1To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 1808 (Madison Papers)
It is from a sense of duty that I furnish you, in confidence, with some information, which this day casually fell into my way. It cannot be considered as a matter of deep importance, but it is sufficiently so to warrant me in troubling you with a statement. I had in my hands two manuscript books, handsomely bound in red leather, said to be copies N. 3 & 4, of a statistical account of the...
2To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 4 October 1808 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to furnish you lately with some Abstracts (in my hand writing) from a paper mentioned in my unsigned letter; and since I sent you a cover with the name (in my hand writing) of the person who wrote the paper. It was my intention to follow the two with such a letter as this; that you might know on my responsibility the existence of such a paper, and the name of the writer. I have...
3To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 5 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty to inclose you a letter for the President which I request the favor of you to deliver or forward with such addition, if any, as you may judge proper. I have written to Mr. Gallatin at NewYork, by the mail of this day. It was at a period very remote from this, that I had first the pleasure to become acquainted with you, and I trust you have found me ever since in the ranks of...
4To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 24 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
The great importance of the present crisis occasions me earnestly to wish for a copy of the report on our external relations, which is understood to have been recently communicated, as soon any spare ones may be recd. from the press, and be permitted to circulate among our citizens. I beg the favor of your desiring one of the gentlemen of the Department to cover one to me. Tho it is perfectly...
5To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 1807 (Madison Papers)
British blockade by mere notification-- Russian--do. Not to produce a fall of the blockade plan but to annoy the adversary belligerent & to defend the distant subjects of the blockade, including neutral ports. Both before Nov. 6. 1806. Berlin & Milan Rety. Decree DLC .
6To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 1807 (Madison Papers)
The present condition of the world certainly demands all the consideration of every wise and good man, which his situation permits or requires him to bestow upon a temporal subject. The war, which in various forms and upon several grounds, has been carried on between France and her adversaries, has reached a degree of seriousness, which ensures consequences of the most extensive effects and...
7To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 1807 (Madison Papers)
Dear Sir Very pressing business of the Army & indian department, with some other circumstances & the impossibility of accomplishing, in a short time, conversations with others sufficiently casual in appearance have prevented my thinking as closely and seriously upon the subject of the treaty, as I earnestly desired, when your wishes and the public interests called me to the duty. I have...
8To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 1 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
To James Madison, Esquire, Secretary of State the memorial & petition of Tench Coxe, a citizen of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania. Your Memorialist respectfully represents that he has been frequently and seriously impressed with the manifest inconveniencies & disadvantages constantly arising to the people of the United States from the practice & necessity of bottling, corking, wiring...
9To James Madison from Tench Coxe, November 1807 (Madison Papers)
This letter goes to you as a citizen. I have no copy of it, or the paper it encloses. If that paper seems to you (as a citizen, who loves his country and has a goodwill for the writer) likely to do good, it may take any course, altered or unaltered, as may seem best. My information is imperfect, my views of course limited, & liable to be incorrect, and I may feel too much. Our Country does not...
10To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 9 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
As I conceive it may be useful, and I feel it to be proper that the Government should know of the enclosed republication, I have the honor to cover two of the first half sheets, and to be with perfect respect yr. mo. obedt. h. Servant I expect the completion of the whole with some additions in ten or twelve days. DLC : Papers of James Madison.
11To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 1 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I understand to day that the coming out of Lord Selkirk is certain, and that he is to come in the place of Mr. Erskine. It is also stated to me that the British Government has adopted a rule that no minister shall go from England to any foreign Government, who is unmarried, "particularly to our government" This seems to be considered as merely calculated to keep them disengaged from connexions...
12To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 31 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
An original letter from a house of the first character in Liverpool, of the 7th. Ulto. is now in my hands. It mentions that "the import of cotton from the East Indies, has amounted, in 5 Mos., & 7 days of 1807, to 49.213. bales, and that a further importation from the same quarter into G Britain will take place from September to Decemr., of 50.000 bales more, that the present use of India...
13To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 21 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
A case of so much importance to the U. S. has occurred here, that I do myself the honor to inclose to you a copy of the opinions of Ch. J. Tilghman and Judge Smith (of the Supe. Co. of Pa.) which was lent to me by Mr. Du Ponceau. He was of course for France, and Mr. C. Hare for the officer. In the course of the discussion, it appeared, that Mr. Bond was offered to prove that British Deserters...
14To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 14 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have been requested to transmit to you the papers in relation to Mr. William Griffith Montgomery, which I have now the honor to inclose. His father is one of that numerous body of natives of Ireland, whom the American war of 1775 found here. He took an active part in the revolutionary contest to its close. His mother was a native of this city, a sister of Dr. S. P. Griffith’s and a niece of...
15To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 6 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
The proclamation is well received here by a very large proportion of the community. It is however suggested from a quarter by no means unfriendly, that it would have been agreeable and useful, if the impressment of our Seamen, who were taken from the frigate had been as distinctly and positively affirmed as their American birth. The circumstances of their escape from the British service & the...
16To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 4 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have sent to our greater seaports from New Orleans to Portsmouth N. H. to different friends, copies of the dispatch on impressment. You will see from the enclosed paper how seasonable the important contents of that paper are. It is true that many circumstances will induce men of all parties to support our opposition to G. B. whether of war, or less seriousness. But every day convinces me...
17To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 2 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
A british armed brig of 10 guns, & I believe about 250 Tons has been this afternoon crippled & dismantled in this port. She was loading with provisions, flour, fish &c and German Linens and goods as is said. The measure was the result of the present public feeling. Her name is the Fox, Capt. Wainwright. The popular opinion was that she was going to the British ships with provisions, but I...
18To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 1 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
The meeting held here this day has gone off tranquilly. A set of resolutions were adopted the contents of which I am unable to state, as I could not hear them. I presume they go upon the general ground of agreeing to support the government in measures against the late british excesses. The meeting was mixt, numerous & respectable. Some circumstances have occurd on this occasion which merit...
19To James Madison from Tench Coxe, June 1807 (Madison Papers)
(Private) There are many symptoms of foreign and domestic eagerness upon the subject of the business of the trials to be held next month in N. York. A few days ago a well known shorthand writer mentioned to me casually in the street that he had received, without a name, a note containing bank bills for $100, that he could not tell from whence it came, and that the note stated that the money...
20To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 30 June 1807 (Madison Papers)
In the present serious posture of affairs, it has appeared to me that the state of the public mind upon the subject of impressments requires attention. The republicans are not aware of the strong ground which the government have taken in those discussions, the importance of which is greatly enhanced by their having been exhausted before the affair of the Chesapeake and Leopard. The federalists...
21To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 14 June 1807 (Madison Papers)
I feel very happy in the effect upon many well disposed men, not attached to the administration, which the letter on impressments has produced. I published it with a little introduction calculated to make it bear on the course of conduct respecting the intended Treaty. The sentence at the end of my note has reference to matters in relation to impressments as they might appear in a British...
22To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 1 June 1807 (Madison Papers)
I am honored with your letter containing the communication of the 5th. Jany. 1804 and the other papers, for which I am very thankful. The important paper of the 5th. Jany. 1804, I shall endeavour to have republished here, with a prefatory note to draw to it the merited attention and consideration of the people. It is necessary that it should be known and thought of; and this be assured is not...
23To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 28 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
I received this day three letters of various dates from my brother in Law Mr. Charles Davenport Coxe, of the U. S. marine Corps. It appears that they must have been long on the way. One of them covered the inclosed letter from him to you. I collect from Mr. Coxe’s letter, that he is willing & desirous to remain in the situation as successor to a Mr. Dodge, in which Mr. Lear has placed him, pro...
24To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 22 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
I was lately informed by a gentleman, who I suppose has conversed on the matter with you, that the section in the British Act of Pt. refered to in the inclosed paper, had been enacted in 1793. I was astonished at the fact, & on conversing on it with friends, it seemed to us of importance, that it should be known. I prepared a little statement of the matter, & sent a manuscript copy to a...
25To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 20 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
Since I had the honor to address you on the India trade, I am informed, that Great Britain has altered her system as to the India piece goods and allows them to be sold in England, for exportation. I presume that they have found the India company required this support in its commercial department, which has languished of late years. This alteration only proves how necessary our transportation...
26To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 2 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
I add to the paper No. 1 the two inclosed papers. You will excuse their rough form and the crudity of some parts. I will indeavour to add further remarks on the other Articles. This afternoon a federal merchant called on me and mentioned that a respectable French Merchant, who he named, had informed him that he had seen a letter from France to a friend here, stating as follows, that an action...
27To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 1 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
I received yesterday the letter you did me the honor to transmit of the 27th. March. Its contents shall be private & confidential. It is for that reason that I send you, in the rough draught, some preliminary and direct views of the subject. I thought it best to lose no time, and therefore devoted all of yesterday, which I could spare from public business, to rehearsals and reflexion, with my...
28To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 27 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
In the present critical state of our affairs, I take the liberty to offer to your consideration a suggestion which appears to me of great importance. The injuries to neutral rights have, as I believe, been produced by the conduct and example of great Britain in the form of Orders of her executive government abrogating in their Admiralty and superior prize courts the written or customary law of...
29To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 2 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you a note by yesterdays mail, without signature, date of place or year, putting at foot "le premier de Mars" . Its contents were serious and confidential. The lady is Mrs. Alston. The person at New Orleans Genl. Wilkinson. In addition it is reported that Dr. Bolman mentioned among his friends here that the cypher was of 18 months standing, & known to a foreigner. Since I have been...
30To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 1 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
I find it to be a fact, that a family connexion of a person, who accuses ABurr, expresses his conviction that the accuser is the worst man of the two. I find it is considered here that the accuser has fears about the contents of a port-folio possessed by Mrs. . I find it asserted that a paper has been sent from the south, since the receipt of the letter in cypher, wch. paper is in the hand...
31To James Madison from Tench Coxe, February 1807 (Madison Papers)
1) On the State of external affairs in February 1807. Every faithful and reflecting friend to the peace, liberty and prosperity of this country must consider the present time as uncommonly and extremely serious, in fact & in expectation. Specific suggestions of public conduct are uncommonly interesting in the present distracted, and infuriated state of the world. Our conduct should exhibit a...
32To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 20 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to send you a copy of an examination into the Subject of the Spoliations of the neutrals, which appears to me likely to be of some use in considering the french decree, even if your letters from our minister should be less satisfactory than his letter to Mr. Lee warrants us to believe. The publisher having given me a few copies I have sent one to the President, one to the Secy...
33To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 15 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
I hope the extraordinary time will afford an excuse for offering to you the inclosed notes. They require no answer and are not expected to receive one. The language of impartial native federal Merchants on the day before the French decree was recd. was, "that we ought to consider as a favor all the trade we had, for England had the power to cut off the whole, and power was right all the world...
34To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 13 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
The recent advices from Europe have produced effects upon the mercantile body, of which I presume you will hear inform. The insurance offices from Massachusetts to Pennsa. have manifested solemn feelings. It is useless to trouble you with comments upon an act, which you better understand & have more maturely weighed than I. The avowal of the principle of retaliation on the part of the Empr. of...
35To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 10 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose to you an extract from a letter from Silas Dinsmore, Indian agent of the U. S for the Choctaws & Post Master in that quarter, tho I do not know the name of the office. It is dated at Natchez Jany. 4th. and bears the post mark of that place of the 6th. The letter was occasioned by his having some instruments in a ship from London, after mentioning which he concludes...
36To James Madison from Tench Coxe, January 1807 (Madison Papers)
I hope the communications I have taken the liberty to make on the subject of Colonel Burrs affair have not been inconvenient. Tho’ only reflexions (, or little more) on what was known they appeared to me to promise utility. The exertions and vigilance of the government command the approbation of candid opponents, and comfort the friends of our public principles. If Mr. Burr is without foreign...
37To James Madison from Tench Coxe, January 1807 (Madison Papers)
It is proper that the Government should understand the language held in so important a city as this by the federal partizans, in the present Crisis: I am well assured by information and by my own hearing, that they say "let the Sth.Wn. Country go. We can still trade with them. New England will do nothing to prevent it. They will not stir a step. We should have had an army—we must have an army....
38To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 13 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
The decided information brought hither thro NewYork, in the letters & papers pr the Thetis brig, Capt. McDonnald, is by this time in your possession in all its details. No doubt your advices by Charleston & other wise have been equally full as to the names of the culpable. I have learned, in a certain way, that Mr. Eaton is expected here in the course of a journey to Washington city, and that...
39To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 4 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
Under all the circumstances of the times, in Europe & America, the tendency of things to the promotion of despotism & to the extinction of civil liberty cannot fail to awaken the solicitudes of all, who love this country. Our principles, our peace, our internal order and our property are all afloat on the sea, which military power ruffles and calms at pleasure. In this state of things, I have...
40To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 20 June 1806 (Madison Papers)
The subject on which I have lately expressed my sentiments to you is so important in itself and so influential in its consequences, that I am led to continue some attention to it. In Poulson’s Amern. daily advertiser of this city of the 17th. inst. there is a proclamation of the Russian Adml. Henry Bailey, in which confiscation is held up as the consequence of infractions of the general...
41To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 12 June 1806 (Madison Papers)
It is my own opinion that the enclosed paper will do good among our own citizens, and public men, and in several foreign countries. I therefore send it as others anxious to do no harm where I mean only to do good. If it were to be found unfit for publication the collective view of the facts may be useful. The other paper I shall endeavour to handle with care and temper, tho with firmness. If...
42To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 8 June 1806 (Madison Papers)
I find myself greatly impressed with the idea of the recent inroad of G. Britain upon neutral rights. If a whig Administration treats us & neutrals in general thus, we are to expect nothing from a change of men in their Administration. If we submit to this measure it is to be presumed that something equally extravagant will follow from the other side. The example of outrage tolerated from one...
43To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 29 November 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Tench Coxe. 29 November 1805, Philadelphia. “I am honored with your letter relative to the copies of the two patents to Mrs. Rebecca Blackwell and Mr. Geo. Fende or Fead. I have just recd. the originals and I take the liberty to transmit them for the purpose of being forwarded to the proper officer or officers, whether register or commissioners. I will take the necessary measures for...
44To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 11 November 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit to you official copies of two Patents of the King of Great Britain for Land in West Florida, this day received from William Lyman Esquire, Consul of the U.S. in London. One of them is to George Tead for 2000 acres on Mobile River, recorded May 4. 1770 in Book E fo. 14 Recorders office West Florida, as certified by Fras. P⟨on⟩;ssett D. Recorder. The other is to Mrs....
45To James Madison from Tench Coxe (Abstract), 18 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
18 June 1805, Philadelphia . “On my return from a short visit to my family, I had the honor to receive your letter of the 11th. instant. I did not expect any immediate benefit to the U.S. to follow my communication of the paper in my last, yet I felt a disposition to trouble you with the perusal, because I had some reason to believe that the paper with the letter, which accompanied it,...
46To James Madison from Tench Coxe (Abstract), 7 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
7 June 1805, Philadelphia . “Shortly before Mr. Adams[’]s mission of Messrs. Gerry, Pinckney & Marshall to France my solicitudes to avoid a quarrel with that country brought into my mind many considerations, which I was anxious to communicate to the government. I wrote an ingenerous but respectful letter to Mr. Adams, of which I have some where the rough draught, and inclosed in it the paper...
47To James Madison from Tench Coxe (Abstract), ca. 11–16 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
Ca. 11–16 Apr. 1805 . “I have the honor to write to you in consequence of an application from Mr. Clement B. Penrose, who is desirous of an appointment in the Louisiana Territory under the Government. He is a gentleman of about 34 years of age, married, his [ sic ] several children, and is a branch of two old and respectable Pennsa. families. He read law about eighteen months under the late...
48To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 24 January 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
24 January 1805, Purveyor’s Office. “I have the honor to transmit in this inclosure my Accounts for the Agency & Expenses, in the Business of the 400 Copies of the Laws adjusted with Mr. Carey, also for Expenses of transporting the old box of Laws to Governor Sevier, & the old Trunk of Stationary to Govr. Harrison. They are in distinct Accounts as indicated in your letter of the 8th. Instant....
49To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 10 November 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 November 1804, Purveyor’s Office. “I have the honor to transmit you a Note of the monies expended, and to be expended by me for your Department, in relation to the Laws of the United States. This is done to facilitate your Statement for appropriation, which will of course soon go to the Treasury. Mr. Carey has been paid from time to time as he delivered the Books except that I sent him...
50To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 5 November 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 November 1804, Purveyor’s Office. “I have the honor to inclose to you a bill of Lading for one box of books containing fifty eight sets of the laws of the U.S. Tho Mr. Carey assures me that the ⟨o⟩thers will be ready for any vessel that shall sail after the 10th. instant, I thought ⟨i⟩t best to forward these, as they might be wanted.” RC and enclosure ( DNA : RG 59, ML ). RC 1 p.; docketed...