James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Richard Rush, 13 September 1815

From Richard Rush

Washington September 13. 1815

Dear sir.

Since my letter dated at 8. in the morning, it occurred to me that there might be an advantage in meeting the travellers at Baltimore if possible, in which Mr Graham and Mr Cutts both concurred. We therefore selected Mr Edward Duvall, of the navy office, who went off an hour ago in a hack with a letter from me to commodore Lewis of which the enclosed is a copy.1 We imagined that we might in all things trust to his intelligence and circumspection, and he has verbal instructions from me, given in a way open I hope to no exception, to endeavour to stop the party at Baltimore. It is now half past twelve O clock, and Mr Duvall expects to reach Baltimore by ten at night. He knows Commodore Lewis personally, and will be awake to passing him on the road. Should he fail of his object, you may be assured of our successful interposition on their arrival here. I have put nothing upon paper but what I send. Mr Forrest has not yet returned. With respectful salutations,

R. Rush.

RC and enclosure (PHi: Richard Rush Papers). For enclosure, see n. 1.

1The enclosed draft of Rush’s 13 Sept. 1815 letter to Jacob Lewis (3 pp.) declared that Joseph Bonaparte could expect no special “hospitality and protection” from JM, that the president preferred not to receive a visit from him, and that JM would “in no way … become a party to the concealment under which the stranger in question may … find it necessary or convenient to travel.”

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