51To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 22 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have nothing to add to the letters just sent you by the way of Baltimore but the enclosed note just recieved —from this you will find that the construction given to the second article of the convention differs materially from ours & will if supported greatly narrow the ground of our claims. You will also see in it rather an evasion of the points I have pressed them upon than an answer to...
52To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 18 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have been honoured by yours of the Novr. I am pleased to find that you are Satisfied with my applications to the Government on the Subject of the debt, I am only Sorry that those applications have hitherto been unsuccessful & as far as appears will continue to be unless Some motive more efficacious than that of justice or national faith or credit is held out. To enter into the financial...
53To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 4 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd the enclosed from Mr Pinkney with directions to forward them to you after having read them, which I have but just had the leisure to do as the gent who is to carry them sets off directly. They contain the only direct intelligence on the subject of our affairs in Spain that I have recd. Mr. Pinkneys letters to me having never reached me. Tho the conveyance by which you will...
54To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 19 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I left Paris the 12th of last month upon a visit to England & returned on the 15th of this; I chose this time to avail myself of the President’s permission long Since obtained, not only for the reasons mentioned in my former letters, but because I knew that the whole attention of the Ministers being engrossed by the new arrangement[s] that were making no business of any Sort could be done; I...
55To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 14 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
In addition to my last (duplicates enclosed) I have obtained accurate information of the offer to Spain. It is either to sell them Parma for 48 millions of Livres or to exchange it for Florida. You see by this the value they put on Florida. I fear Spain will accede to their proposition. Lord Witworth is arrived. The affairs of Switzerland are in a train to be settled as France thinks proper...
56To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, [14] March 1802 (Madison Papers)
I yesterday recieved the duplicate and triplicate of your letter of the 19th. december last the original not having come to hand. This is the first and only letter I have been honored with from you since my arrival. I immediately sent one of the copies of the Presidents proclamation to the Minister of Foreign Relations with the enclosed note no. 1. I had before anticipated the inconveniences...
57To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 15 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
After closing my packet I recd the note of which the within is a copy. It amounts to nothing, but it must serve to keep me quiet a few days longer—till they see what turn the business takes at Amiens which becomes more & more doubtful. The bad news from St Domingo also renders it necessary to keep us in suspence. I have already expressed my fear that American property in the Islands will not...
58To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 11 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have not yet been honoured by any of your favors of later date than 29th of August. I informed you in my last of the reasons that would determine to give in the guarantee promised by Mr Monroe, & the rather as the delay of the arrival of the ratification, & the consequent disappointment in the money arrangements expected from it had increased the I had to contend with by my refusal. Mr...
59To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 30 January 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have just sent my Letters by a private hand to Havre. This may overtake them & inform you that Bonaparte is chosen president of the Cisalpine republic, & has accepted for as long a time as his services may be necessary. The constitution is not yet known. The presidentcy is either for life or for 20 years, I believe the latter. However disagreeable this may be to the great powers, they will...
60To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 18 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
I sent dispatches a few days ago to Havre in expectation of their going by a vessel that left it for Philadelphia, but they arrived too late, duplicates were sent to go by a vessel bound to New York. You will therefore I fear have originals & duplicates by the same vessel, this compels me to send triplicates by this conveyance. You will see that on the subject of New Orleans the answer to my...
61To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 15 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have only within these few days been honoured by your letter to me of the 29th July by way of Hamburgh together with one of the Same date to Mr Monroe, which I have Sent to him by Mr an American Gentleman, by the way of holland; none more direct offering from here as the intercourse is very Strictly forbidden. I Shall make the communication you direct of Mr Pichon’s note & your reply...
62To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 28 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
Since my last I have acquired information which I can depend on relative to the intentions of this government with respect to Louissiania. Bernadotte is as I told you to command C to be 2d in command Addet is to be prefet—but the expedition is delayed till about sepr. on account ( as Tallerand expressed himself to Bernadotte ) of some difficulty which he did not explain —but which I have no...
63To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 20 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have reflected much upon the state of our affairs with respect to the Floridas. My sentiment still is as it always has been that we should not hesitate to take possession of West Florida and act as if no doubt could be entertained of our title. Once in possession France would find it necessary to make Spain acquiesce in it as it would be very repugnant to her interest at this time to suffer...
64To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 23 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
I am now to reply to your favor of 29th adressed Jointly to Mr Monroe & myself. A letter which affords me the highest Satisfaction in assuring me of the President’s approbation of the Treaty, about which I had felt much anxiety from the long time that your letter was in reaching me, & from my having heard nothing from the Government thro’ any other channel. The reasons you assign for not...
65To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 15 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
I mention[ed] in my last the existence of an assassination plot it has at present assumed a very [im]portant aspect I have thro a lady intimately connected with the family of the first consul who has the means of information and upon whom I can depend [as] well as thro another channel of great respecta[b]ility the following facts not yet known in Paris tho they must soon be Joly the aid de...
66To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 31 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have so lat[e]ly written to you that I have little to add but what is contained in my letters to you & one to the president which he will communicate to you. I enclose a letter which I send by this conveyance to Mr. King (this going round by England) which I hope you will approve. This business of Luissania is very disagreeable as far as I can learn to Spain, if it should be equaly so to...
67To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 13 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
The measures of the Commissioners exciting the utmost uneasiness & dissatisfaction among the creditors here, & as I doubt not that it will be extended to those of the United States & afford ground to improper Speculations upon their debts, I have been anxious to afford you a just view of the probable amount of the demand: In this, I had hoped to have been aided by Mr Skipwith whose duty it...
68To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 17 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Petry having been detained, I have an opportunity to give you a relation of what has passed Since my letter of the 13th. On the 14th I called upon Mr Munroe to present him to the Minister who had upon my application fixed 3 O’clock that day for his reception. Before we went we examined our Commission in which there are two circumstances with which I am not quite Satisfied—one indeed of...
69To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 10 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
I arrived here after a fatiguing journey, of near four hundred miles, on the evening of the 3d. inst. I sent Mr. Sumter the next day to the minister of foreign affairs, to inform him of my arrival & to request an audience; which he gave me the next day. On the 6th. I had my public audience from the First Consul, to whom I presented my letter of credence & the address (a copy of which is...
70To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, 16 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
We have the honor to inclose the account which Should be annexed to the Convention transmitted you. The Bordeaux embargo is in Assignats, and two thirds will be deducted from many of the others. We have reason to think from a particular account now in our hands there will be Such considerable deductions as will reduce the whole charge to less than 20 millions of livres including the interest....
71To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 10 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
I am just informed by a letter from Mr. Curwen at Antwerp that he has brought despatches for me but that he can not come up with them in less than 10 days. This will necessarily suspend any farther application to the government on the subject of debts or Luissania having not been favoured wh. a line from you since last decr. I wish to receive your instructions on these interesting subjects. By...
72To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 17 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
Circumstances have prevented my availing myself of your kindness, in permitting me to retire: before this. The peculiar State of our money transactions, the critical Situation of Europe & of our own affairs with Spain, made me think it Essential to remain here till my place could be Supplied, & the rather as Mr Graham the only man in whom I had Sufficient confidence to leave our business with,...
73To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 8 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
Some fatality seems to attend my geting away. After waiting impatiently for my dispatches in this place (where both my family & ships crew incur some risk of the yellow fever) & having just recd them, I prepared to embark on saturday, when the ship in coming round the battery, with a pilot on board of 20 years standing, in fine weather, struck upon a bank that was well known to every body...
74To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 3 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
You will receive with this Duplicates of two letters which contain a general Statement of our affairs here—this is merely to inform you that I have received your letter of the 18th Jany in which you notify me of Mr Munroe’s appointment. I Shall do every thing in my power to pave the way for him, & Sincerely wish his mission may be attended with the desired effect; it will however cut off one...
75To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 12 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
In addition to what I wrote you yesterday I have only to mention that I am more & more confirmed notwithstanding what I there say of the minister’s assurances that Louisiana is a favorite object and that they will be unwilling to part with it on the conditions I mentioned. Speaking of the means of paying their debts to one of their Ministers yesterday I hinted at this. His reply was “none but...
76To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 3 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
Mr Leonard delivered on the 26th. April your favor of the 31. January together with a triplicate of the Same. The duplicate, which I suppose has been Sent by some other conveyance, has not yet reached me, so that till his arrival I had had no letter from you Since the 15th. January. I also recd. by the same Messinger your favor of the 7th. Feby. Nothing could be more happy than the arrival of...
77To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 13 January 1802 (Madison Papers)
My former letters left you little doubt on the subject of the cession of Louisiana, by the enclosed copy of the late treaty between France & Spain you will find that it is a transaction of pretty long standing. The absence of the minister, prevents my applying to him for the former treaty, which he will hardly know how to give me after absolutely denying that any had been formed on the...
78To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 25 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my last 24 June, I have in pursuance of your instructions put in the enclosed notes on the Subject of the Convention, I have yet received no Such official answer as will Justify my further proceedings, since till they determine either to open the negotiation you require, or reject it or till they consent to a partial draft. Mr Talleyrand is now absent, & Mr Marbois’s powers do not go to...
79To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 17 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
The state of my son in law, Col. Livingstons, health compels him to make a voyage. He accordingly proposes to sail for France in the course of a fortnight at furthest, & will afford you a convenient opportunity of writing. He is very desirous of being the bearer of dispatches from you, & of obtaining your passport, as he thinks it will afford him protection against british & French privateers,...
80To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 22 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
Last Night General Moreau was sent from the Temple in a Coach and six to Bayon (You have seen that he was sentenced to two years imprisonment). This is commuted into an exile of at least 100 leagues from France. He has therefore determined to go to America where you may expect him soon after the receipt of this letter. Having learned these circumstances, I called this morning on the Minister...
81To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 30 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have recieved your dispatches ⟨& the Presidents by Mr. Du⟩pont de Ne⟨mours.⟩ I shall reply more particularly to them at the next opportunity as I am now very much engaged in preparing a lengthy memoir on the subject of the mutual interests of France & the United States relative to Louisiana by which I hope to convince them that both in a commercial & political view the possession of it would...
82To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, 7 June 1803 (Madison Papers)
We have the pleasure to forward to you by Mr. Jay the ratification by the first Consul of the Treaty and conventions, which we concluded on the 30th. of April, with this Republic. We have heretofore forwarded to you the original instruments, and two Copies by different ways, the original by Havre, under the care of Mr. Hughes, who sailed about two weeks since, expressly charged with that...
83To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 20 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have just been favoured with yours of the 16h of March the letters that I have heretofore sent together with copies of my different notes to the Minister on the subject of our claims have regularly apprized you of the state of our affairs here. I am sorrey to say that the prospects of payment are yet very distant & that the construction given to the treaty on the subject of indemnities &...
84To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 28 September 1801 (Madison Papers)
On the rect of your favor of the 4th. I broke up my family & came to this place where I am arranging every thing for my departure. I have not however yet recd my despatches commission &c. Within five days after their arrival I shall be on board. I find from all the inquiries I can make here, that there will be little or no saving in point of time between sending the ship to Havre or Bourdeux....
85To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 3 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
The letter from Genl Le Clerk which you will find in the Moniteur having excited some emotition [ sic ] here I thought it proper to address the enclosed note to the Minister to which I recd the reply also enclosed. As this was put in to my hands just as I was going into his house I replyed to it verbally. I took notice that the compt of Genl Le Clerc related to supplies furnished before his...
86To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 16 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I informed you in my last that I found some relaxation on the subject of the floridas in my last conversation with the Spanish Minister I have reason to think that within this few days they have come to a settlement with France on that subject what it is I can not precisely say but I presume that it is whatever France wishes it to be. I find all the old French maps mark the river Perdigo as...
87To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 16 September 1801 (Madison Papers)
I write to you in haste from the post Office where I have this moment recd your favor of the 4th. I have been much embarrassed since the ar[r]ival of the Maryland, as to the steps I was to persue, I knew that the treaty was not ratified, & as my departure seemed to depend on that event, I was at a loss to determine whether the president might not find it necessary to call the Senate before I...
88To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 15 February 1802 (Madison Papers)
Nothing extraordinary has occurred since my last. The definitive treaty is not yet signed. It is asserted some difficulties are started on account of reinstating France in her former commercial situation with respect to Turkey, the British claiming similar advantages in consequence of their last treaty. It is also reported that Russia is not satisfied with the new order of things in the...
89To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 9 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 October 1801, New York. In accordance with his letter of “yesterday & this day,” has drawn on JM for $9,000 in favor of David Gelston, who advanced the money for his outfit. RC ( DNA : RG 59, DD , France, vol. 8). 1 p.; docketed by Wagner as received 13 Oct.
90To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 27 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
The vessel not going so soon as was expected gives me an opportunity of informing you that the definitive treaty was signed the day before yesterday differing very little from the preliminary Articles. You will find it in the enclosed papers. It is however understood that Martinique is to remain with the british till the debts are ⟨paid for French prisoners.⟩ I send you a note (No 1) from the...
91To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 21 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
Being now entirely divested of my diplomatic functions it becomes my duty to Send you the concluding Scene: on Sunday Genl Armstrong & myself were admitted to a private audience when I delivered my letter of recall together with an apology for its adress to the first Consul, & referring to Genl Armstrong for the assurances of the President’s recognition of the change of Government here,...
92To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 11 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
My Notes will tell you how far I have officially pressed the Government on the subject of Louisiana. I have omitted no means in conversation of eradicating their prejudices in its favor & I informed you that I had reason to think that I had been successful with all unless it was the first Consul to whom I addressed myself in the letter & essays that you have seen, & that were attentively read...
93To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 28 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
I yesterday received your letter of 26th of June announcing the appointment of Genl Armstrong as my Successor, & covering a letter of leave to the First Consul . Notwithstanding my wish to go at an earlier period, I found it impossible in then [ sic ] State of our affairs, as I knew no person with whom I could leave the charge. I had hoped to have prevailed on Mr Graham, but he refused to...
94To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 18 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
It is now near four months Since the date of the last letters I have been honoured with from you, So that I am totally ignorant of what is passing in my own country, or how far what I have done is agreable to them, & yet we have had Several arrivals that left it near the last of july. I am asked every day when I expect the ratifications, when the Senate are to meet &c and to these inquiries I...
95To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 5 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
My public letters have Shewn you the State of our affairs here & the very disagreable Situation in which they are placed by the obstinacy (to ascribe the mildest motive) of one, & the weakness of the other two Commissioners. I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your friendly private letter. With respect to the correspondence of Mr Monroe & myself on the Subject of the guarantee, I have no...
96To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 12 November 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have just now landed here after a verry boisterous passage, ’tho Havre would been more convenient to me, yet as this port accorded better with the future destination of the frigate I preferred it. I found here a Seventy four, several frigates & a number of transports with troops on board, destined for St. Domingo; they sail as soon as the wind is fair as does also a large Armament from...
97To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 14 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
The only Subject which engages the public attention Since the date of my last letter is the Death of Pichegru who as you will find by the enclosed papers contrived to Strangle himself in prison, & the flight of Drake & Smith from their respective missions at Munich & Stuttgard, together with further discoveries of their intrigues as these are minutely detailed in the papers I enclose, it will...
98To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 26 January 1802 (Madison Papers)
Since my last of the 13th. inst, a duplicate of which has been forwarded, nothing extraordinary has occurred, unless it be the completion of the act I Mentioned. The Senate are now designating what members of the Tribunat & Corps legislatif shall stay in which they say is not the same thing as designating who are to go out however none of the opposition members will stay in. This is considered...
99To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 14 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I enclose the reply of the Minister upon the Subject of the debts, it is in the language I expected, & were it not that I was in hourly expectation of the arrival of Genl Armstrong who will have your full instructions I Should reply to it, & Shew that when we assumed to pay to the amount of the 20 millions it was not intended to discharge France from any excess, Since the words of the treaty...
100To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 20 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
The business of the guarantee has lain dormant till today. The minister of the treasury has just left me. He is very anxious that I consent to make it. He says that the first consul thinks it very extraordinary that the minister with him should have scruples when the minister at London has none and is ready to oblige him. What am I to do? I have not had a line from Mr Monroe Since the letter I...