9601From Thomas Mathews to James Madison, 23 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
An occurrence took place yesterday off our Capes (between Six & Ten miles) which I hold it my duty to make known to the Government. The Chesapeake Sailed from Hampton Roads yesterday for her destination; at the distance before mentioned, she was boarded by an Officer from the British Ship Leopard rated at fifty guns, and a demand made of certain Seamen. Captain Barron refused to deliver up any...
9602From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 7 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
These papers from Governor Cabell are inclosed for your perusal: I am about to answer the Governor’s letter but whether I shall be able in time for this day’s post, I do not know. if not, I will send you his letter & my answer by tomorrow’s post, with which answer I will pray you to send him the papers now inclosed, returning to me his letter Will you be so good as to direct a commission to be...
9603From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 7 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have finished my letter alluded to in the cover of Govr. Cabell’s papers, and no post is yet arrived. it therefore goes with those papers. be so good as to examine it deliberately, and make in it any corrections it may need, noting them to be that I may make correspondent changes in the copy retained. if the corrections do not deface the letter, seal and send it on returning me the Gov’s...
9604From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 9 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of yesterday was recieved in the course of the day. our post-rider has not yet got to be punctual, arriving here from 2. to 4. hours later than he should do, that is to say from 3. to 5. aclock instead of 1. I mean to propose to him that being rigorously punctual in his arrival, I will always discharge him the moment he arrives instead of keeping him till 7. aclock as the Postmaster...
9605From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I pray you to peruse & consider the inclosed letter of Governor Cabell and my answer, and to exercise over the latter the same discretion I have confided to Genl. Dearborne, returning it to me for any material correction, or forwarding it to the General if you think it will do, and by the same post, as it goes so circuitously. I suspect your difficulty with the mail lock proceeded as it did at...
9606From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your two letters without date on the subjects now to be answered. I do not see any objection to the appointment of mr Cocke as Agent at Martinique. that of a Consul at Mogadore is on more difficult ground. a Consul in Barbary is a diplomatic character, altho’ the title does not imply that. he recieves a salary fixed by the legislature; being independant of Simpson we...
9607From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers recieved yesterday. mr Erskine complains of a want of communication between the British armed vessels in the Chesapeake or off the coast. if by off the coast he means those which being generally in our waters, go occasionally out of them to cruise or to acquire a title to communicate with their Consul it is too poor an evasion for him to expect us to be the dupes of. if...
9608From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 19 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I suppose mr Gamble should be told that his opinion in favor of the appointment of a Consul General for the Danish islands being founded on the supposition of a war with England, the Executive cannot at present act on that ground. it would seem indeed that in the event of war, our agent or agents in those islands would be very important persons, & should therefore be chosen with care. I...
9609From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter to Dayton I think perfectly right, unless perhaps the expression of personal sympathy in the 1st. page might be misconstrued, & coupled with the circumstance that we had not yet instituted a prosecution against him, altho’ possessed of evidence. poor Yznardi seems to have been worked up into distraction by the persecutions of Meade. I inclose you a letter I have recieved from him....
9610From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I presume the two commissions of militia officers in the District of Columbia which you inclosed yesterday, were meant as resignations. I have sent them as such to the War office. I was misinformed as to the name of the person appointed Secretary of Orleans. altho always called Bolling Robertson it seems his name is Thomas Bolling Robertson. will you be so good as to order a new commission, &...
9611From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 25 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours without date was recieved yesterday. about 3. or 4. days ago mr Nelson called on me with a letter from Genl. Lee informing me he was summoned in the case which is the subject of your letter, & expressing his difficulties. I had never had any information of the case, it’s parties or subject, except that I had read in the newspapers some time ago that a prosecution was commenced in...
9612From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Newton’s enquiries are easily solved I think by application of the principles we have assumed. 1. the interdicted ships are enemies . should they be forced by stress of weather to run up into safer harbors, we are to act towards them as we would towards enemies in regular war in a like case. permit no intercourse, no supplies, & if they land kill or capture them as enemies. if they lie...
9613From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
There can be no doubt that Foronda’s claim for the money advanced to Lt. Pike should be repaid; & while his application to yourself is the proper one, we must attend to the money’s being drawn from the proper fund, which is that of the war department. I presume therefore it will be necessary for you to apply to Genl. Dearborne to furnish the money. will it not be proper to rebut Foronda’s...
9614From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I think with you we had better send to Algiers some of the losing articles in order to secure peace there while it is uncertain elsewhere. while war with England is probable every thing leading to it with any other nation should be avoided, except with Spain. as to her, I think it the precise moment when we should declare to the French government that we will instantly seise on the Floridas as...
9615From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 2 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The extract of a letter to Bishop Carroll I have inclosed to Genl. Dearborne. I return you judge Davies’s letter. if we meddle in the case at all, should it not be by sending the letter to the Attorney General who will know best how to prevent a conflict of jurisdictions. I inclose you the copy of a letter from Genl. Smith to mr Gallatin, communicated by the Generel to P. Carr & by him to me....
9616From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Smith’s letter of Aug. 29. & the papers it inclosed, and which are now reinclosed, will explain to you the necessity of my confirming his proposition as to the means of apprising our East India commerce of their danger, without waiting for further opinions on the subject. you will see that it throws on you the immediate burthen of giving the necessary instructions with as little delay as...
9617From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 4 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
After writing to mr Smith my letter of yesterday by the post of the day, I recieved one from him now inclosed, and covering a letter from mr Crownenshield on the subject of notifying our E. India trade. to this I have written the answer herein, which I have left open for your perusal with Crownenshield’s letter, praying you will seal & forward them immediately with any considerations of your...
9618From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned here yesterday afternoon & found, as I might expect an immense mass of business. with the papers recieved from you I inclose you some others which will need no explanation. I am desired by the Secy. of the navy to say what must be the conduct of Com. Rogers at New–York on the late or any similar entry of that harbor by British armed vessels. I refer him to the orders to Decatur as...
9619From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I return all the papers recieved in yours of the 18. & 19th. except one solliciting office, & judge Woodward’s letters, to be communicated to the Secretary at War. should not Claiborne be instructed to say at once to Govr. Folch that as we never did prohibit any articles (except slaves) from being carried up the Misipi to Baton rouge, so we do not mean to prohibit them, & that we only ask a...
9620From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers which accompanied yours of yesterday. I think the case of Capt Hewes is merely a case for a demand of indemnification from Gr. Br. and a proper acknolegement of the violation of jurisdiction. it would be a very dangerous precedent for Congress to indemnify the individual. I think it would be well for Smith to be furnished with the declaration of mr Canning only taking...
9621From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Health & weather permitting I shall set out on Wednesday without fail. if I can get off early enough I will be with you by half after three, supposed your dining hour. but knowing how difficult it is to clear out from home at any given hour, if I find I cannot be with you at half past three I shall dine at Gordon’s & beg not to be waited for. recieve for yourself & mrs Madison my affectionate...
9622From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you a letter from the Ex-basha of Tripoli. had we not better be done with this man by giving him a plain answer stating the truth & sending him the extracts from our instructions, by which he will see that if our agent engaged any thing beyond that he went beyond his powers, and could not bind us. nothing short of this can clear us of his sollicitations. we might go further and promise...
9623From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Oct. 7. was recieved on the 11th. and remains as you desired, within my own breast. I had a considerable time before proposed the place to Colo. L. Smith, & recieved his acceptance by the same post which brought your letter. I acknolege at the same time that I should have had some qualms of conscience excited by my attachment to the college on one side, & to yourself on the other.—we...
9624From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 6 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers on Clarke’s claim, which indeed I have not considered with all the attention which should be done were this an ultimate decision but my first impression is that the claim ought to be rejected. It is clearly a claim for money, not for land. The Commrs. of N.Y. were constituted a special court of justice to distribute the 30,000. D. of Vermont according to right, & they...
9625From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 8 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed act of Michigan, tho’ dated Jan. 30. 07. did not get here till the last Congress had risen. it seems merely occasional, & the occasion passed over. I think therefore it is not worth communicating singly to Congress. perhaps they will send their collection to be communicated, which will embrace this. in the mean time this may be filed in your office. MHi : Coolidge Collection.
9626From William Crawford to James Madison, 20 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The preceding address is now transmitted thro’ you to the president of the United States in consequence of the following resolution carried at a meeting held by the Democratic citizens of the county of Adams in Gettysburg upon Monday the 15th. Febry. instt. Resolved unanimously that a committee of five be appointed to draft an address to the General government on the present critical situation...
9627From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I suppose we must dispatch another packet, by the 1st. of Apr. at farthest. I take it to be an universal opinion that war will become preferable to a continuance of the embargo after a certain time. should we not then avail ourselves of the intervening period to procure a retraction of the obnoxious decrees peaceably if possible? an opening is given us by both parties sufficient to form a...
9628From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Notes on the British claims in the Missipi territory. 1803. Mar. 3. act of Congress gave to Mar. 31. 1804 to exhibit their claims or grants 1804. Mar. 27 do. gave to Nov. 30. 1804. & allowed transcripts instead of originals Etc. 1805. Mar. 2. do. gave to Dec. 1. 1805 to file their grants. & in fact to Jan. 1. 1807. time when the sale might begin. 1807. Dec. 15. the British claimants...
9629From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Notes on such parts of Foronda’s letter of Apr. 26. 08. as are worth answering. I. I know of no recent orders to Governor Claiborne as to the navigation of the Misipi, Yberville & Pontchartrain. he should specify them. but he may be told that no order has ever been given contrary to the rights of Spain. these rights are 1. a treaty right that ‘the ships of Spain coming directly from Spain or...
9630From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of the 11. 15. & 16. came to hand last night. the request of Turreau to be allowed a vessel to carry home another cargo of French citizens is admissible according to our former practice, only observing that the size of the vessel be proportioned to the number of passengers. I think also that Michaux, the botanist, may be allowed to go in our vessel, on the known usage of civilized...