51From James Madison to James Monroe, 8 January 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have not yet thanked you for the copy of your Message, which I find has attracted attention, and circulates with advantage to yourself, as well as to the public. It is much to be wished that the same manly and enlarged sentiments, and the same just and enlightened policy, might distinguish the addresses of all the Republican Governors, and co-operate with the example set by the President, in...
52From James Madison to James Monroe, 13 January 1806 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you on the 8th. instant enclosing a pamphlet on the principle in question between this Country & G.B. and mentioned that it would be communicated by the Presidt. with other documents on the subject. This will not be done, and I have written to recall the letter & pamphlets from the ports to which they were sent. If either of the copies should have gone to sea & should reach you, be so...
53From James Madison to James Monroe, 15 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
The condemnation of the cargo of the Olive Branch having been reversed, General Allen finds himself in the situation pointed out at the close of my letter of the 13th of December 1803 of having gained no more by his judicial pursuit than an abstract decision of the illegality of the capture: for Messrs. Bird, Savage & Bird, of London, who became his sureties on the delivery of the property to...
54From 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...
55From 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...
56From James Madison to James Monroe, 9 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
By Capt. Brewster, who, with his son and two Pilots, are about to proceed to England as Witnesses in the case of Capt. Whitby, I send you copies of several of my last letters. He will also be the bearer of a letter from the Collector of New York stating the advances made to the Witnesses respectively. Two other Witnesses are expected to sail from Philada., to whom it was found necessary to...
57From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
In the joint letter from you & Mr. P. of October a project on impressments is referred to which does not appear. I forget what passed with you in conversation on the subject. You will oblige me by dropping me the state of the case, and if there be any document in your hands that you will be so good as to forward it or a copy of it. It can if necessary be thrown into the mass which will be...
58From James Madison to James Bowdoin, [13] May 1805 (Madison Papers)
Mr Elisha Tracy of Norwich, in Connecticut will have explained to you the circumstances of the claims of his Commercial house upon the Spanish Government for the detention of the ship Miantinomo and the Schooners Nancy and Oneco. He has since solicited the aid of the Executive to obtain reparation for their losses: I have therefore to request that you will receive their documents and if the...
59From James Madison to James Monroe, 17 September 1806 (Madison Papers)
In my letter of the 22d. of April 1804 I referred you to a previous one to Mr Gore, in which he was instructed to settle with the British Government for the captures by the United States on the Commission under the 6th. article of the British Treaty and to pay the balance due to them. No information having been received that this affair has been settled, it has been found convenient to...
60From James Madison to James Monroe, 18 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of came duly to hand, accompanied by the papers now returned, and by a note on the correspondence communicated to Congs. It appears that in most instances the parts allotted for publication coincide with your wishes. In the excepted instances, an attempt will be made, to have the confidential parts, conformed also to these, by being included in the publication ordered by the H. of...
61From James Madison to James Monroe, 23 April 1806 (Madison Papers)
Your last letter bears date on the 12th. February. Those of 18 Octr. 11. 26 Novr. 11. 23 Decr. 28 Jany. & 12 Feby. last had been previously received. Congress adjourned the evening before the last. The Gazettes before and herewith sent will give you a general view of the proceedings of the Session. As soon as the laws passed shall be ready, a compleat copy of them will be forwarded. For the...
62From James Madison to James M. Henry, 25 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
The President of the United States has been pleased to appoint you to succeed Mr. Savage in the office of Agent at Jamaica, a change which is communicated to him by the enclosed letter. You will please to observe that your public duties are altogether confined to the relief of our Seamen, who may be left destitute in the Island or who may be impressed. As respects the latter you will on...
63From James Madison to James M. Henry, 20 July 1805 (Madison Papers)
Mr Brent has communicatd your having declined the office of Agent for Seamen at Jamaica, but as it is possible that an explanation of its functions may remove your objections I have inclosed a copy of the letter which confers the appointment, and which, tho’ sent by Duplicates to Jamaica, absence may have prevented you from receiving. That no other Agent possessing commercial duties is to be...
64From James Madison to James Monroe, 5 August 1805 (Madison Papers)
There can be little doubt that the facts contained in the inclosed documents respecting the firing into the American Brig Hannah, whereby Isaac Bridges, the Master, came by his death, amount to murder in the Capt. of the British Cutter. You will therefore be pleased to lay them before the British Government as an additional example of the wanton barbarity with which our Citizens are treated at...
65From James Madison to James Monroe, 25 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
Mr Hary Grant was some years ago appointed Consul for Leith; but it is understood that he has spent but little of his time at that place and that he is now most probably in France. The President would before now have superseded him had a suitable successor been found. It is however deemed improper that he should longer hold the Office and you will accordingly signify to the British Government,...
66From James Madison to James Sullivan, 8 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
I recd in due time your favor of the 8th. Ulto. No apology was necessary for its exercise of the right of every Citizen to intimate to his Govt. the result of his patriotic reflections, which ought to be welcome to every Govt. in proportion as the source is enlightened from which it proceeds. The President’s message of this day to Congress will best shew the posture & prospect of our affairs...
67From James Madison to James Leander Cathcart, 7 July 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To James Leander Cathcart. 7 July 1806, Department of State. “I have received your letter of the 1st. of July, and have caused four thousand dollars to be remitted to you at Boston, for which you will apply at the Branch Bank. The whole two thousand dollars allotted for the Prime Minister may be laid out by you in purchases of presents. I hope your wishes will be speedily gratified, as the...
68From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, 18 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
The reasonable and friendly views with which you have been instructed by the President to enter into negociations with the French Government justify him in expecting from them an issue favorable to the tranquillity and to the useful relations between the two Countries. It is not forgotten however that these views, instead of being reciprocal, may find, on the part of France, a temper adverse...
69From James Madison to James Monroe, 28 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
Your dispatch of the 11th. of Sepr. has been duly received. Altho’ the tenor of the discussions which it recites does not exhibit on the part of the British Commissioners the readiness in yielding to the justice of our claims and to the energy of your statements, which might be wished, yet the general spirit of conciliation with which they profess and appear to have met you, cherishes a hope...
70From James Madison to Alexander James Dallas (Abstract), 29 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
29 May 1805, Department of State . “I had the honor to lay your communication of the 13th. inst: [not found] before the President, who thinks it expedient that you take the proper steps to have the decision in the case of the Mercator brought before the Supreme Court of the U:States, in order that the proper decision may have the highest judicial sanction.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL ,...
71From James Madison to James A. Buchanan, 27 February 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 February 1804, Department of State. “Your letter of the 15th. inst. has been duly received together with the papers it enclosed, respecting the capture of the Brig Lear and the proceedings exercised against her at Antigua. Should the event of a condemnation take place, it will be advisable for you to appeal to England, since the doctrine of the blockade of Martinique is [ sic ] announced by...
72From James Madison to James Monroe, 1 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
I commit to your care the inclosed letters & papers for Genl. Fayette which are left open for your perusal. We have just recd. the Message of his B. Majesty which is represented as the signal of a certain rupture with France. From the positions taken by the parties, both diplomatic & military, such an event seems scarcely avoidable. I hope we shall be wise enough to shun their follies, and...
73From James Madison to James Leander Cathcart, 15 July 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To James Leander Cathcart. 15 July 1806, Department of State. “Beside the four field pieces, the Secretary, bureaux and rice, which could not, for want of room, be received on board the Franklin, it has unfortunately happened that 80 barrels of loaf sugar and ten tons of log-wood, belonging to the Ambassador have, from the same cause, been left at Baltimore. They have however been ordered...
74From James Madison to James Monroe, 25 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
In the postscript of 18th. to my letter of the 15th of April, you were requested to suspend your departure from London for Madrid until you should be informed of the President’s views as to your destination after closing your mission to Spain . I am now enabled by the return of the President to signify to you that he yields to the reasons assigned by you for declining the appointment on this...
75From James Madison to John and James De Wolf, 30 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 18th. has been received stating that the board of Commissioners sitting in London under the British Treaty had refused your claim for further compensation on account of the capture and condemnation of the Snow Sukey, grounding their refusal on a mistaken conception, that the slave trade, in which she was engaged, was contrary to our laws at the time of capture. If you recur...
76From James Madison to James Bowdoin, 10 December 1804 (Madison Papers)
The President of the United States being desirous of availing the public of your services as Minister Plenipotentiary to His Catholic Majesty, I have the honor to enclose your commission . As in many respects it would be desireable, that we should have the pleasure of your presence at the seat of government, before your departure for Spain, if it can be reconciled with your private...
77From James Madison to James Monroe, 29 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
I returned to this City on the 24th. The President arrived the day after. General Dearbourn was here before. Messrs. Gallatin & Smith are daily expected. We have reassembled a little earlier after our full vacation than usual, in order to be the more prepared for the earlier meeting of Congress. The last letter recd. from you was of the 11th. of Augst by Mr. Baring who forwardd. that with the...
78To James Madison from James Madison, 8 February 1809 (Madison Papers)
I congratulate you & our common Country, most sincerely, on the Issue of the late presidential Election; nor have I a Doubt of the succeeding Administration being as distinguished for Patriotism & Wisdom, as the preceding. You will indeed, I fear, have a stormy Time to encounter; but that is the Season in which the Pilot discovers his superior Skill. Mr. Crittenden, who is from Kentucky, & has...
79To James Madison from James Madison, Jr., 29 [September] 1801 (Madison Papers)
Since I saw you, I have visited several small Towns on James River, for the purpose of procuring a place for vending Goods; but found them all well supply’d with people of that description. Mr Shepherd advises me strongly to go to Stevensburg, as there is not at this time a tolerable Store in that place. He says more goods may be sold there than ever was vended at this Mill, and the payments...
80From James Madison to James Bowdoin, 15 February 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. & laid before the President your letter of the 4th. inst. He acquiesces in the postponement of your departure for Madrid, in preference to the loss of your services by a resignation, and thinks the advantage that will result from a previous visit to this place, will overbalance the delay which it will add to the time at which you might otherwise be able to embark. As you suppose...
81From James Madison to James Leander Cathcart, 30 June 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To James Leander Cathcart. 30 June 1806, Department of State. “Mr. Charles Gosonis, the bearer has undertaken to travel to Boston with the three domestics of the Tunisian Ambassador, as their interpreter. He has been paid one hundred dollars, and if he is successful in carrying them all to Boston, he is to have seventy dollars more; Should he not succeed he is to have only fifty instead of...
82From James Madison to James Simpson, 8 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
Having since the commencement of the present year accepted & paid your bills to the amount of near Eight thousand dollars, it becomes necessary to repeat my desire that you would make out your accounts and transmit them for settlement at the Treasury. This intimation is not suggested by any diminution of confidence in the fidelity with which the monies drawn are applied to the public service,...
83From James Madison to James Monroe, 16 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
You will herewith receive the instructions in pursuance of which you are to propose and negotiate a convention between the United States and Great Britain, on the subject of impressments and other matters interesting to the two nations; and for which this letter with your commission of Minister Plenipotentiary to his Britannic Majesty will be your authority. I have the honor to be, Sir, With...
84From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
You will receive herewith a letter for yourself & Mr. P. acknowledging the receipt of your communications by Mr. Purviance, and suggesting the intermediate course to be pursued, untill the further instructions contemplated by the President can be matured. The delay will be short; but it is desireable to accomodate the instructions to the result of some enquiries as to certain facts, and the...
85From James Madison to James Simpson, 6 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letters up to and including No. 76. On receiving information of the loss of the Philadelphia, the enclosed act was passed by Congress, whereby a million of Dollars was appropriated to enable the President to impart such vigor to the conduct of the war, as might at once change the exultation of the enemy in his casual fortune into a more proper sentiment of fear and prepare...
86From James Madison to James Monroe, 3 December 1804 (Madison Papers)
Capt. Dulton, who brought despatches for Mr. Pinkney and now returns with others for you, has a claim on the Spanish Govt. which he will explain to you; and which he wishes to receive your attention as far as will consist with the distinction between your functions & those of the Ordinary Minister. I have apprized him of this distinction, and of the danger of a precident that might load you...
87From James Madison to James Monroe, 18 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
I duly recd your favor of the 5th. and with it your observations, addressed to the Dept. of State, on the subject of the Treaty of Dcr. 1806: which will be communicated to Congs. with the documents relating to the negociations &c connected with the Treaty; it being understood that such a disposition of the paper will conform to your wishes. Mr. Rose’s mission is abortive. Communications on the...
88From James Madison to James Monroe and William Pinkney, 11 June 1806 (Madison Papers)
Since the date of my last (May 30.) I have obtained from the Secretary at War, the inclosed copies of a correspondence between an officer of the United States and an Agent of the British North West Company for the Indian trade. The correspondence may be of use in explaining the inconveniencies resulting from the constructive permission given by the Treaty of 1794, to British traders, to carry...
89From James Madison to James Monroe, 14 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I inclose copies of a letter from Margaret Mitchell of New York and its inclosure, whereby it will appear that her son Andrew Mitchell, a minor, having been practised upon to induce his enlistment, is now a private in the 22d Regiment of foot, under the command of Colo. Mercer, stationed at Calcutta. Should the distress of the mother, as depicted in her letter, fail to excite a degree of...
90From James Madison to James Maury, 2 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 4th. May last. By a law passed during the last Session of Congress, which will be transmitted to you as soon as the volume is printed, a naturalised Citizen returning to the Country from which he originated, and residing there a year is disqualified to hold a registered Vessel. But this as well as the position stated in my circular of the 1st. of October do...
91From James Madison to James Monroe, 26 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
It appears that George Utz, for information respecting whom the Prussian Minister addressed himself to you, died at Philadelphia in the year 1793, leaving property to the amount of £400, which is in safe hands. No legal representative had claimed it in July last, from the administrator. During the hostilities at sea which grew out of the state of things between France and the United States in...
92From James Madison to James Simons, 23 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
The Chargé D’Affaires of France has represented to me that the armed Vessels of his Nation have been sometimes subjected to indelicate and unfounded scrutinies by the Officers of the Customs at Charleston, and particularly refers to a recent instance wherein just offence was given, as he alleges, to a public Vessel of the French Republic by such a proceeding. As he has not suggested this in...
93From James Madison to James Simpson, 26 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letters numbered from 63 to 69 both inclusive. My last was of the 31st of Octr. continued to the 10th of Novr., the original of which was forwarded by the Schooner Citizen, which carried the gun carriages to the Emperor: but as she was to touch at L’Orient in order to land the ratification of the Treaty respecting Louisiana, she may not perhaps reach Tangier before this....
94From James Madison to James Simpson, 25 August 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have received your communications respecting the wreck of the Brig Indefatigable on the Atlantic coast of Morocco and the capture of the people belonging to her by the Arabs, who offer them for a ransom. It seems very questionable, whether this vessel was really American, though there appears less room to doubt that most of the people are citizens of the U. States; and considering that they...
95From James Madison to James Monroe, 10 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
Finding that [ sic ] Mr. Purveyance within reach of a few lines, I add these to what he is already charged with, to observe that Yrujo has written another remonstrance agst. our acquisition of Louisiana, alledging as a further objection that France by not obtaining the stipulated acknowledgmts. of the King of Etruria from the courts of Petersburg & London had a defective title herself to the...
96From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
Your dispatch of Jany. 3d. with the Treaty signed Decr 31 with the British Commissioners, were safely delivered on the 15th. inst. Your letter of Decr. 27, notifying the approach of that event, had been previously received, in time to be included in a communication of the President to Congress then in Session. A copy of the instrument in its actual form, with the declaration of the British...
97To James Madison from James Madison, 12 May 1801 (Madison Papers)
I transmit herewith copies of certain documents in the cases of Samuel Gawler and Daniel Clark, two American citizens, who are stated to have been impressed at St. Piers. in Martinico, by a British vessel of war, supposed to be Le Legere, Capt. Quinton master, with the view of obtaining your good offices to effectuate their discharge. I request you therefore to lose no time in endeavouring to...
98From James Madison to James Monroe, 2 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
I enclose herewith sundry letters for you which I presume will be more likely to find you in London than at Madrid. I forward this and them by Capt. Seth Sanger, who proceeds to London in prosecution of an appeal from a decision in the British Vice Admiralty at Antigua. The papers on the subject having been transmitted to England, have not been seen by me. According to his state of the case,...
99From James Madison to James Bowdoin, 16 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
On receiving your letter of Mar. 26 I thought proper to forward it to the President at his Seat in Virginia, whence it did not return till last evening. The President himself will be here about wednesday or thursday next. No time will be lost in drawing his attention to the measures preparatory to your departure for Madrid, which may however be deemed the more or less urgent according to the...
100To James Madison from James Madison, 18 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
I shall certainly write to Mr. Randolph, as you propose, by the next Stage; & should have done so by this, had not our public Examinations entirely engrossed me I should have sent you a Copy of that Part of your former Letter, which contains that Extract from the Conn. des Temps, had I not supposed, that I was imposing a Trouble almost unnecessarily, as Mr Ferson is engaged in those...