1From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 1 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have been favored with yours of the 25th of Feby. in answer to mine on the subject of the papers in your hands relating to the Ship business of the Legation of the United States at Paris. As it is a task which you can best perform, I request the favor of you to select the papers which may be most properly returned to Paris, and send them to Mr. Gelston to be forwarded to Genl. Armstrong: and...
2From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 6 June 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 June 1802, Department of State. Introduces the bearer, Captain Johnson, who goes to Paris to prosecute the claim of Mr. Dunlap, an Alexandria merchant, against France. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IM , vol. 6). 1 p.
3From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 13 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ I have been very tardy in acknowledging your favors of Jany. 17 & 24th. and the very valuable present from Mrs. E. Livingston, I am not the less sensible of them. I pray you to tender her in my behalf, my sincerest thanks for such a token of her kindness. The cloth has been highly admired both for the manufacture, of which she has the merit, and for the material which affords a specimen...
4From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 7 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed extract of a letter from Mr. Lear to Le Clerc the General in Chief at St. Domingo and of another from the latter to him, will explain an outrage against two respectable American Citizens, one of them lately an Officer in our Navy, which excites no less astonishment as a wanton departure from just principles than indignation as an insult to the United States. I inclose also the...
5From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 27 January 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 January 1802, Department of State. At the request of Senator Sheafe of New Hampshire, provides this introduction for an agent who will carry claims and documents in support of them from Sheafe to Livingston. Requests Livingston’s “favorable attention to the business.” RC ( DNA : RG 76, France, French Spoliation Claims, box 5); letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IM , vol. 6). 1 p. Sheafe’s agent...
6From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 31 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
The two last letters received from you bear date on the —— and 30th September, so that we have been now four months without hearing from you. The last from me to you was dated on the 16. day of January, giving you information of the transfer of Louisiana on the 20th of December by the French Commissioner Mr Laussat to Governor Claiborne and Genl Wilkinson the Commissioners appointed on the...
7From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 1 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
My last of which a duplicate is now sent, was of the twenty sixth day of March. I have since received yours not then acknowledged including the Dispatch of Feby 26 which came to hand two days ago. The conduct of the French Government in paying so little attention to its obligations under the Treaty, in neglecting its debts to our citizens, in giving no answers to your complaints and...
8From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a copy of the memorial of Jeremiah Lawrence and others, complaining of the capture by the French of three vessels belonging to them. It appears that they were engaged in Whaling on the coast of St Domingo, and that tho’ they had nothing on board but the necessary stores and the proceeds of their industry in the voyage, they were seized in a place called Sam Bay at...
9From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 7 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
The person to whom I committed my despatches of the 31st ult having been detained here till this time, I avail myself of the opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your two letters of October 20 & 31 which have just come to hand. I have laid them before the President, but his engagements at the present moment have permitted as yet but a very slight attention to their contents. I can...
10From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 September 1805 (Madison Papers)
The case of Mr William Lewis, whose vessel was carried into Tobago by a French Cruizer, as stated and referred to in the letter I had the honor to write to you on the 27th Octr 1803, has been since renewed to Genl Armstrong, who returns for answer, that he has neither seen nor heard any thing of it, that none of your papers have been left with him, and that Mr. Skipwith’s memory does not...
11From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 23 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd yours of the 8th. and will pay to it the attention you wish. We expect an opportunity for Genl. Armstrong about the 10th. Feby. The Vessel will sail from N. York. I mention the circumstance as this may convey the information sooner than the newspapers which are to publish it, and as you may be willing to avail yourself of the opportunity for later communications. The Embargo...
12From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 9 December 1809 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 25th Oct. afforded me much pleasure by the information it gave of the success with which you prosecuted your plan of enlightening your countrymen on the subject of sheep & wool, and of aiding them in the manner of increasing & improving both. I sincerely wish your example may be duly felt in all the states adapted to those objects, and I believe this is the case with all that...
13From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 1 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
Mr Stephen Girard, a respectable Merchant of Philadelphia, intending to send his Agent, Mr Robert Peter Branu, to Paris in order to solicit payment for some claims he has upon the French Government, has requested that the circumstance might be mentioned to you, with a view to bespeak your aid and countenance to him, as far as it may be requisite and compatible with usage and the nature of the...
14From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 16 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your two favours of the 10, continued on the 12th Decr., and of the 31 of the same Month, have been duly received, as were the two of preceding dates written on your arrival at Nantz and L’Orient. We are anxious to know the result of your communications with the French Government on the subject of restitutions, both as to the rules by which they are to be settled, and the prospect of their...
15From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, 2 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
You will herewith receive a Commission and letters of Credence, one of you as Minister Plenipotentiary, the other as Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, to treat with the Government of the French Republic, on the Subject of the Mississipi, and the Territories Eastward thereof, and without the limits of the United States. The object in view is to procure by just and satisfactory...
16From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 26 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
My last was of the 16th. instant to which I have nothing new to add on American claims, but to repeat our anxiety to learn the result of your proceedings on that subject. I have received yours of Jany 13th. with the papers to which it refers. The copy of the Treaty between France and Spain has been republished as you will find in the National Intelligencer of this City, from a Paris Gazette....
17From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 6 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
My last was of July 29th. written a few days before my departure for Virginia, whence I returned as did the President ten or twelve days ago. Your letters received since that date are of May 20. June 3. & 25. July 11. 12 & 30th. In the reply to the communication made by the French Government on the subject of the war, you are charged by the President to express the deep regret felt by the...
18From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, 18 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
The reasonable and friendly views with which you have been instructed by the President to enter into negociations with the French Government justify him in expecting from them an issue favorable to the tranquillity and to the useful relations between the two Countries. It is not forgotten however that these views, instead of being reciprocal, may find, on the part of France, a temper adverse...
19From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 11 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
I recd. from the hand of Col. Livingston your favor of Novr. 23. His return having been unexpectedly sudden, I could not conveniently then acknowledge it, and in the hope that I might be enabled by procrastination to communicate some thing or other sufficiently interesting on our public affairs, I have arrived at a very late date, and without the advantage of making any amends for it. We have...
20From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 23 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
Since my last which was of the 18th day of January, I have received your several letters of the 11th and 14th November, 1802. As you will receive this from the hands of Mr. Monroe, I refer to him for full information relative to our internal affairs generally, and in particular to the violation of our right of deposit at New Orleans, with the impressions and proceedings which have resulted...
21From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 24 Ult: has lain longer by me without an acknowledgt. than I intended. One cause of the delay was an omission to address myself to the Auditor instead of the Sey. of the Treasy. and his taking some little time in the crowd of business, to prepare the inclosed note on the subject of your accts. which contains all the information I can now give. I have myself recd frequent...
22From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 8 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I dropt you lately a few lines on the subject of Jerome Bonaparte’s expected marriage to a young lady of Baltimore. The affair was afterwards apparently broken off, but has since been compleated; and that letter has been forwarded. In order to ensure your receipt of the substance of it (no copy having been kept of the original) it is wished by the friends of Mr. Patterson the father of the...
23From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 5 July 1805 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 29 Ulto. was duly handed to me by Mr. Townsend. I congratulate Mrs. Livingston & yourself on your safe arrival, and the shortness of the passage. Your trip up the river was but a reasonable preliminary to your Visit to Washington, and was advised also by the approaching departure of the President, which will take place in 8 ⟨or⟩; 10 days. Mine will be a few days before or...
24From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 5 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
Having written to you some time past, that the papers respecting the claim of William Lewis were not in the possession of the Legation at Paris, you were good enough to promise that you would review your papers, in order to separate such as related to unfinished business of individuals, which it was your intention to forward to Genl. Armstrong. An application lately made respecting Lewis’ case...
25From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 30 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
I lost no time, after the receipt of your letter requesting a passport for Col. Livingston, in forwarding that document to Mr. Juhel ; and found it very convenient to add to it duplicates of letters for Genl. Armstrong & Mr. Bowdoin, the original of which had just been dispatched by another conveyance. Your preceding letter was recd. also in due time. I thought it most proper not to answer it...
26From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 29 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
Mr Fitzsimons of Philadelphia, on behalf of those interested in the ship New Jersey has requested me to recommend their case to your attention. This vessel was condemned in the course of the late war by an Agent of France residing at the City of St Domingo and it is the expectation of the applicants by obtaining a revocation of the condemnation to qualify their claim for adjustment by the...
27From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 27 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
One of the inclosed Memorials, respecting claims which are made upon the French Government for bills drawn by its Agents in St Domingo and which remain unpaid, having been presented to the Senate, its subscribers had leave to withdraw it, and with the other, which has never been preferred to Congress, has now been brought before the Executive, with a view to a referrence of the subject to your...
28From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 31 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my acknowledgment of yours of Octr. 20. & 31. I have received those of 2, 15 & 23d. November and 11th. December. In mine of January 31. I informed you that Louisiana had been Transferred by the French Commissioner to our Commissioners on the 20th. of December, that nothing had officially passed on the occasion concerning the boundaries of the ceded Territory; but that Mr Laussat had...
29From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 3 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed you by the Revd. Mr. Toulmin of the Unitarian Sect from England, whose attachment to liberty has led him to this land of it. You will find him intelligent, and modest, and in every respect deserving the attention I solicit for him. I was lately called on by a French gentleman who said he was your neighbour, and afforded me an opportunity of dropping you a few lines which I...
30From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 29 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
Since the date of my last which was May 24 I have received your several letters of April 11. 13. & 17th and May 12th. As they relate almost wholly to the subject which was happily terminated on the 30th April, a particular answer is rendered unnecessary by that event and by the answer, which goes by this conveyance to the joint letter from yourself and Mr Monroe of the 13th of May. It will...
31From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 6 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have been lately furnished by Capt. Rodgers and Davidson, with their respective narratives of the outrageous treatment which they suffered from the French Administration at St. Domingo. These documents are now forwarded to you, and will enable you to press the subject on the French Government with the advantage to be derived from an accurate knowledge of its details. The insulting cruelties...
32From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 12 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to enclose you an application from Col. Leven Powell of Virginia, relative to a claim he makes upon the French Government for losses sustained by him about the year 1792. by reason of the stoppage, by French authority, of the Mail in which some bills of exchange in which he had an interest were passing to England; the same bills having been afterwards depreciated and paid to...
33From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 8 February 1795 (Madison Papers)
I am much obliged by your favor of the 30th. Ult. The information it gives on the subject of the Treaty is more exact on some points than any I had before received, particularly in relation to the footing on which the Posts are to be left. If Mr. Jay has really turned our exclusive right into a thoroughfare, which will in its operation be almost an exclusive right to G. Britain, it will...
34From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 7 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since the occupation of New Orleans by the United States, some occurrences have taken place, which their trivial nature would have consigned to oblivian had they not been magnified by the peculiar temper with which they have been viewed by Mr. Laussat. As this gentleman will no doubt communicate them to the French government, it seems proper that by your being given a short sketch of what has...
35From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have lately recd. a letter from Mr. Freneau, who formerly edited the National Gazette in this City, in which he tells me that he has removed from N. Jersey to N. York, and is associating himself with Mr. Greenleaf in the publication of a Daily & Biweekly papers. Having been acquainted with Mr. Freneau from our youths, and being sensible of his private worth, his literary talents, and his...
36From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
Jerome Bonaparte who came to this country with a view to a more secure passage to Europe, has been smitten, it seems, with a young lady in Baltimore, and the result is to be a marriage which will probably have taken place before this leaves the port to which it is sent. It is to be hoped that the connection will be more auspicious to the happiness of the parties, than the suddeness of it and...
37From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 11 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
The Bearer Mr. Isaac Coles is about to visit England, and will probably see Paris before he comes back to this Country. He is a young gentleman who is represented to me from the best quarters as equally estimable for his talents & his dispositions, and has the better claim on my attentions, as his family is nearly related to that of Mrs. Madison. Permit me to make him known to you & to ask for...
38From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have undertaken to forward the inclosed letter addressed to the First Consul of France, at the instance of the writer, whose letter to me manifests his compliance with the terms on which it was permitted to be inclosed under cover of this Department. I am entirely unacquainted with the individual, and do not wish it to pass to the hands of the First Consul in a manner implying the act of...
39From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, [17] December 1802 (Madison Papers)
I am induced by the very favorable information given me of the promising merits of Mr. Cabell, the young gentleman who will hand you this, to ask the favor of your friendly attentions to him. He visits France I understand partly on account of his health, but with a laudable view also to the advantage of his mind. On the supposition that he will proceed with little delay from Bourdeaux the port...
40From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 7 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose copies of a communication made to me by the Senat⟨ors⟩ from Massachusetts and of an order of the House of Representatives of the United States whence it appears that the authorities of the Island of Guadaloupe have, in two instances, forced obnoxious people of colour on board of our vessels, to be transported hither. A Bill is now depending before Congress, relative...
41From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 11 July 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 1st. instant. Your observations on Neutral rights & the means of promoting them are certainly very interesting, & will merit consideration. It is questionable however whether any leading arrangements by the U. States during the war, even in an eventual form adapted to a state of peace, would be free from the danger of entangling us too much in the present...
42From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 9 April 1802 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Latil a Frenchman by birth, but a Citizen of the U. States for near 20 years past, being about making a visit to his native Country, is desirous of being known to you. I have reason to believe that he possesses sufficient respectability and merit to entitle him to your civilities, and I therefore readily ask the favor of them in his behalf. I do it the more so as he has generally resided...
43From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 14 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed to you by Mr. Curwan who is charged with sundry claims by Mr. Stephan Gerard of Philada. against the French Republic. Mr. Gerard is a very respectable Merchant & Citizen of the U. States, and feels so strongly both the justice & importance of his claims, as to depute Mr. Curwan to Paris for the purpose of supporting them. He has expressed an anxiety also that they should be...
44From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 4 September 1801 (Madison Papers)
Information is just received that the sloop of War, the Maryland, has arrived with despatches from Mr. Murray & Mr. Dawson. By some accident the despatches, tho’ forwarded from Washington have not yet got to hand. It appears however by letters alluding to their contents, that an objection is made by the French Government to the Treaty in the form given to it by striking out the second article....
45From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 19 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
The Convention with the French Republic as finally exchanged by Mr. Murray arrived here on the 9th day of Octr last in the hands of Mr. Appleton. As the form of ratification by the French Government contained a clause declaratory of the effect given to the meaning of the Treaty by the suppression of the 2d. Article it was thought by the President most safe as a precedent to ask anew the...
46From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 1 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
You will receive by Mr. Dupont herewith a public letter on th⟨ose⟩ subjects most important in your hands. You will receive at the same time a private letter from the President in which he refers for fuller communications than he gives on the subject of Louisiana & the Floridas. I have thought it best however not to go as far into certain views of the subject as he has done, because they are in...
47From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 3 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
It has been my wish to find some specimen of manufacture within my domestic precincts worthy of being presented to your daughter Mrs. Livingston. Delay has not relieved me from the mortification of betraying the poverty of our resources, by resorting to Mrs. M’s Smokehouse; from which are forwarded a few Virginia Hams, in a The Box contains 2 dozen, & Mr. G. is requested to forward it to...
48From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 7 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
The public letters which you will receive by this conveyance acknowledge all the letters recd. from you since the date of those last written to you, except your correspondence with Mr. Monroe. This I have thought proper to acknowledge in a private letter because I have not placed it on the files of the Office. You left me free to consider the Letters which passed between you as private, and I...
49From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 18 January 1803 (Madison Papers)
My letters of Decr. 23d. and Jany. 3d. communicated the information which had been received at those dates, relating to the violation at New Orleans of our treaty with Spain; together with what had then passed between the House of Representatives and the Executive on the subject. I now enclose a subsequent resolution of that Branch of the Legislature. Such of the debates connected with it, as...
50From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 29 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
In my letter of the 7th. February I intimated that if your desire of returning to the United States required it, the letter of leave with which you were provided, though calculated for another event, might be made subservient to this purpose, and the expectation that you would charge a trust worthy person with our affairs as is usual on such occasions. Genl. John Armstrong of New York, being...