91From James Madison to James Monroe, 19 July 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 18th. by Mr. Mercer and have weighed as well as I could the pros & cons of the little enterprize half-formed by you. If it cd. be eligibly undertaken under any auspices, I am sure it would be under yours. But I confess its success would seem to require more celerity & secrecy than might be attainable, and in our situation offensive measures even on a small scale would...
92From James Madison to James Monroe, [ca. 1 April] 1813 (Madison Papers)
The views with which the U.S. entered into the war, necessarily dispose them to a just peace. The promptitude with which the mediation of H.I.M. was accepted and the purpose of sending ministers to St.P. without waiting for the determination of G.B. is proof of this disposition. An armistice as sparing an effusion of blood, & as contemplating an auspicious result to the mediation, can not...
93From James Madison to James Monroe, 23 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
Still without authentic information from Abroad. The Halifax papers expect Adml. Warren with a naval force, and an offer of peace. It appears that Wellington has gained a victory over Marmont; The extent of it not ascertained. From the West the accounts are that a B & Indn. force amounting to about 600 left Malden after the surrender of Detroit, to attack F. Wayne, & in case of success, to...
94From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
Not a word from abroad, or the West, since you left us. Dearborn has still one eye on Montreal, and the other on Niagara: forcing the attention of the Enemy to both, with a purpose, doubtless of striking, himself, at either or both according to circumstances. The story of an armament agst. Plattsburg is groundless. Niagara was very weak at the last date, and more in danger of attack, than...
95From James Madison to James Monroe, 10 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment recd. yours of the 8th. & 9th. A failure in the mail, occasioned the recet. of them at the same time. I have not had time to examine the Volunteer Act, which has been forwarded to me, the present mail which brought it, remaining but a short period, & that being occupied in reading papers &c. now sent to the Secy. of War, & others requiring attention. He will shew you those...
96From James Madison to James Monroe, 8 [September] 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 6th. I am sorry to find that Pike confides so little in our prospects. From a letter of Genl. Dearborn to the Secy. of War, it appears that the force at his disposal is more scanty than was hoped. I am not sure whether his immediate plan is to take advantage of the detachments of the B. force from Montreal, by directing his principal operations towards that place, or...
97From James Madison to James Monroe, 6 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
I recd. last evening your favor of the 4th: with a subsequent note covering a letter from Mr. Graham. That from Duane, referred to as inclosed, was omitted. All the accts., printed & manuscript, coincide with the view given by Mr. Graham, of the Western feeling produced by Hull’s disaster. The great point is to seize it and give it proper direction. This requires one mind of the right sort,...
98From James Madison to James Monroe, 5 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
I recd. yours of the 2d. inst: last night. Your observations on the policy called for by the crisis produced by Hull’s surrender are entirely just; and I feel all the value of the aid you offer in meeting it in a proper manner. Both before & since our parting conversation on that subject, the idea has been revolved in the hope that some shape might be given to it worthy both of your standing...
99From James Madison to James Monroe, 1 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
The letter from Acheson, should be known in some of its contents. I inclose it to you for reasons on the face of it. I inclose also the letter from Gilbert Taylor, as a memento to the letter you are to write to the Govr. of Tennessee, on the subject of the illegal enterprize on foot in that State. We are so far well on our way. Yrs. RC ( DLC : Monroe Papers). JM probably enclosed the 25 Aug....
100From James Madison to James Monroe, [11 March] 1812 (Madison Papers)
It has so happened that the above &c did not come to my knowledge till the arrival of the bearer. I return them with regret for the hurry. Mr. P. did not come to dinner with me owing as I presume to the late hour of our separation. I concur in the idea you express. RC ( DLC : John Henry Papers). Undated; in JM’s hand, written at the foot of Monroe to JM, 11 Mar. 1812 . Date assigned here on...
101From James Madison to James Monroe, [13 September] 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. your favor of this date. I need not express the perfect confidence I feel in the friendly & considerate inducements to your suggestion. But having made definitive preparation for the intended visit; having in no instance omitted it for many years, & the motive being strengthened by the late one recd. by myself, I think the omission, if tested by prudential calculations of a...
102From James Madison to James Monroe, [6 September] 1811 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Hamilton from the John Adams reached me yesterday. He reposes to day, and will be with you tomorrow. I send by the bearer, the dispatches opened at the Dept. of State &c. The packets of less importance Mr. H. will take with him tomorrow. The Secy of the Navy you will observe suggests the disclosure of the intelligence recd. from Mr Russel. An abstract of the matter in the letter to Mr....
103From James Madison to James Monroe, 23 August 1811 (Madison Papers)
I ascribe to the heat of the weather my not having yet had the pleasure of your promised visit. We hope when the obstacle is removed that we shall have the gratification increased by the company of Mrs. Monroe. Among the papers now forwarded is another note from Mr. F. His late ones breathe a spirit which it is difficult to account for without the painful supposition that he believes it not...
104From James Madison to James Monroe, 15 August 1811 (Madison Papers)
Among the papers herewith inclosed are letters from the Govt. at Santa fee, and among these one to the French Minister at Washington inclosing another to the Minister of Foreign relations at Paris. In opening the general packet addressed to the Executive, that for Serrurier was so involved as to be opened unintenti[on]ally at the same time. The more important one for Paris escaped this...
105From James Madison to James Monroe, 11 August 1811 (Madison Papers)
I snatch the opportunity by the bearer of yours of this date, to send to the Ct. House for the next rider who does not call here, the line you request in answer. As the report alluded to is erroneous as I supposed it to have been, a contradiction seemed to be due to the manner in which it was given to the public. Mr. Gales you will see has undertaken one which will probably be sufficient....
106From James Madison to James Monroe, 2 [August] 1811 (Madison Papers)
I just find by the letters from W. that you had at length been liberated from your detention there. Mr. Graham having left the packet for you unsealed, I have glanced over the papers relating to Grassin & the letters of Foster. I am glad to find that the Owner of the Privateer, domicil[i]ated here, is taken in hand. There can be no legal difficulty I presume in dealing with him. Foster seems...
107From James Madison to James Monroe, 2 April 1811 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ I have expressed a hope that you would leave Richmond before a Commission of Secretary of State, could reach it, yet as it may have happened otherwise, & as it may be agreeable to you to have it previously in your hands, I now inclose the document as just compleated. There is the less objection to this step, as in case it should pass you on the road, another can readily be made out on...
108From James Madison to James Monroe, 31 March 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure this moment of receiving yours of the 29th. inst: I am particularly glad to find that you will be able to set out at so early a day for Washington. To the advantage of preventing an inconvenient chasm in the public business, will be added the opportunity of a provident attention to the accomodations required by your establishment here. The House occupied by Mr. Smith is the...
109From James Madison to James Monroe, 26 March 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 23d. and learn with much pleasure that you are not disinclined to the Station wch. the one answered by it, presented to your consideration. In discharging the duties of this Station, I am aware that the Functionary must carry into it, a just respect for his own principles, and above all for the dictates of his Conscience. But with the mutual knowledge of our...
110From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 March 1811 (Madison Papers)
I may perhaps consult too much my own wishes public & personal, and too little a proper estimate of yours, in intimating the near approach of a vacancy in the Department of State, which will present to your comparison, as far as lies with me, that sphere for your patriotic services, with the one in which they are now rendered. Should such a transfer of them be inadmissible or ineligible, on...
111From James Madison to James Monroe, 16 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 16 July 1810. Acknowledged in Monroe to JM, 25 July 1810 . Concerns the employment of Bizet, a French gardener.
112From James Madison to James Monroe, 16 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
If I did not misunderstand you when in Washington the Gardener Beza, was not now engaged or wanted for your service, and would not, probably, be unwilling to undertake a job for me. Should this be the case, I would ask the favor of you to send him down as soon as possible. I wish to employ him, & 2 or 3 hands under him, in preparing a piece of ground for a Garden, and to have it executed in a...