1From Thomas Jefferson to Rufus King, 10 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof, mr Louis Buchanan Smith, son of Genl. Smith now acting as Secretary of the navy, proposing to visit Europe, I take the liberty of introducing him to your civilities & services. his personal merit will do justice to any attentions you shall be pleased to shew him, & his station & prospects in life render it interesting that he should derive from his travels all the advantages...
2Thomas Boylston Adams to Rufus King, 2 June 1801 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty to enclose to your care a letter for my brother, who may possibly be in England, on his way to America, about the time this will arrive in that Country. I have been instructed by my brother, as long ago as the beginning of February, that I might draw bills upon you, to the amount of £ St g 1400, and the reason why I have not complied with his wishes, in this respect, is...
3From James Madison to Rufus King, 15 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
Your communications by Mr. Sitgreaves on the subject of the proposed conversion of the claims against the United States, under the 6th. Article of the Treaty of 1794 into a definite sum, have been duly received, and taken into consideration by the President. Although there may be good ground to contest the real justice of the amount of Debt which will be assumed by such a stipulation, yet...
4From James Madison to Rufus King, 30 June 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
30 June 1801, Department of State. Encloses letter to Samuel Williams and refers the matter of Williams’s recall to King’s attention. RC ( CSmH ); letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IC , vol. 1). RC 1 p.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by JM. Enclosed JM to Williams, 29 June 1801 .
5From James Madison to Rufus King, 23 July 1801 (Madison Papers)
Mr. William Gibson, Merchant of Charleston, south Carolina, has represented to me, that he has two appeals now depending in London from the sentences of the Vice Admiralty Court of the Bahamas in the cases of the American Ship Sally and Brig Isabella, the former owned and both of them laden in part with his property, and which the presiding Judge, Condemned for the sole reason, that Mr. Gibson...
6From James Madison to Rufus King, 24 July 1801 (Madison Papers)
My letter of the 15th. of June acknowledged the receipt of your communications of April 20 and 21st. by Mr. Sitgreaves. Your several favours received prior to that date and since, and not acknowledged complete your new series including No 36 with the addition of No 19. Having already communicated to you the decision of the President with regard to the proposed commutation of the claims against...
7From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, 28 July 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
You are, I believe, acquainted with The Reverend Mr. Mason who will deliver you this. I could not let him depart without placing him under the protection of your friendship. He is in every sense a man of rare merit . Yrs. Affect. ALS , New-York Historical Society, New York City. John Mitchell Mason became pastor of the Scotch Presbyterian Church on Cedar Street in New York City in 1793. It...
8From James Madison to Rufus King, 28 July 1801 (Madison Papers)
By the Treaty of peace, the mouth of the St. Croix is supposed to be in the Bay of Fundy. But as the Commissioners have in their decision settled the mouth of that River (called the Scoodiac) to be in Passamaquoddy Bay, at a place called Joe’s Point, it is left undetermined, to which nation the Islands in the last mentioned bay, and the passages thro’ them into the Bay of Fundy, belong. It...
9From James Madison to Rufus King, 21 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 October 1801, Department of State. Directs King’s attention to complaint of Kimball and Lord, Ipswich, Massachusetts, merchants, against British seizure of brigantine Atlas off Portugal and condemnation of its cargo, which was to be delivered to Royal Manufactory of Tobacco at Seville. Requests King to assist them in their pursuit of justice in British courts; refers him to Williams or...
10From James Madison to Rufus King, 27 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to call your attention to the enclosed letter from the Collector of New York and the protest to which it refers. The American protection, with which the unhappy seaman therein mentioned was provided, raises a presum[p]tion at least that he was one of our citizens, as his shipment at Amsterdam, a place hostile to Great Britain, discountenances the idea of his being her subject. But...
11From James Madison to Rufus King, 10 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
Notice being just given me that the Mail to be made up this evening will reach New York in time for a British Packet, I avail myself of the opportunity to inclose a Newspaper containing all that is yet published of the proceedings of the present Session of Congress, together with the message of the President. The accounts of peace have, with some interested exceptions, given the most sincere...
12From James Madison to Rufus King, 22 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
In my last of the 10th. instant, I took occasion to remark to you the extensive injury threatened to our navigation by the countervailing act of Great Britain, the inconsistency of that act, in our judgment, with the true sense of the Treaty of 1794, and the several remedies for the case which occured for consideration; among which, that of a revision of the British act, and an adjustment of...
13From James Madison to Rufus King, 2 February 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving in addition to your official communications brought by Mr. Dawson, your several private letters beginning on the 8th. Octr. & ending Novr. 5. The conduct of the British Ministry described in them has an appearance of tergiversation as disreputable as it is difficult to account for. It is possible that the change may have proceeded in part at least from the...
14From James Madison to Rufus King, 25 February 1802 (Madison Papers)
Accounts from London having reached Baltimore, that the negociation in your hands with the British Government had been broken off, Mr. Chase was led by them to ask, in the character of Agent for recovering the Maryland Bank Stock, for such information from this Department as might with propriety be furnished. My answer to him produced the letter and the extract, of which copies are herewith...
15From James Madison to Rufus King, 7 April 1802 (Madison Papers)
My last was of the 25th of February, since which yours to No 53 inclusive have been received. That of January 9 was accompanied by the Convention entered into with the British Minister on the subject of the VIth article of the Treaty of 1794. It was laid before the Senate as soon as the documents proper to be communicated along with it could be prepared; and was taken up there as soon as some...
16From James Madison to Rufus King, 7 April 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 April 1802, Washington. “I have to acknowledge several of your late private letters, which I cannot at this moment refer to by dates. It is probable that all written by you have been received; duplicates and triplicates being so, of all the originals that have come to hand. I write this particularly to acknowledge that of Jany. 12th in which you incline towards a trip into France and the...
17From James Madison to Rufus King, 30 April 1802 (Madison Papers)
I enclose a protest by Capt. Newell of the American Schooner Sea Flower, which shews that the habits of the British Commanders in impressing our Seamen have not ended even with the State of War which was made a pretext for the outrage. The spirit lately manifested by the British Government, and which the Government here is sincerely desirous to meet and to cultivate justifies our confidence,...
18From James Madison to Rufus King, 1 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your several letters to No 56 have been duly received. The Convention relating to the 6th and 7th articles of the Treaty of 1794 has at length received the sanction of the Senate, two members only dissenting, and is herewith forwarded to you under the necessary forms of ratification, to be exchanged for the British ratification. The delay in the Senate pretty certainly proceeded from...
19Enclosure: Lord Hawkesbury to Rufus King, 7 May 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the Honour to acknowledge the Receipt of your Confidential Letter of the 21st: Ultimo. It is impossible that so important an Event, as the Cession of Louisiana by Spain to France, should be regarded by the King in any other Light, than as highly interesting to His Majesty and to the United States, and should render it more necessary than ever, that there should subsist between the two...
20From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, 3 June 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been long very delinquent towards you, as a correspondent, and am to thank you that you have not cast me off altogether as an irretrievable reprobate. But you knew how to appreciate the causes and you have made a construction equally just and indulgent. In your last you ask my opinion about a matter delicate and important both in a public and in a personal view. I shall give it with the...
21From James Madison to Rufus King, 8 June 1802 (Madison Papers)
You will herewith receive a Commission giving you powers to adjust by proper stipulations with the British Government whatever remains to be decided in relation to the boundaries between the two nations. In executing the first part of this trust relating to the Bay of Passamaquody you will recur to the observations contained in my letter of the 28th of July last. I refer you also to a copy...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Rufus King, 13 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The course of things in the neighboring islands of the West Indies appears to have given a considerable impulse to the minds of the slaves in different parts of the US. a great disposition to insurgency has manifested itself among them, which, in one instance, in the state of Virginia broke out into actual insurrection. this was easily suppressed: but many of those concerned, ( between 20. &...
23From James Madison to Rufus King, 20 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
A case has lately been stated to the Treasury Department by one of the Northwestern Collectors of the Customs, which turns on a construction of the Treaty of 1794, between the United States and Great Britain, in relation to “portages or carrying places.” I inclose a copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury to the Comptroller, which conveys the sentiments of the President on that...
24From James Madison to Rufus King, 23 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your three letters of May 3, 5 & 7 have been duly received. On the subject of the first, to wit, the refusal of Byrd, Savage and Byrd to make an advance on your requisition in favour of Mr Lenox, I find on conferring with the Secretary of the Treasury, that the rule laid down by that Department for limitting their disbursements, has been misunderstood. The rule was not meant to interfere with...
25From James Madison to Rufus King, 23 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed letter of Jacob Peterson of the American armed ship Asia and copy of the Protest of Peter Sutter chief Officer thereof, on the subject of an affair in January 1802 between the Asia and the British ship Walker of London, John Nichols, Master, are forwarded to you for the double purpose of enabling you to give any explanations which may be proper, and of leading you to aid in...
26From James Madison to Rufus King, 26 July 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
26 July 1802, Department of State. “Agreeably to a suggestion in a letter from you to Mr Elias Vanderhorst, of the 5th January last, a copy of which he has forwarded to me, you will please to pay him the sum of Twelve pounds, sixteen shillings and ten pence, and charge it to your contingent account with the United States.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IM , vol. 6). 1 p. RC offered for sale...
27From James Madison to Rufus King, 9 October 1802 (Madison Papers)
In compliance with your private letter of Aug. 5. just come to hand, I lose no time in apprizing both you & your agent Mr. Low, of the necessity you will be under of trusting to his arrangements for your passage home. Altho’ the satisfaction wch. would be felt in yielding you the accommodations of a public ship, would be aided by the oppy. it might give of introducing among our breeds of sheep...
28From James Madison to Rufus King, 16 December 1802 (Madison Papers)
Having in a private letter under Cover of one to Mr Low, of New York, communicated the result of yours on the subject of your return to the United States in a national ship, and having had nothing to add to my last several letters on other subjects, I have thus long delayed an Official answer to your letters numbered from 64 to 75, inclusive. I now acknowledge the receipt of them, and inclose...
29From James Madison to Rufus King, 23 December 1802 (Madison Papers)
In the latter end of last month we received information from New Orleans of the interdiction of the deposit there for our merchandize, stipulated by the Treaty with Spain; without an equivalent establishment being assigned. A copy of the Intendant’s proclamation to that effect is inclosed. Private accounts render it probable that the Governor of the Province openly dissented from that Act, but...
30From John Jay to Rufus King, 20 January 1803 (Jay Papers)
I ought to have written to you long ago, but a Series of Occurances have for two Years past, left me little Leisure for epistolary Correspondence— I allude to M rs . Jay’s long and painful Illness, and (when she appeared to be fast recovering) her unexpected Death— the Vicissitudes in my own Health— the Removal of my Family to this place, and the many things to be done for their Accommodation—...
31From James Madison to Rufus King, 29 January 1803 (Madison Papers)
My letter of the 23d. Ult. with a post[s]cript of the 3d. of this Month 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 inclose, a subsequent resolution of that branch of the Legislature. Such of...
19 April 1803, Department of State. “The sum of 17,887 50/100 dollars about to be remitted to you by the Secretary of the Treasury is intended to be applied to the several objects and in the proportions specified in the annexed estimate according to the forms of disbursing and accounting for the public monies heretofore practised. Independently of this sum, the Treasury has remitted money to...
33From James Madison to Rufus King, 27 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose an unsealed letter to Mr. Erving respecting the case of Mr. Hunter of Philadelphia and to request your co-operation in giving effect to the means of redress which it indicates, if they shall be supposed to be sufficiently encouraging to justify a recourse to them. Mr. Hunters claim ought not to be lightly passed over, when it is considered that at the time of the...
34From James Madison to Rufus King, 16 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed documents contain the case of Mr Lewis le Couteulx, whose unjust and severe sufferings in the Canadian Provinces, claim from the British Government, a liberal compensation. He was, as appears, considered and finally discharged as a prisoner of war. Had this been his real character, the rigor of his treatment, protracted for many months after the termination of the war, would form...
35From James Madison to Rufus King, 5 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
I recd. by the mail of last evening yours of the 2d. instant. I do not know that any rule has been established which requires public Ministers on their return to the U. States, to repair to the seat of Government. Where no public considerations make such a visit important, and it would be inconvenient to the individual, it could not be reasonably exacted as a mere tribute of respect. In your...
36From John Adams to Rufus King, 10 July 1803 (Adams Papers)
I duly received, his Britannic Majestys Declaration and the List of Papers presented to Parliament with the kind Letter you did me the Honor to write me on the twenty Second of June. With great Sincerity I thank you, Sir for this instance of your polite Attention to me, and for a great number of others of a like kind, during your Embassy in England. I was then So Situated that I could not...
37From James Madison to Rufus King, 17 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have recd and communicated to the President your letter of the 11th. instant. Although the policy adopted by the U. States, neutralizes, of course, their relation to such projects as that disclosed in the extracts copied into your letter, information concerning them may often be of use; and in the present case particularly is so interesting, that the President wishes you to know, that your...
38From James Madison to Rufus King, 4 [December] 1803 (Madison Papers)
I cannot better fulfill the object of the Committee of which Mr Adams is Chairman, than by inclosing you his letter to me explaining it. Writing from my house, where a copy cannot be conveniently taken, I am induced to avoid delay, by sending you the original, which I ask the favor of you to return with your answer. With great esteem I remain Yr. mo. obed. Servt RC and Tr of enclosure ( NHi :...
39From James Madison to Rufus King, 18 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have rec’d. & communicated to the Committee of the Senate the information contained in your favor of the 9th. which clearly shews that the Convention of May 12, with G. B is not to be construed by any reference to that of Apl. 30. with France. I am mortified at troubling you on a subject which more than any other, is in itself unworthy the attention of either of us, but which is obtruded on...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Rufus King, 17 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the M.S. history of Bacon’s rebellion with many thanks for the communication. it is really a valuable morsel in the history of Virginia. that transaction is the more marked as it was the only rebellion or insurrection which had ever taken place in the colony before the American revolution. neither it’s cause nor course have been well understood, the public records containing...
41From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, 24 February 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
You will have heared, before this reaches you, of the fluctuations and changes which have taken place in the measures of the reigning party, as to a candidate for Governor; and you will probably have also been informed that pursuant to the opinions professed by our friends, before I left New York, I had taken an open part in favour of Mr. Lansing. It is a fact to be regretted, though...
42From James Madison to Rufus King, 29 March 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 March 1804, Washington. “On the receipt of yours of I put it into the hands of Mr. Gallatin, in order to obtain the information which it asks. Mr. Gallatin tells me that he will make the proper enquiry, and write you the result himself.” Refers King to Gallatin’s letter. RC ( NHi : Rufus King Papers). 1 p.; docketed by King as received 4 Apr. An attached note reads: “R. King’s Accounts with...
43From James Madison to Rufus King, 24 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
An occasion has occurred, in relation to a demand set up by the proctors, who have conducted the American suits, in London, on account of captures, to request the favor of your stating how far they are supported in it by any promise made by you. It seems that suitors in the prize-courts have a right to cause their proctor’s bills to be taxed, which produces a deduction, supposed to average...
44From James Madison to Rufus King, 13 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 29th. ult. enclosing one to the Auditor which was handed to him. The President having directed that your charges for presentation and Christmas presents and for stationary be admitted to your credit in the books of the Treasury, the letter of which a copy is inclosed was transmitted to the Auditor as his guide. The enclosed extract from the...
45From James Madison to Rufus King, 4 December 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 25th. Ulto. inclosing one to you from Mr. Vansittart; which I now return as you requested, after having submitted it to the Perusal of the President. As it is of importance to understand the way of thinking in Great Britain with respect to Spanish America, and what the Government there does not at this particular time mean to undertake, as well as what under...
46From James Madison to Rufus King, 17 January 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Rufus King. 17 January 1806, Department of State. “I request the favor of you to peruse the enclosed letters from Mr. Hargrave, and give me your opinion respecting the justice and amount of any pecuniary claim he may have for the services he States that he rendered.” RC ( NHi : Rufus King Papers); letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 15). RC 1 p.; in Wagner’s hand, signed by JM . On...