving, 14 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to write to you unofficially & very much at large on the 12t Jany; it will not be necessary, & may not be proper, for me to trouble you at present in the same manner; indeed I am not able to add anything of consequence to whatever information is contained in my official letter to the secretary of State of this date: As I think it however proper to explain particularly the...
21To James Madison from George W. Erving, 14 February 1809 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to write to you by the Ship "Bourdeaux" Richard Law Mr., which left this a short time since for the port of N. York, in my dispatch No. 60 (dated Jany. 28th.) stating the amount of the intelligence then received respecting the last military operations in this country: By subsequent & more particular accounts we are now assured, that in the attack made upon the Duke of...
22To James Madison from George W. Erving, 29 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
Owing to the interruption of the communication between this country & Holland, I have not been able to Receive any remittance from, or to draw on Messrs. Willinks & Vanstaphorst Since the 6th. July last. I was therefore under the necessity of drawing on your department under date of Sep. 22. 1808 in favor of Richard Hackley for the sum of 1400 Ds., being a few dollars more than half the...
23To James Madison from George W. Erving, 28 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
No 1. of the inclosed copies is a further note to Mr. Cevallos (dated Jany. 2d.) respecting the vessels detained at Algesiras: and No. 2 (of the 11th. Inst.) a memorandum which I gave him on the Same subject by his own desire, on his late arrival here in his way to England, when he promised me that he woud instantly write to Don Martín de Garay the new minister urging him to take up the...
24To James Madison from George W. Erving, 12 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
My last unofficial letter was of Septr. 13; If perchance I have obtained any credit with you for judgement , When you compare what I have said in that & former letters, public as well as private with the subsequent Events which I am now oblidged to record, I am in danger of losing it, but these events n o foresight coud have calculated upon; they have been very principally owing to causes...
25To James Madison from George W. Erving, 9 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
Since the date of my Last, the only authentick intelligence which we have received, is that the Emperor is concentrating his force about Madrid; the french troops which were in La Mancha & at Truxillo in Estremadura have been withdrawn; the advanced posts of Infantados Army are at Aranjuez; it is beleived that a partial action has taken place between the french & General Romañas troops, but...
26To James Madison from George W. Erving, 1 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
Various complaints as to the conduct of the Consular office at this place have from time to time within these 18 months past been transmitted to me; but as far as I have examined into these, I have not found sufficient matter to authorize my taking any such harsh measure against Mr. Yznardi, as Seems to have been Expected from me by those who have made them: nor did I think it necessary for me...
27To James Madison from George W. Erving, 31 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
The very rapid advances of the french armies towards Madrid, & other points of the interior, in consequence of the most Extraordinary & unlooked for successes, having determined the supreme Junta on the 1st. Inst. immediately to transfer the seat of government to Badajos in Estremadura; which determination was on the same day communicated to the foreign ministers; I had not time to conclude my...
28To James Madison from George W. Erving, 1 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
With my dispatch No. 55 (Novr. 11th.), I had the honor to submit to you copies of my replies to the Spanish Secretary of state, his note of Novr. 7. (copy of which was transmitted by dispatch No. 54) respectg. a negotiation apprehended to have been opened at Washington by the French Minister, for the Sale of the Floridas to the United States. In Several Subsequent interviews with Mr. Cevallos...
29To James Madison from George W. Erving, 11 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
In a postscript (dated 8th. Inst.) of my dispatch No. 54, I communicated to you copy of a note dated the 7th., at the moment received from Mr. Cevallos, and containing the protest of this government against a negotiation which it apprehends to be on foot between the french Minister at Washington and our government, relative to the Floridas. I presume this to be a report excited by those who...
30To James Madison from George W. Erving, 2 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
The supreme central Junta of government having gotten into full activity; tho it had not appointed a secretary of State for foreign affairs, I thought it proper no longer to delay a representation respecting those of our vessels which are yet detained at Algesiras, under the blockade decree of the Emperor of France dated Milan Novr. 17, which was adopted by this government in January last; and...
31To James Madison from George W. Erving, 6 October 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor herewith to transmit to you an ordinance or "provision" of the Council of Castile, dated the 1st. Inst., issued in compliance with the order of the Supreme central "Junta", & commanding the other tribunals & authorities civil & religious of the kingdom, to pay obedience to the "Junta" as the depositary of the Royal Authority. You will observe that the order of the "Junta" was...
32To James Madison from George W. Erving, 29 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor herewith to transmit copy of a note of yesterday’s date which I have just received from the President ad interim of the Supreme Central Junta, communicating the installation of the same; also my answer of this date. With the most perfect respect & consideration, Sir, Your very obt. Servant. To the above inclosures is added a Gazette Extraordinary, giving a detail of the...
33To James Madison from George W. Erving, 22 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
I omitted in my last to say any thing respecting the Russian fleet in the Tagus, because several accounts pretended to be received here, were very contradictory of each other on that interesting point. But Baron Stroganoff, the Russian Minister at Madrid, who some four weeks ago left this for Lisbon, having now returned from Badajos, beyond which he did not think proper to go, as the subjects...
34To James Madison from George W. Erving, 20 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a very interesting memoir which Mr. Cevallos has ju st published, relating to the transactions at B ayonne; & which he has communicated to me wi th a view to its being transmitted to our Go vernment. This memoir avoids detail eve n on the most important transactions to which it refers, & leaves the curiosity wholly unsatisfied on other occurrences well deserving...
35To James Madison from George W. Erving, 13 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
According to present appearances, the surprizing efforts which this country has made are likely to be crowned with complete success: it has been assisted too by a sort of fatality which seems to have accompanied the french arms from the commencement. The grossest Errors have been committed by generals of the greatest reputation; to say nothing of political Errors which have been abundant; &...
36To James Madison from George W. Erving, 10 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
My last dispatch informed you of those extraordinary military operations in this Country, which compelled king Joseph to abandon Madrid, & with the remains of the french armies, to retreat towards the frontiers: Considerable reinforcements having about the same time entered Spain by way of Navarre, his Majesty judged fit to make a stand at Burgos, & there for a time he established his court:...
37To James Madison from George W. Erving, 11 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
My last unofficial letter to you was of May 17th.; I have nothing at present of a private nature connected with the matter of the accompanying dispatch, which is of sufficient importance to be communicated to you: indeed whatever information of any consequence that contains, I presume will reach you before this. The past transactions, & the actual state of affairs here, certainly merit the...
38To James Madison from George W. Erving, 11 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
When I had last the honor of writing to you, (June 22nd. to 27th.) a determined opposition to the new order of things here, had very generally manifested itself throughout the provinces; since then it has been continually acquiring extension, force, & organization; and has ultimately been attended with a success in all quarters very much beyond what even the most sanguine imagination could...
39To 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...
40To James Madison from George W. Erving, 27 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Young, charged with my last dispatch, dated 14th. to 23rd. Inst., left this on the morning of the th., with an order from this Government for the discharge of a ny vessel which he might select amongst those detained at Algeciras under the "blockade" decrees. That dispatch con tained a copy of my note to the Minister of State of Ma y. 5th., (No. 6.) and I mentioned that his Highness the...
41To James Madison from George W. Erving, 17 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
My last unofficial letter was dated on the 9 April: You will doubtless observe that what I th erein mentioned respecting the abdication of Charles, h is indisposition to Reign, & his character in general, d oes not comport with the facts stated in the accompanying official letter, & the documents which are th erewith inclosed. I can only say that I know no thing now which alters my first...
42To James Madison from George W. Erving, 14 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
The last dispatch which I had the honor to address to you, was dated on the 10th. of April; after a Sudden, but bloodless Revolution had placed Ferdinand the 7th., the idol of his generous & grateful people, on a throne which, defended by their courage & patriotism, seemed to be irrevertible by any other human power: His virtues & good dispositions afforded the most flattering prospects; and...
43To James Madison from George W. Erving, 19 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
My letters to you respecting late Events here viz No 41 Postscripts 18th 21st & 22nd. No 42. March 25. No 43 April 10. Private No 32. March 15. No 33 April No. 34. April 12th King Ferdinand has advanced from Burgos to on the 18th and that he will go further. information that the Emperor did not reach till the 14th. Beauharnois appears disposed to linger here as long suffer him on the 1st order...
44To James Madison from George W. Erving, 10 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
In my last dispatch (No. 42, March 25th.), I mentiond that on the arrival of the french troops here it was conjectured his Majesty’s purpose of coming to Madrid would be deferred; but that he had nevertheless adhered to it, & arrived, according to his appointment, on the morning of the 24th. March. In this, as indeed in all his subsequent measures, he has been well counselled; had he not...
45To James Madison from George W. Erving, 25 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
By the report of the Spanish official as published in Madrid Gazette, which was referred to in the last post dispatch, No. 41., it appeared that the Grand Duke of no positive orders to pass thro’ Madrid with his troops if it should be found necessary to do so, yet that they would not in accord with the Spanish Government, &ca. &ca. on the night of the 22nd., the Grand Duke arrived at San Mar...
46To James Madison from George W. Erving, 15 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
My last dispatch dated 27th. January having been sent in triplicate, has, I hope, safely arrived: I now inclose copies of all my subsequent correspondence with the Members of this Government, which may be deemed of sufficient importance to be submitted to you. Vizt. Nos. 1 & 2. A note from Mr. Cevallos, & my Reply, respecting the transaction at St. Sebastian, mentioned in my last. No. 3. A...
47To James Madison from George W. Erving, 15 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
My last unofficial letter was dated Jany. 29. On the 15 Instt. I had the pleasure to Receive one from you, but it is a press copy only made by one of your secretaries, & permit me to suggest so badly done as to be for the most part illegible: of the dates there is no appearance except the word "Washington" but I judge by the dates of the newspapers en closed in it that it was written in...
48To James Madison from George W. Erving, 28 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
I hasten to transmit to you copy of a Circular letter Received from our Consul General at Algiers, & dated the 16th. & 17th. Inst., which communicates the agreeable intelligence of an arrangement which he has made with that Regency. I have the honor to be, Sir, With the most perfect Respect & Consideration, Your very obt. Servant, DNA : RG 59--DD-Diplomatic Despatches, Spain.
49To James Madison from George W. Erving, 22 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to write to you on the 8th. Inst., & to trans mi t amongst other papers, copy of a letter from the Consulate at N aples, giving information that four of our vessels had been captured by t he Algerine Cruisers; and in a postscript of the 11th. I mentioned ha ving written to Mr. Lear for the purpose of ascertaining what mi ght be the motives to these outrages. Since then I have...
50To James Madison from George W. Erving, 22 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
In my last unofficial letter (which was dated Inst) I mentioned a certain supposed project of the Emperor wi th respect to the Empress. Since then nothing more is sa id on the subject; it is Somewhat remarkable however tha t the Emperor shoud be so long from home (not commanding his army) without his wife who has been used al most always