6501To James Madison from James Dinsmore, 4 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Your favours of the 16th & 24 Ult have been received and Shall be attended to, the articles Sent for by the waggon have Come to hand except the Grindstone which the waggoner Says he forgot to Call for. We are at present engaged in preparing flooring plank for the Colonnade it being the only Stuff we have kiln dryed, or indeed I May Say Sawed, Mr Gooch has engaged Sawyers to Cut by hand, to...
6502To James Madison from Charles W. Goldsborough, 4 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
With your approbation the enclosed letter to Comre. Rodgers will be forwarded and a similar proposition will be made, through the commanding officers, to all the supernumerary meritorious sailing masters. I incline to the opinion that the Government can retain the greater portion without any expence; and thus, on emergency, have a corps of valuable men, selected from personal knowledge of...
6503To James Madison from William Pinkney, 4 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Will you permit me to make known to you a young Gentleman (Mr. Robert Walsh Junr. of Baltimore) for whom I have a particular Regard and whose extraordinary Merit will I am sure recommend him to your Notice & Esteem? I can truly say of him that he has the best Heart in the World—that he possesses a superiour Mind cultivated with Care, and informed by the most extensive Knowledge, and enriched...
6504To James Madison from John Frazer, 4 May 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 May 1809, Washington. Frazer, a slave dealer, has lost a considerable sum owing to a peculiar circumstance. A cargo of his slaves consigned to the U.S. was forced into St. Kitts on a vessel “found to be unseaworthy.” While the ship was being repaired a U.S. law was passed prohibiting further slave importations. In St. Kitts, all the slaves were sold except four afflicted with leprosy. Frazer...
6505To James Madison from William Duane, 3 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Public motives, such as I conceive calculated to render service to the interests and honor of your administration, induce me to take the liberty of addressing you. The unhappy conflict which has arisen out of the case of Olmstead is now quieted so far as the law and the parties in that case are invol⟨ved⟩. The Militia men who under a blind opinion of obedience to their superiors have...
6506To James Madison from Michael Leib, 3 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Yesterday General Bright and those associated with him in resisting the process of the district court, were sentenced to fine and imprisonment, and accordingly committed to prison. The public sensation on this event is considerable, and is transferring itself from the outrage upon the law, to those who are now suffering under it. A distinction is made between the legality and the justice of...
6507To James Madison from James Maury, 3 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to present you my congratulations on your becoming president of the United States, hoping you will experience that comfort in the office, which those, who undertake so arduous an one under the influence of such motives as your’s, so highly merit. The partial repeal of the Embargo law was indeed very unexpected in this country; but the late revocation of the orders in council has...
6508To James Madison from William Pinkney, 3 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have had the Honour to receive your Letter of the 17h. of March, and thank you sincerely for your kind Wishes. Permit me to offer you my cordial Congratulations upon the Manner in which you have been called to the Presidency. Such a Majority at such a Time is most honourable to our Country and to you. My Trust is that with the progress of your administration your Friends will grow in...
6509To James Madison from Larkin Smith, 3 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Having at all times felt the most ardent desire to promote the interest and happiness of my Country, and to give my zealous support to a Government which I consider to be entirely calculated to produce these desirable effects; I now take the liberty to suggest to your Excellency the advantages which I believe would result, from the appointment of an officer of intelligence, and correct...
6510To James Madison from Charles W. Goldsborough, 2 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
In the instructions to the several commanding Officers to lay up the gun boats, they were required to report to this Department, their respective opinions of the qualifications of the sailing masters recently appointed to command gun boats, and we are now receiving their reports accordingly. With your approbation I will proceed to dismiss all those of whom unfavorable reports have thus been...