1To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 2 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to inform you of my arrival in this City last night, having been appointed by His Britannic Majesty to succeed Mr. Merry as Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States. I take the liberty to request to be informed at what time I may have the Honor to present to you the Copy of my Credentials, & to have an audience of the President. With the highest...
2To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 25 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose to you for the Information of the Government of the United States, the Copy of a Note which was by His Majesty’s Command delivered by Lord Howick His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Ministers of Friendly and Neutral Powers resident at the Court of His Majesty relative to the Measures which His Majesty has found it necessary to adopt...
3To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 27 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit to you herewith Copies of several Papers relative to an Extraordinary Outrage committed by the Commander of the American Schooner Enterprize by ordering Thomas Grant, a British Seaman employed in His Majesty’s Transport Service in the Mediterranean, to be tied to the Gangway and to receive Twelve Lashes on the bare back; and I have it in Command from His Majesty to...
4To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 13 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
Permit me to have the Honor of introducing to you Mr W. Penn, the Bearer, who is a Descendant of the Founder, & Son to Mr. Penn His Majesty’s Governr. in former times of the State of Pennsylvania. I have had no late letters from England; but do not doubt the truth of the last news from thence. With great Respect & Re gard, I remain Dr Sir Your’s Faithfully Mrs. E. joins me in best regards to...
5To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 26 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 20th. Inst. enclosing Copies of authentic documents concerning Frederick Porter, Jos Wixson Junr. & John Cornell, American Citizens, who are stated to have been impressed into His Britannic Majesty’s Ships, Cambrian, Indian & Bermuda, and Requesting my Interposition to procure their Discharge. I shall accordingly take the...
6To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 11 June 1807 (Madison Papers)
In Compliance with your Request contained in your Letter to me of the 11th: of March last, I wrote to Admiral Berkeley Commander in Chief of His Majesty’s Ships on the Halifax Station to inquire into the Facts stated in the inclosed Protest made by the Master and other Persons belonging to the Schooner Morning Star of Providence. I have just received an Answer from the Admiral informing me...
7To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 13 June 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your letter of the 1st. & 9th. of June, requesting my Interposition to procure the Discharge of certain Seamen, stated to be Citizens of the United States, & to have been impressed on board His Majestys Ships, John Covel, & Phineas Le fevre on board His Majesty’s Ships, Cambrian, & Melampus Joseph West on board the Osprey, supposed to be on the...
8To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 26 June 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to inform you that His Majesty has judged it expedient to reestablish the most rigorous Blockade at the entrances of the rivers, Ems, W eser & Elbe inclusive, in consequence of the present position of the Enemy, on the Continent which enables him to command the Navigation of those r ivers. I have also the Honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 23d. Inst....
9To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 10 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Erskine presents his Complts. to Mr. Madison, and requests the Favor to be informed whether the Communications between His Majesty’s Minister & Consuls, and the Senior Officer of His Majesty’s Ships, now lying in Hampton Roads, is intended to be interdicted, by the President’s Proclamation of the 2d. of July. DNA : RG 59-NFL-Notes from Foreign Legations, Great Britain.
10To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 13 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
In the present critical Posture of Affairs which has resulted from the late unfortunate Encounter between His Majesty’s Ship Leopard and a Frigate of the United States (Chesapeak) I conceive it to be my Duty to have the Honor to make the following Representation to the Government of the United States. That I have continued to receive up to the present Time, constant Assurances, by His...
11To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 16 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 13th. containing additional Documents respecting T. White stated to be a Citizen of the United States detained on board His Majesty’s Ship Elephant. I will immediately forward them to the Admiral commanding on the Station where His Majesty’s Ship Elephant is supposed now to be. I have the Honor to be, with great Respect and...
12To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 16 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
In Compliance with your Request in your Letter of the 15th: Inst. I have the Honor to inclose a Passport for a Vessel about to carry some Dispatches from the Government of the United States to Gibraltar and Leghorn. Blanks are left for the Names of the Vessel and Master, as you desired. I avail myself of this Opportunity to have the Honor to inform you that I have just received an Answer from...
13To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 7 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
The serious Inconveniences to His Majesty’s Service which have arisen from the Interruption of the Intercourse between His Majesty’s Servants accredited to the United States and the commanding Officers of His Majesty’s Ships off the Coast of the United States have induced me to take the liberty of again requesting you to lay the Subject before the Government of the United States for their...
14To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 12 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to inform you, that Captn Sir T. M. Hardy, the Senior Officer of his Majesty’s Ships off the Chesapeak does not consider himself justified, in adopting the Mode of Communication with His Majesty’s Minister & Consuls in the United States, by a Flag of Truce. I request therefore the favor to be informed, whether His Majesty’s Ships which may enter the Harbors or Waters of the U....
15To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 12 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
One of His Majestys Ships having taken a piratical Vessel with three Captains of different Nations Commanding her, one named Alexander Tardy, having a Register of American Citizenship from Charlestown, another of the name of Ross who has been advertized and a reward offered for apprehending him, by the State of South Carolina, and who also stands charged with a most atrocious Murder, on Board...
16To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 1 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 22nd. ult. respecting John Wharff, who is stated to be an american Citizen; and to have been impressed on Board his Majesty’s Sloop of War, Rattler, which is supposed to be at present on the Halifax Station. I will immediately forward the Documents enclosed in your abovementioned Letter to Vice Admiral Berkely, Commander in...
17To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 8 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 21st: ultimo in which you communicate to me what you had before done verbally from the President, "That all Dispatches to and from His Majesty’s Ships off the Coast continuing or coming within the Waters of the United States in hostile Opposition (as you are pleased to term it) to the publick Authority must pass under a Flag of...
18To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 14 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that I have received a Letter, dated Halifax September 1st. from Vice Admiral Berkeley, Commander in Chief of His Majesty’s Ships on the Halifax Station, in which he has communicated to me the Result of a Court Martial, which has been lately held on Thomas Wilson, alias Jenkin Ratford, one of the Deserters from His Majesty’s Ships, who were taken out of the...
19To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 18 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to forward to you, several Documents, which I have received respecting some Seamen, whose discharge I had requested from Vice Admiral Berkeley, at your Desire, on the grounds of their having been Stated to be Citizens of the United States, and as having been impressed and detained on Board His Majesty’s Ships. I also trouble you with an Extract of a Letter from Mr. James...
20To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 18 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to request the serious Attention of the Government of the United States to a Case of the most gross Violation of the Law of Nations; & of Insult to His Majesty, by a Citizen of the United States & an Inhabitant of this Town of Philadelphia, (W. Duane) who having by the most dishonorable Means, obtained Possession of certain Dispatches on His Majesty’s Service, from The Hon: G....
21To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 21 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ I cannot doubt that the Government of the United States have already received from their Ministers in London a Copy of the inclosed Note from Mr. Canning to Mr. Munroe yet I have the honor now to transmit one, lest any accident might have prevented its being before received. With Sentiments of the highest Respect & Consideration, I have the Honor to be Sir Your obedient humble servant...
22To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 31 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
Upon referring to the Papers respecting the Accident which caused His Majesty’s Cutter Zenobia to be driven on Shore, I find that it happened about Twelve Months ago, and that She was stranded about Twenty Five Miles to the Southward of Cape Henry, where she now remains notwithstanding some partial Attempts by some of His Majesty’s Ships to get her afloat. I beg Leave to repeat my Thanks on...
23To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 6 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit to you an Extract of a Letter from Captain Sir Robert Laurie Bart, respecting some British Seamen, Deserters from His Majesty’s Service, stated to be now serving on board the United States Frigate Chesapeake; and beg to request that the Government of the United States will cause such Steps to be taken as may be thought proper on the Occasion. I have the Honor to...
24To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 9 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Erskine will have the honor of waiting upon Mr. Madison on Saturday next. NN .
25To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 9 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit to you by His Majesty’ Commands a Statement of the Losses sustained by Mr. John Hurst Merchant of the City of London in Consequence of the Neglect of the Post Office at Charleston, South Carolina, and to request the interference of the Government of the United States in procuring for him such Redress as the Justice of his Case may require. In conformity with the...
26To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 14 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 8th: Instant containing Documents respecting Three Seamen stated to be American Citizens detained on Board His Majesty’s Ship Statira and requesting my Interposition to procure their Discharge. I have accordingly forwarded the Depositions concerning the Men named in the Margin to Captain Bromley of His Majesty’s Ship Statira, with a Request...
27To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 25 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
In compliance with your Request contained in your Note of the 22d. Inst I have the Honor to transmit Passports for the two American Vessels, the Brig St. Michaels Captain Kenyon Master in Ballast bound from Baltimore to L’Orient and Falmouth; and the Ship Leonidas Captain McKensie Master, from the Powtomac to Algiers, laden with Military, and Naval Stores to be delivered to the Algerine...
28To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 13 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to forward to you by Command of His Majesty’s Government a Copy of a Letter from the Commissioners of His Majestys Navy Board to the Secretary of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, respecting certain Stores therein enumerated & valued, supplied to Ships in the Service of the United States which have not been paid for. I have the Honor also to inclose Copies of the...
29To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 14 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose to you a Copy of the Commission by which His Majesty has been pleased to appoint Archibald MacNeil Esqr. to be Consul for the Province of Louisiana, & beg Leave to request that you will be pleased to cause the Exequatur to be made out to entitle him to perform his official Functions in that Territory, by Permission from the Government of the United States. With...
30To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 14 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to inform you that His Majesty’s Government have sent Orders to the Lieut. Governor of Gibraltar to grant immediate Relief in the Cases mentioned in the inclosed Letter of Mr. Pinkney to Mr. Canning. The Lieut. Governor, it appears acted upon a mistaken opinion Respecting His Majesty’s late orders in Council & no Time was lost by His Majesty’s Government in stating to that...
31To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 14 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Erskine presents his Compts. & best Respects to Mr. Madison, begs Leave to apologize for the Delay which has occurr’d in answering his Letters, which has been occasion’d by Mr. Erskine’s having been absent from Home for a Week at the Time they were received. DNA : RG 59-NFL-Notes from Foreign Legations, Great Britain.
32To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 21 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
Having just received from Sir James Craig, the Governor in Chief of His Majesty’s Provinces in N. America the Details of a Transaction which has taken Place at Niagara, which might in its Consequences seriously affect the Harmony and good understanding between His Majesty’s Provinces of Canada & the Adjacent Territories of the United States, I have the Honor to request your early Attention to...
33To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 19 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have taken the Liberty to forward under Cover to you, a Dispatch for H. M. Government, as you were so good as to say a Gentleman would take Charge of it, as also a Letter, to go by the St. Michael; the Vessel which has been hired by the Government of the U. S. for the Purpose of carrying Dispatches to Great Britain & to France. I beg Leave to repeat my Thanks for your obliging offer upon the...
34To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 23 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
In Compliance with your Request, contained in your Letter to Me of the 15th. Inst, I have had the Honor to forward to Mr. Gallatin, the Secretary of the Treasury, a Passport for a Vessel, which is about to be sent by Order of the President, to the Southern Atlantic Ocean, for the Purpose of bringing away some American Seamen from the Desert Island of Trinidad, & I have at your Desire, left a...
35To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 23 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 9th. Inst. inclosing a Letter from the Post Master at New York stating on the Declaration of Captain Selliman of the Ship Thalia, which was carried into a British Port by a British Cruizer that his Letter Bag, including Dispatches from the Minister Plenipoy: of the United States at Paris to the Department of State, was taken to the Court of...
36To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 23 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
I had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 1st: Inst: inclosing a Copy of a Letter from Wm: Reeve stiling himself an Officer in the Naval Service of His Britannic Majesty and acting as prize Master to a Spanish Vessel captured by the British Frigate Hebe, to Governor Clairborne of the Orleans Territory. As it is not my Province to decide upon the Conduct of any of His Majesty’s Officers, I...
37To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 24 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit to you a Copy of a Letter which I have lately received from Sir J. B. Warren His Majestys Admiral commanding on the Halifax Station respecting an application, made by Me at your Request for the Discharge of John Ennels stated to be a Citizen of the United States detained on Board H. M. S. Recruit I consequence of Sir J. B. Warrens Letter, I propose to make an...
38To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 11 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
Information having been received by His Majesty’s Government, that Moose Island in Passamaquoddy Bay, has been occupied as a military Post by the United States, and that a Boat laden with Flour, has been violently seized, after it had touched at Deer Island, a Dependency of the Province of New Brunswick, I have therefore been commanded by His Majesty to declare that these Transactions are...
39To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 23 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
Without intending to justify the Conduct of William Reeve, stiling himself an Officer in His Majesty’s Naval Service, against whom You prefer’d a Complaint to Me for having written a Letter to Governor Clairborne of the Orleans Territory, containing Expressions reflecting upon the Government of the United States; but merely for the purpose of explaining some Circumstances which occur’d upon...
40To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 18 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to inform You that I have received a Letter from Sir Alexander Cochrane Commander in Chief of His Majesty’s Ships on the Leeward Island Station, enclosing a printed Copy of a Proclamation which he had caused to be issued, pursuant to Orders signified to him by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Admiralty, whereby the French Leeward Carribean Islands are declared in a...
41To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 13 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose to You, a Copy of a Letter from Sir John Borlase Warren, relative to William Parker, stated to have been a Citizen of the United States, and impressed on Board His Majesty’s Ship Banterer. I have the Honor to be, Sir, Your most obedt: humble Servant, DNA : RG 59-NFL-Notes from Foreign Legations, Great Britain.
42To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 31 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
In obedience to His Majesty’s Commands I have the Honor to lay before the Government of the United States, a Statement, contained in the inclosed Letter from Captn: Hamilton, Commander of His Majesty’s Packet Lord Hobart, relative to the Boarding and Detention of that Vessel by the Direction of the Commanding Officer of the United States Frigate the Chesapeake. His Majesty’s Packet being a...
43To James Madison from David Montague Erskine, 1 February 1809 (Madison Papers)
In Consequence of a Representation which I made to His Majesty’s Government, an Investigation was ordered to be made into the Circumstances mentioned in your Letter to me of the 9th: of August last, relative to certain Dispatches, addressed to the Government of the United States, which were stated to have been taken in the Ship Thalia by a British Cruizer, and that some were broken open and...