451To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 9 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recd. last night the inclosed letters from Mr Livingston, which afford another proof that the French Government, however deficient it may be in other attributes is an enlightened one. It would be better no doubt if our objects could be attained by our own means only, but friendly interpositions of other Govts. in such a case ought not only to be accepted but to be acknowledged with respect &...
452From James Madison to Pierpont Edwards, 4 August 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two favors of the 30 & 31. ulto. and am much obliged by the kind & confidential communications made in them. We were not inattentive to the suggestions that an improper acquittal of Smith & Ogden was to be apprehended from the course which was meditated. But it was impossible to apply a remedy, without establishing a precedent objectionable in itself, and which might be...
453To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 18 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have enclosed a Letter from Mr Bracken, who was appointed administrator for Mr Bellini, to Mr. Mazzei, which, he informs me, gives particular State of the affairs of our deceased Friend.—It appears from what Mr Bracken says, that there is Property remaining to the amount of nearly £300. A Certificate of the Death of Mr Bellini is forwards by this Post to Govr Page, with a Request, that he...
454From James Madison to William Lee, 6 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
You will oblige me by taking care that the inclosed which has been put into my hands by a friend be safely delivered according to address, and by letting it be known that you will charge Yourself with the transmission of an answer, and of any article that may accompany it. You were so good as to make an offer of your attention in forwarding me any articles, particular wines, which I might wish...
455From James Madison to James Simpson, 31 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
I acknowledge the receipt of your letters from No. 56 to No. 60, both inclusive. By this conveyance of the Schooner Citizen you will receive the so long expected gun carriages. From the pains which have been taken in getting them ready, it is hoped that they will prove an acceptable present to the Emperor, and you will not fail to make use of the occasion to confirm him in sentiments most...
456From James Madison to Jacob Wagner, ca. 22 August 1801 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 22 August 1801. Acknowledged in Wagner to JM, 31 Aug. 1801 , and mentioned in JM to Jefferson, 26 Aug. 1801 . Authorizes shipment of powder and ball to dey of Algiers and instructs Wagner to honor Eaton’s charter contract, to take no action on Eaton’s commissions for timber and cattle, and to send Jefferson copies of the State Department’s last letters to Eaton.
457From James Madison to the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, 16 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
16 October 1801, Department of State, Washington. Transmits a letter of condolence from the president to the prince regent of Portugal on the death of the prince of Beira. Asks the Portuguese minister to present it since the American minister at Lisbon presumably has taken his leave. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IC , vol. 1). 1 p.
458From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 16 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
The post having arrived last night after Eleven OC. & the one from below being expected early this morning, I have had but little room for bestowing thought on Dayton’s letter and your drafted answer. It would be an advantage to know the precise answer given by Mr. Rodney to the application which was made to him on the same subject. I heard this read by Mr. R. but can not sufficiently rely on...
459Enclosure: From James Madison, 18 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully reports to the President the information requested by the Resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 8th of January last relative to Spoliations committed on the Commerce of the United States, under Spanish authority; and also, relative to the imprisonment of the American Consul at Saint Jago de Cuba. This Report has been delayed longer than was...
460From James Madison to Christian Gynther Bernstorff, 16 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 2d. June last, accrediting Mr. Pedersen as the Chargé des Affaires of His Danish Majesty. Mr. Olsen having before his departure intimated that this gentleman might be expected to arrive in order to take upon himself that character, he was, through the effect of a courtesy so naturally produced by the friendship existing between the two...
461To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 29 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
a free use of their harbors & waters, the means of refitting, & refreshment, of succour to their sick & suffering have at all times and on equal principles, been extended to all; and this too while the officers of one of the belligerents recd. among us were in a continued course of insubordination to the laws, of violence to the persons of our Citizens and of trespasses on their property....
462From James Madison to David Erskine, 9 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have duly received your letter of Sep: 14, in which you inform me that Thomas Wilson, one of the men taken by force from the American frigate Chesapeake has been tried by a Court Martial at Halifax, and having been adjudged to be a British born subject, and a deserter from H. B. Majesty’s Ship of War Halifax, had received sentence of death. I cannot acknowledge this Communication, Sir,...
463From James Madison to Edward Thornton, 7 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to enclose duplicate letters from the Navy Department, requesting their Agents in London to pay for the supplies furnished to the ships of War President and Enterprize.——.——.——. It would have given me satisfaction to comply with your wish for an earlier arrangement of this business, but as it depended on another Department, it will readily be perceived that no time has been...
464From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 1 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letters of the 15th. 16th. & 21st. of March. Letters lately received from our Ministers at Paris and Madrid communicate the agreeable information that the King of Spain has formally receded from his objections to the transfer of Louisiana to the United States. The emoluments and allowances which you are authorized to charge the United States in consequence of your removal...
465To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 14 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I red. last evening your two favors of the 9 & 13th. Before I left Washington I wrote to Simpson approving his refusal of passports in the cases required by the Emperor, and understood that the instructions from the Navy Dept. to Comodore Morris were founded on the same principle. It is to be inferred therefore that we are no longer on a footing of amity with Morocco: and I had accordingly...
466To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 29 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State, to whom has been referred by the President of the United States a Resolution of the House of Representatives of the 23d Inst., requesting the President to communicate to that House such information as he may have received relative to the Copper mines on the South side of Lake Superior, in pursuance of a Resolution of the 16th. April 1800, authorising the appointment of...
467To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 8 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recd yesterday yours of the 6th. with a return of the letters from Appleton and Savage. Under the same cover with this are sundry communications , some of them very interesting. They need not be returned till I can receive them at Monticello, which I expect will happen early in the ensuing week. Should the inclosed letter to Mr. Pichon be such as you entirely approve, I beg the favor that it...
468From James Madison to James Leander Cathcart, 11 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
The latest letters I have received from you are those of the 18, 21, & 27 March. I had befor⟨e⟩ received several copies of your accounts, which are now in the Treasury Department in a course of investigatio⟨n⟩ and settlement. By Commodore Barron, who is proceeding ⟨to⟩ the Mediterranean with five additional frigate⟨s on⟩e of which is armed en flute, I take occasion to mention, that if after...
469From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, [27 January 1806] (Madison Papers)
J. M. with respectful complts. to the Presidt. suggests an attention to the last paragraph in the Rept. to him concerning interpolations, lest it should not square with what was represented in the first Message agst. Spanish outrages on the high seas. The report was to go to the Presidt. on saturday or yesterday. A Baltimore paper has published Yrujo’s letter to the Dept: of State commenting...
470From James Madison to Messrs. Warner and Leit, 8 May 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 May 1802, Department of State. “I have just written to Mr. Soderstrom for such information as may enable me to satisfy your enquiries concerning the fate of your claim upon Sweeden —this Gentleman having long since made a representation of it to his Government, by the request of that of the United States. When his answer is received I shall lose no time in communicating its contents to you.”...
471To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [20 June 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
I suggested some time ago to Col. Habersham the objections to a Contract for 4 years for carrying the mail. His reply was that frequent contracts would not only be very troublesome, but by lessening the value of contracts, discourage good undertakers. He added that a clause in the contracts reserved to him a right at all times to make any of regulations he might chuse, making at the same time...
472From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 1 November 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Albert Gallatin. 1 November 1805, Department of State. “I have the honor to request that in virtue of the power of Attorney of Tobias Lear Esqr., enclosed in my letter to you of the 5th. Septr. 1803 [not found], there may be remitted to George Long, of Portsmouth N.H. five hundred dollars, from the appropriations for Barbary Intercourse. Mr. Lear to be charged with the same and held...
473To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 20 August 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors of the 4 & 7th. instant have come duly to hand. Letters from C. Pinkney to the 10th. of June have been forwarded to You thro’ Washington. They confirm the idea that Spain emboldened by France, is speculating on the presumed aversion of this Country to war, and to the military connection with G.B. They shew at the same time that Spain herself not only does not gain at war, but...
474From James Madison to Roger Gerard van Polanen, 30 June 1802 (Madison Papers)
The ship Mary, belonging to Mr. Jeremiah Yellott of Baltimore, whereof Isaac Phillips was master, was, with a very valuable cargo, captured on the 4th. of February. 1800. by a French privateer, & carried into Curracoa. As the ship was bound from Batavia, a Dutch port, to Baltimore, a neutral port, restitution was due, and was claimed from the Governor of Curracoa but without effect, under the...
475From James Madison to Thomas FitzSimons and Others, 17 December 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 10th. inst. and its enclosures respecting the capture of the Enterprize, Eugenia and other Vessels lately sent to Halifax. Though the further proof respecting the trade in which these Vessels were concerned is believed to be unwarranted by the law of Nations, both in its object & the Channell required for obtaining it, it is most proper for the aggreaved...
476From James Madison to John Mullowny, 7 December 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 December 1804, Department of State. “Your letter of the 26th. ult: has been just received. The case of capture to which you refer was recommended to the care of the Minister of the United States at Paris, but his proceedings therein do not appear. It would therefore be advisable for you to write to Fulwar Skipwith Esqr. Agent of the U: States at Paris, for the information you request.”...
477From James Madison to Louis Guillaume Valentin DuBourg, 5 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his best respects to Mr. DuBourg, and inclose a note for $198.15. the balance of the acct. agst. John P. Todd MdBS .
478From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 18 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have to request that you cause a warrant in favor of John Henry Purviance to be issued, to be paid out of the appropriations for foreign Intercourse, for seven hundred and sixty seven dollars and forty eight cents, the said Purviance to be charged therewith on the Books of the Treasury. I have the Honor &c. DNA : RG 59—DL—Domestic Letters.
479From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 7 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
The person to whom I committed my despatches of the 31st ult having been detained here till this time, I avail myself of the opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your two letters of October 20 & 31 which have just come to hand. I have laid them before the President, but his engagements at the present moment have permitted as yet but a very slight attention to their contents. I can...
480From James Madison to Captain de Vettlehorst, 11 July 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Captain de Vettlehorst. 11 July 1806, Department of State. “On the receipt of your letter of the 9th. of last Decr. [not found], which was long in coming to hand, the President of the United States, caused the proper enquiries to be made to satisfy your solicitude. The result will appear in the enclosed certificate from the Register of Wills for the County of Philadelphia, and letter from...