1To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 4 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 November 1803, Norfolk, Virginia. “Having arrived here this Evening from England I lose no Time in having the Honor to transmit to you inclosed Two Packets with which I was charged by Mr Munroe, the Minister from the United States to His Majesty. “Anxious to fulfil the Commands of the King my Master, who has been graciously pleased to appoint me His Minister to the United States of America,...
2To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 26 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
26 November 1803, Georgetown. “I lose no Time in acquainting you with my Arrival at this Place this Afternoon, and to request that you will be pleased to inform me when it will be agreeable to you to allow me the Honor to pay to you my personal Respects, and to deliver to you a Copy of my Letters of Credence. I have at the same Time to beg of you to take the Orders of the President of the...
3To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 27 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have received the Honour of your Letter of the 24th of this Month, respecting an Endorsement put on an American Ship’s Register by the Captain of His Majesty’s Ship Bellerophon, and touching the Blockade, declared by that Endorsement to have taken Place, of the Island of St. Domingo by His Majesty’s Squadron on that Station. I shall not fail, Sir, to give an Account to my Government by the...
4To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 9 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
Mr Merry has the Honor to present his Respects to Mr Madison. He has just had that of receiving a Note from the President of the United States of which the following is a Copy— “Thomas Jefferson asks the Favor of Mr Merry to dinner with a small Party of Friends on Monday the 13th. at Half past Three. Feby. 9. 04.” (superscribed to Mr Merry). It so happens that Mr Merry has engaged some Company...
5To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 21 February 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 February 1804, Washington. “On the day when I had the Honour to receive your Letter of the 18th Instant respecting a young Man of the Name of Alexander McEllo⟨ee⟩, stated to have been pressed out of an American Vessel into His Majesty’s Sloop Pelican, which Ship was said to be at present in Hampton Roads, a Letter had reached me from His Majesty’s Consul at Norfolk without any Advice of the...
6To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 23 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honour to lay before You the inclosed Copy of a Memorial which has been presented to Lord Hawkesbury, His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for foreign Affairs, by several of the King’s Subjects Proprietors of Land in that Part of the Territory of the United States which formerly belonged to His Majesty under the Title of the Province of West Florida, respecting an Act which...
7To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 12 April 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 April 1804, Washington. “Mr Thornton not having failed to transmit to His Majesty’s Government an Account of the Representation which you were pleased to address to him under Date of the 27th of October last Year respecting the Blockade of the Islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, it is with great Satisfaction, Sir, that I have just received His Majesty’s Commands, signified to me by His...
8To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 12 April 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 April 1804, Washington. “I have the Honour to acquaint you that I have just received a Letter from Rear Admiral Sir John Duckworth, Commander in Chief of His Majesty’s Squadron at Jamaica, dated the 2nd of last Month, in which he desires me to communicate to the Government of the United States that he has found it expedient for His Majesty’s Service to convert the Siege, which he lately...
9To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 4 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
It is very painful to me to have Occasion to trouble you on the Subject of a Violation, which has taken Place within my Dwelling by an Officer of Justice, of those Immunities which are attached to my Situation. The Privileges granted to a Foreign Minister by the Law of Nations have at all Times been held so sacred, that the smallest Infringement of them has ever been considered a Matter that...
10To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 11 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honour to transmit to you inclosed the Copy of a Letter which, though dated yesterday, has just been sent to my House by Mr Henry Suttle, the Person named in the Representation which I had the Honour to make to you on the 4th of this Month. In Consequence, Sir, of this Letter, it is now necessary that I should trouble you farther by stating that on the Day (the 2nd Inst. now Nine...
11To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 20 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honour to acknowlege the Receipt of your Letter of Yesterday’s Date, and to acquaint you, in Answer to it, that I have no other Evidence to furnish of the Violation of my Dwelling by the Officer of Justice mentioned in the Letter I had the Honour to address to you on the 4th. Inst. than that of one of my Servants, a Woman of Colour, who saw the Constable within my Dwelling at the...
12To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 6 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
Mr Merry has had the Honor to receive Mr Madison’s Note dated Yesterday. In consequence of the Desire expressed in it he transmits to Mr Madison herewith a Letter, under flying seal (which he requests may be closed before the Letter be forwarded), to the Judge of the Vice Admiralty Court at Halifax, inclosing a Copy of the Letter from Sir Evan Nepean to Mr Hammond which he had the Honor to...
13To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 16 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
Mr Merry has the Honor to present his Respects to Mr Madison. The bad Weather having prevented him from carrying into Execution his intended Journey to Philadelphia, he deems it proper to apprize Mr Madison of his Detention at Washington in case any Thing should occur on which he might wish to communicate with Mr Merry, who will have the Honor to take Mr Madison’s Orders afresh when he shall...
14To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 24 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
By the Post of Yesterday Evening I received Letters from Mr Barclay, His Majesty’s Consul General at New York, acquainting me with the Arrival at that Port of His Majesty’s Ships Cambrian and Driver, and transmitting to me Copy of a Letter (a Transcript of which I have the Honor to inclose) which had been addressed to him by the Mayor of New York requiring that His Majesty’s said Ships should...
15To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 28 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
In the Answer which I have had the Honor to receive from you under Date of the 25th. Instant, to the Representation which I had addressed to you on the preceding Day on the Subject of the Detention of His Majesty’s Ships Cambrian and Driver in the Port of New York by the prohibitory Order issued by the Mayor to the Wardens of the Port, and by the latter to the Pilots, to carry those Ships to...
16To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 8 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
The sudden Death of my Coachman this Morning, and the serious Indisposition of Two more of my Servants, rendering it impossible for me to proceed on immediately to Philadelphia, I have the Honor to acquaint you with my Detention at this Place, and that I shall certainly remain here Six Days at least. I have the Honor to be, with high Respect and Consideration, Sir, Your most obedient humble...
17To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 13 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
Mr Merry presents his best Respects to Mr Madison. Being informed by the Note which he has had the Honor to receive from Mr Madison of the 10th. Instant that Two Letters from the Department of State had been addressed to him at Philadelphia since his Departure from Washington, he thinks it right to acquaint Mr Madison that only One of those Letters (being a very long one, dated 3d. July, with...
18To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 14 July 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 July 1804, Baltimore. “Mr Merry presents his best Respects to Mr Madison, and loses no Time to have the Honor of acquainting him that he received this Day, by the Post from Philadelphia, the Letter of the 7th. of this Month which Mr Madison had addressed to him at that Place.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, NFL , Great Britain, vol. 3). 1 p.; docketed by Wagner as received 17 July.
19To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 19 July 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
19 July 1804, Baltimore. “Mr Merry presents his respectful Compliments to Mr Madison, and has the Honor to acquaint him that he purposes setting out from hence for Philadelphia on Saturday the 21st. Instant.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, NFL , Great Britain, vol. 3). 1 p.; docketed by Wagner.
20To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 15 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have had the Honor to receive your Letters of the 3rd, 7th, and 23rd. of last Month, with their several Inclosures. In order to reply to them, it was necessary, Sir, for me to apply for Information on the different Subjects of their Contents to His Majesty’s Consul General at New York, and to the Captains of His Majesty’s Ships against whom the Complaints which you have stated to me are...
21To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 24 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
On the 4th. of this Month His Majesty’s Ship Leander commanded by Captain Skene fell in with at Sea the American Ship Eugenia, John Mansfield Master, from Bordeaux bound to New York. Upon the Examination of the Ship and her Cargo, Captain Skene having had strong Reason to suspect that a Part of the latter was the Property of the Kings Enemies, caused her to be detained until a judicial...
22To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 28 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
Towards the End of last Month I received an Application from Mr. Wagner requesting me to grant a Passport to General Armstrong going to Paris as Minister from the United States to the French Republic. I received Yesterday another Application from the same Gentleman, of a more important Nature, requesting a Passport for an American Ship which he has stated to be loaded with a Cargo of military...
23To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 31 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have received Information respecting several Vessels which have of late been armed in, and have sailed from, the different Ports of the United States, some loaded with Articles contraband of War (Gun-Powder is said to be the general Article) others with Cargoes of innocent Goods, and others again in Ballast. After the diligent Inquiry which it has been my Duty to make on so important a...
24To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 6 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
In the Letter which I had the Honor to receive from you of the 7th. July you transmitted to me Two Documents which were said to testify Irregularities committed by His Majesty’s Ship Driver in the Impressment of Three Passengers and a black Mariner, believed to be a Citizen of the United States, out of the American Ship Young Factor, and of the further Impressment of Three Passengers, and Two...
25To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 15 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I received a Letter from Mr. Wagner, dated the 29th. of last Month, inclosing sundry Documents said to prove that William Blake, and Samuel Robbins, or Robinson or Robertson, who were stated to be detained on board His Majesty’s Ship Cambrian, and John Holmes, said to be also detained on board His Majesty’s Ship Leander, as impressed Men, are Citizens of the United States, and, therefore,...
26To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 2 October 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 October 1804, Philadelphia. Acknowledges receipt “yesterday” of JM’s 25 Sept. letter “inclosing an authenticated Copy of a Deposition to prove that James Matthews, who appears to have been pressed into the British Service, and to have been lately on board His Majesty’s Ship Driver, is a Citizen of the United States” and requesting his discharge. “I shall lose no Time, Sir, in transmitting a...
27To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 8 October 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 October 1804, Philadelphia. “In Consequence of the Death, which has recently occurred, of Mr. Wallace, late His Majesty’s Vice-Consul for the State of Georgia, residing at Savannah, and of the Delay which must necessarily happen before the Information of this Event can reach His Majesty’s Government, and a Successor be named and arrive at his Destination, I have the Honor, Sir, to request of...
28To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 12 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit to you herewith the Copy of a Letter, and of its Inclosure, which have just reached me, containing a Detail of the Circumstances attending the British Brig Active, George Razor late Master, which had been captured, with a very valuable Cargo on board, on her Passage from Jamaica to London by a French Cruizer, and sent for Sale to New Orleans, where it is to be...
29To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 20 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have received the Honor of your Letter of the 17th. Instant informing me that heretofore British Vice-Consuls have derived their Appointments from the Consuls General, and that it had been thought proper to wait for an Intimation from me that this Course has been intentionally varied in the Case which I had the Honor to submit to your Consideration by my Letter of the 8th. of this Month...
30To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 23 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
As on the Occasion when I had the Honor to address myself to you last Year respecting the Payment of the First Installment due to His Majesty, in Consequence of the Convention concluded at London on the 8th. January 1802 between His Majesty and the United States, you were pleased to refer me, for the necessary Arrangements on this Subject to Mr. Gallatin, from its being a Matter more...
31To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 25 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 22nd. Instant, inclosing a Copy of the Deposition of William Brown, Master of the Brigantine Argus of New Haven in Connecticut, stating that his Mate Joseph Trowbridge has been impressed by the Captain of His Majesty’s Sloop Busy, to which Deposition is annexed a Certificate of the Collector of New Haven, shewing that Joseph Trowbridge is a...
32To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 9 December 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 December 1804, Philadelphia. “Although my Health is not as yet perfectly restored, I trust that I shall be able to undertake the Journey to Washington on Wednesday next, of which I have the Honor to inform you in order that you may cause your Commands to be addressed to me accordingly.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, NFL , Great Britain, vol. 3). 1 p.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by Merry; docketed by...
33To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 26 December 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
26 December 1804, Washington. “Having, as I had the Honor to inform you in my Letter of the 2d. of October , transmitted to the Commander in Chief of His Majesty’s Ships on the Halifax Station, a Copy of the Document which accompanied your Letter to me of the 25th. September respecting James Mathews, an American Citizen, who was supposed to have been pressed into his Majesty’s Service, and, to...
34To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 3 January 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
3 January 1805, Washington. “I have the Honor to transmit to you enclosed a list of the Persons composing at present His Majesty’s Mission to the United States, and of the Domestics in their Service.” RC and enclosure ( DNA : RG 59, NFL , Great Britain, vol. 3). RC 1 p.; in a clerk’s hand, except for Merry’s complimentary close and signature; docketed by Wagner. For enclosure, see n. 1. The...
35To James Madison from Anthony Merry (Abstract), 8 February 1805 (Madison Papers)
8 February 1805, Washington . “Lord Harrowby, His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, having signified to me that the King has been pleased to appoint James Wallace Esqr. to be His Majesty’s Vice-Consul at Savannah in the State of Georgia, and having instructed me to communicate Mr. Wallace’s Appointment to the Government of the United States, and to procure for him the...
36To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 23 February 1805 (Madison Papers)
The British Ship British Queen arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, in the Month of August last with Two Hundred and Fifty French Soldiers and Passengers on board. It appears that this Vessel had been captured by a French Privateer on her Voyage from Jamaica to Liverpool and had been carried to the Havana, where the Cargo was landed and sold, and that she was sent straight from thence to...
37To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 27 February 1805 (Madison Papers)
Mr Merry presents his respectful Compliments to Mr Madison, and, in consequence of the Wish which Mr Madison has expressed to him verbally, has the Honor to transmit to him inclosed a Copy of the Bill filed in the District Court of South Carolina in the Year 1799 by the Spanish Consul, to prevent the Sale of a Vessel of his Nation which had been captured by a British Cruizer and Sent into...
38To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 30 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
I had the Honor to receive yesterday Evening your Letter of the 28th: of this Month, together with the Documents referred to in it, respecting the injurious Treatment which the Master of the American Brig Cynthia has declared to have experienced from an armed Vessel, said to be His Majesty’s Sloop Curieux, and in Regard to the Impressment of Four Seamen from the Brig Betsey by another armed...
39To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 12 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 9th. of this Month, together with the Documents referred to in it, respecting the Impressment, by His Majesty’s Sloop Busy, of Martin George from the American Schooner Henrietta, of Elisha Morris and Peter Douglass from the Brig Traveller, and of several other Seamen from the Ship Manhattan, which had been detained by the same Sloop of War on...
40To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 25 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have received the Honor of your Letter of the 23d: Instant, with the Documents it enclosed, respecting the Impressment of Seth Marvine from the American Sloop Semiramis, when within the Jurisdiction of the United States, by His Majesty’s Schooner Fly, and respecting the Visiting, for the Object of Impressment, the Schooner Industry, when also within the same Jurisdiction, by another, or...
41To James Madison from Anthony Merry (Abstract), 27 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
27 April 1805, Washington. “War having been declared on the Part of His Catholic Majesty against Great-Britain on the 12th. December last, I have the Honor, Sir, to transmit to you enclosed a printed Copy of the Declaration made by the King my Master in Consequence of that Event.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, NFL , Great Britain, vol. 3). 1 p.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by Merry; docketed by Wagner, with...
42To James Madison from Anthony Merry (Abstract), 29 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
29 April 1805, Washington . “I have the Honor to transmit to you annexed the Name and Quality of an additional Servant belonging to my Family.” RC and enclosure ( DNA : RG 59, NFL , Great Britain, vol. 3). RC 1 p.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by Merry; docketed by Wagner. The enclosure (1 p.) lists Peyton Bell, an “American free Man of Colour,” as groom to legation secretary Augustus John...
43To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 17 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
Notice having been published and circulated about Four Months since throughout the United States of a Resolution, bearing Date the 21st: of November last, which had been passed by the Lieutt: Governor and Council of the Island of Jamaica, prohibiting after the Expiration of six Months from that Date the Importation of Provisions and Lumber in American or other neutral Vessels; and it having...
44To James Madison from Anthony Merry (Abstract), 28 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
28 May 1805, Washington . “When I had the Honor to reply on the 12th: of April to your Letter of the 9th: of that Month which, among other Things, related to the Impressment, by His Majesty’s Sloop Busy, of Martin George from the American Schooner Henrietta; I mentioned that I should not fail to write immediately respecting that object to the Commander of that Sloop’s Superior officer. “I have...
45To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 17 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have received the Honor of your Letter of the 14th. Instant, with the Documents which accompanied it, respecting the Impressment of sundry Seamen who belonged to the American Brig Happy Couple, and the improper Language which Captains Talbot and Beresford, commanding His Majesty’s Ships Leander and Cambrian, are stated to have held to Thomas W. Story, late Master of the Happy Couple, when he...
46To James Madison from Anthony Merry (Abstract), 24 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
24 June 1805, Washington. “I have the Honor to transmit to you enclosed the Passport which you have requested of me by your Letter of the 22d. Instant for the American Brig Washington, James Croudhill Master, loaded with naval and military Stores and Provisions for the Supply of the Squadron of the United States in the Mediterranean.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, NFL , Great Britain, vol. 3). 1 p.; in a...
47To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 30 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
Mr Merry has the Honor to present his Respects to Mr Madison, and to transmit to him inclosed Extracts of Two Letters which he received by the Mail of this Evening from the Governor of Nova Scotia, and by which he has had the Satisfaction to learn that the Effects belonging to the President and to Mr Madison have been liberated, and, if not already arrived, may be expected shortly at New York....
48To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 9 July 1805 (Madison Papers)
His Majesty’s Consul at Norfolk in Virginia has transmitted to me a Copy of a printed Notice (a Transcript of which I have the Honor to enclose) published by the Deputy Marshall of the United States for that District advertizing for Sale on the 12th. of this Month the Brigantine Transfer, which the Notice expresses to have been libelled and sold for a Breach of Blockade, informing me that he...
49To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 9 July 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit to You enclosed the Copy of a Correspondence which has taken Place between His Majesty’s Consul General at New York and the Mayor of that City on the Subject of a Breach of Neutrality which the latter Officer has allowed to take Place on the Part of a French Privateer by encreasing her Force in Guns, Ammunition and Men, in the Port of New York, where she entered...
50To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 25 July 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit to you enclosed the Copy of a Protest made by Francis Blair, late Master of the British Ship Golden Grove, stating the particulars of the Capture of that Ship on the 9th. of May last by a Spanish Privateer Schooner called the Atrevido commanded by a Person of the Name of Hooper, said to be an American, that is declared to have sailed from Hampton Road, together...