751From James Madison to William Lattimore, 30 December 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
30 December 1803. “The Secretary of State presents his respects to Dr Lattimore and informs him that the commission of John Steel as Secretary of the Mississippi Territory expired on the 7th May 1802 and that the commission of his Successor is dated 3 March last.” RC ( DNA : RG 233, Petitions and Memorials, 8A-F1.1). 1 p.; in a clerk’s hand; unsigned. Printed in Carter, Territorial Papers,...
752From James Madison to John Cotton Smith, 30 December 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
30 December 1803, Department of State. “The Secretary of State has the honor to enclose to Mr. Smith, in consequence of his letter of the 28th. [not found]; requesting him to furnish the Committee of claims with such evidence as may exis⟨t in⟩ the Department of State in relation to the value of the Danish Brigantine Henrich and cargo, the following documents, viz. “No. 2. The invoice of the...
753From James Madison to Christian Mayer, 2 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 January 1804, Department of State. “In consequence of your letter [not found] I return enclosed the bill upon Mr. Adet for 32,287 livres 15 S. heretofore lodged in this Office by Moss Valck & Co. and I request you to acknowledge the receipt of it.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). 1 p. German immigrant Christian Mayer was a tobacco merchant in Baltimore (Beirne, The Amiable...
754From James Madison to William Clark, 4 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 4 January 1804, Department of State. Acknowledged in Clark to JM, 28 June 1804 (DNA: RG 59, CD, Elberfeld, Rostock, and Lübeck, vol. 1), as containing several enclosures, which were probably JM’s standing instructions and circular letters to consuls ( PJM-SS Robert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (6 vols. to date;...
755From James Madison to James Monroe, 5 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
The information and observations which you have as yet received from me since your arrival in London, on the impressment of our seamen, and other violations of our rights, have been in private letters only. The delay in making these injuries the subject of official communications, proceeded first from an expectation that the British Government would have notified formally to the United States,...
756From James Madison to Charles Pinckney, 6 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
Messrs Wells of Boston, who are interested in the affair of the twelve bills now under the charge of Mr Richard Hughes in Spain, have requested that the application you have made to the Spanish Government for relief might be strengthened by instructions from this Department. On examining the case, it does not distinctly appear, whether the Governor of Cadiz, in suspending the recourse of the...
757From James Madison to Thomas Tudor Tucker, 6 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 January 1804, Department of State. “I have received your letter of the 4th. enclosing the papers of John Hollank [Holland] of Charleston. It appears that they were lying in the post office here at a time within the period assigned for their being recorded, but not having been taken up, they could not be seasonably presented for that purpose. The law limiting the day before which the record...
758From James Madison to Littleton Waller Tazewell, 7 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your favor of the 26. Ulto. I have communi⟨cated⟩ to the President and also to Mr Gallatin in whose Dept: the Collectorships lie, the paragraph relating to that at Norfolk. Your wishes therefore are known to both, and will no doubt enter into the comparative estimates, whenever the occasion for them shall arrive. It is proper at the same time, and especially as it will be an answer...
759From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 8 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I dropt you lately a few lines on the subject of Jerome Bonaparte’s expected marriage to a young lady of Baltimore. The affair was afterwards apparently broken off, but has since been compleated; and that letter has been forwarded. In order to ensure your receipt of the substance of it (no copy having been kept of the original) it is wished by the friends of Mr. Patterson the father of the...
760From James Madison to Richard Harrison, 9 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 January 1804, Department of State. “I have received your note of the 7th. inst. requesting a decision from this Department, whether the depositions of Dr. Stevens, and his private Secretary may be received in lieu of the vouchers generally admitted in the settlements at the Treasury. As these depositions constitute a higher grade of proof, than has been admitted in some other instances of a...
761From James Madison to Richard Harrison, 10 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
It appearing that William Eaton Esqr. late Consul of the United States at Tunis did on the 9th. of August 1802, in his official capacity, enter into an instrument of writing acknowledging to have received from Sidi Haggi Junis Ben Junis, a Tunisian Merchant, the sum of thirty four thousand Spanish milled dollars, as a loan for the use of his public agency; and Richard V. Morris Esqr. having on...
762From James Madison to William Payne, 11 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 January 1804, Department of State. “As the laws of the last session requiring that deeds for Georgia lands of a description to be recorded in this Department should have been presented for that purpose previously to the 1st. inst. allows of no descretion to admit them afterwards, I have the honor to return the one you enclosed to me a few days ago, and to inform you that it is excluded by...
763From James Madison to James Simons, 11 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 January 1804, Department of State. “I have received your letter of the 12th. Ult. [not found] requesting instructions respecting the repairs to be allowed to a French Vessel of War, should she as expected arrive at your port in a state to require them. In answer I refer you to the several instructions heretofore transmitted from the Treasury Department, explanitory on that subject,...
764From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 12 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 January 1804, Department of State. “I duly received both your letters [not found] respecting the Brig Friends. The President having given no direction for a remission of the penalties incurred, it follows that the law ought to take its course. I should have returned a particular answer to the first letter, had I been acquainted with the suspension and its consequences, which have...
765From James Madison to Jesse and Robert Waln, 12 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 January 1804, Department of State. “I have received your letter of the 7th. inst. [not found] and referred it and Mr. Bulkeley’s account to the Treasury Department, to which it belongs to adjust them and pay the balance.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). 1 p. For the account of John Bulkeley and Son with the U.S., see David Humphreys to JM, 29 Mar. and 11 July 1803 , and JM to...
766From James Madison to John Ross, 13 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 18th. Ult. There can be little doubt, that the first claim you state is of the general nature of those which are recoverable under the late Convention with France. Should you be able to prove that your original documents have been accidentally destroyed, the Commissioners and other functionaries who are to decide these claims will doubtless admit you to prove...
767From James Madison to Samuel Latham Mitchill, 14 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 January 1804, Department of State. “Mr. Madison presents his respects to ⟨Dr.⟩ Mitchell and in consequence of his letter of the 11th. [not found] has the honor to enclose all the documents he has received ⟨re⟩specting Light-money. The other engagements of the Department of State have not admitted of their contents being digested into form on this occasion. As the enclosed are originals Dr....
768Circular Letter to American Ministers, 16 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
By the mail of last Evening, dispatches were received from New Orleans, announcing the formal delivery of the Province of Louisiana to the Commissioners of the United States on the 20th Ulto. This day Mr Baring will receive the portion to which he is entitled by this event of the Stock created in pursuance of the Treaty. The remaining two thirds will be forwarded under arrangements of the...
769From 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...
770From James Madison to Elias Boudinot, 17 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 January 1804, Department of State. “ Your letter of the 5th. Novr. with the documents enclosed containing the result of your investigations respecting the charges made by George Brening [Breining] against Henry Voight, the Chief Coiner of the Mint, were duly laid before the President of the U. States, by whose direction I have the honor to acquaint you that the exculpatory evidence adduced...
771From James Madison to James Monroe, 18 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I write you by Mr. Baring, who will also take charge of full instructions on the subject of a Convention with G. B for putting an end to impressments &c: It is of great importance to the harmony of the two Countries that the project should not entirely fail. There is not time to forward by this opportunity instructions relative to Madrid. They will probably soon follow. In the mean time, you...
772From James Madison to George W. Erving, 18 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 January 1804, Department of State. “Mr. Norman Butler, a claimant in the case of the Sally, Benton, has applied for the accommodation yielded in some few instances to others, in being permitted by joining with himself all the other claimants except the mariners, to draw upon you for what is due to him & the former. I therefore request that the claimants bill in this case may be accepted...
773From James Madison to James Monroe, 19 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have already, in a letter by the last British packet given you a hint of the sensation produced in Mr. & Mrs. Merry, by a circumstance of Etiquette. I had supposed that it would yield to the proofs of respect & cordiality which would be experienced by them, from all in & about the Government, and to the explanations which would be superadded. I find however that the case is to be transmitted...
774From James Madison to the Marqués de Someruelos, 19 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
Mr. William Cook a citizen of the United States who is a great sufferer by a decision of Mr. Viguri, late Intendant at Havana, has informed me from thence that he has expectations of obtaining relief thro’ a reversal of that Intendants proceedings by a Tribunal ordered by His Catholic Majesty to be organized with powers competent to review the decision complained of. Satisfied of the benefit...
775From James Madison to Charles Snowden, 19 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
19 January 1804, Department of State. “With your letter of the 4th. ult. [not found] I have received Mr. Sasporta’s documents respecting two boxes of money taken out of the Schooner Lydia of Charleston, and which was his property, by the British privateer General Bowger of Halifax. It has not been usual to ask the interference of the Executive in cases circumstanced like the present, until...
776From James Madison to Jeremiah Hill, 25 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
25 January 1804, Department of State. “I have recd. your letter of the 12th [not found], enclosing an account for taking a protest relative to the impressment of two seamen: but on recurring to my circular of the 1st. Octr., you will find that it does not assume to pay for evidences of impressments; on the contrary the law imposes it upon the masters of Vessels from which they are made. The...
777From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 26 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 26 January 1804. Acknowledged in Lear to JM, 7 May 1804 (DNA: RG 59, CD, Algiers, vol. 7, pt. 1), and described in the enclosed diary’s 26 Apr. 1804 entry as containing his commission as consul general at Algiers, his commission to negotiate a peace with Tripoli, pamphlets on Louisiana, and newspapers.
778From James Madison to Louis-André Pichon, 27 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to receive with your letter of this day the proces-verbal of the delivery of the possession of Louisiana, made to Citizen Laussat in his character of Commissary of the French Government by the Commissioners of His Catholic Majesty. Whilst in this document is recognized an important evidence of the friendly proceedings of the parties who concurred in the events which have...
779From James Madison to Ebenezer Stevens, 28 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 January 1804, Department of State. “In answer to your letter of the 19th. inst. I authorize you to draw upon the Purveyor for twelve hundred and eighty eight dollars the sum awarded to Mr. Cotton as additional freight for the Anna Maria. The draft should be made payable at two or three days sight to ensure the receipt of the money to be remitted to the Purveyor before it is presented for...
780From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 31 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
The two last letters received from you bear date on the —— and 30th September, so that we have been now four months without hearing from you. The last from me to you was dated on the 16. day of January, giving you information of the transfer of Louisiana on the 20th of December by the French Commissioner Mr Laussat to Governor Claiborne and Genl Wilkinson the Commissioners appointed on the...
781From James Madison to Jeremiah Townsend and Others, 31 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
31 January 1804, Department of State. “I have received your letter of the 10th. inst. [not found]. Should you be able to trace with certainty the perpetrators of the robbery, your rights may be enforced against them by adopting the proper legal proceedings, but the Government of the United States having no agent at Guadaloupe, have it not in their power to aid you in the investigation. “That...
782From James Madison to Carlos Martínez de Yrujo, 31 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
31 January 1804, Department of State. “The enclosed original documents (which I pray you to return) with Mr. Cooks last letter to me will make you in some degree acquainted with his complaint, and point out the Court from whose decision he expects redress. There is beside in this office a certified transcript of the previous proceedings in his case, with which, being volum[i]nous I have not...
783From James Madison to Anthony Merry, 1 February 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 February 1804, Department of State. “I beg leave to trouble you with the enclosed documents concerning Benjamin Stedham and Andrew Malony, who appear to have been impressed into the British Service, the first into the Isis, and the latter into the Boston Frigate, from American Vessels on the American coast, where it is supposed the frigates still are. In doing this I must ask the favor of...
784From James Madison to William Cooke, 4 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
I enclose a letter recommending your case to the support of the Governor of Cuba. The Convention between the United States and Spain, for liquidating claims to compensation for excesses committed by individuals of either nation upon those of the other, during the late war, has been lately ratified by the President and Senate. It now awaits only the exchange of ratifications at Madrid to be...
785Commissioners of the Sinking Fund to Congress, 4 February 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 February 1804, Washington. The measures authorized by the board subsequent to the report of 5 Feb. 1803 , “so far as the same have been completed,” are detailed in Gallatin’s 3 Feb. 1804 report to the board and in the statements referred to therein, “which are herewith transmitted.” RC and enclosures ( DNA : RG 46, Reports and Communications Submitted to the Senate, 8A-F5); RC and enclosures...
786From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 6 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
Your several letters of the 17. 20. & 27 Decr. & 2d. Jan. have been successively received. They were not acknowled[g]ed from time to time as they came to hand, because instructions from the President having been fully given on the subject of obtaining possession of Louisiana, it only remains to learn the result of your proceedings and to communicate his sentiments thereon. These are contained...
787From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne and James Wilkinson, 6 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
Your several letters of December 8th. 20th. 27th. & Jany. 3. 9 have been duly received and laid before the President; and ⟨I have the pleasure to communicate⟩ to you his ap⟨pro⟩bation of your proceedings under the important Commission in which you are associated. The manner in which Louisiana has been put into the possession of the United States, is the more a subject for general...
788From James Madison to Charles Pinckney, 6 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
Your last letter not already acknowledged is that of August 2d continued on August 30th. The Senate having resumed at the present Session the Convention with Spain, postponed at the last, have thought proper to ratify it; and the President has completed the act on the part of the United States. The instrument is now returned to you with these sanctions, in order to be exchanged for the...
789From James Madison to William Lee, 7 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
The wines you were so good as to procure me came duly to hand, and taking the price & quality together were so satisfactory that you will oblige me by a further supply from the same sources. I wish about 200 bottles of the Barzac, and about 150 of the Frontenac, with an addition of about 100 bottles of the best Liqueurs, one half at least being Noyau. Alexandria will be the port of address...
790From 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...
791From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 7 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
The public letters which you will receive by this conveyance acknowledge all the letters recd. from you since the date of those last written to you, except your correspondence with Mr. Monroe. This I have thought proper to acknowledge in a private letter because I have not placed it on the files of the Office. You left me free to consider the Letters which passed between you as private, and I...
792From James Madison to James Sheafe, 8 February 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 February 1804, Department of State. “In answer to your letter of the 13th. ult. I have to inform you, that instructions have been transmitted to Paris calculated to promote a modification, if possible, of the Convention of the 30th. of April last, so as to divide the sum payable under it, more equally among the claims, than may happen from its operation in its present form.” RC (owned by...
793From James Madison to William Blackledge, 9 February 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 February 1804, Department of State. “I return you Mr. Fisher’s letter [not found]. To qualify his case for the relief provided by the Convention with France respecting Louisiana, it is necessary that, according to the 5th. Article, he should have a decree of restitution, by the Council of Prizes, in his favor, and have also verified the insufficiency of the Captors to make restitution....
794From James Madison to Daniel Clark, 10 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter was sent to me by Mrs Clark, with a request that it might be forwarded to you. I take this occasion of congratulating you on the successful termination of the measures for placing Louisiana in our hands, and of repeating my acknowledgments for the active and useful services which you have rendered on the occasion. The Bill providing a government for this acquisition has not...
795From James Madison to Richard Harrison, 11 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
I return the documents enclosed in your letter of the 19th. Ult. in relation to Mr. Eatons accounts. On a view of the contingent expences as now specified and explained it seems proper that they be admitted as far as the items of which they consist are comprised within the rules established by my letter of the 11th. July last; and the following may also be admitted, viz: Customary presents at...
796From James Madison to Benjamin Day, 13 February 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 February 1804, Washington. “I have recd your favor of the 10th. inst: and remit a dft on the post Master at Fredg. for $54.75. being the amt. of charges on the Tobo. sent by the Atlantic. Be so good as to acknowledge the rect. of it; and if meanwhile you should see Mr. J. Ross of your Town, you will oblige me by saying whether he recd. a letter not long ago from me.” RC ( PHi ). 1 p.;...
797From James Madison to James Maury, 13 February 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 February 1804, Department of State. “Godsrey Hyer, an American Seamen, impressed some time ago at Liverpool into the British Service, has written a letter to his friends in this Country, a copy of which you will find among the enclosed documents, requesting that you might be furnished with proof of his Citizenship, to be used for effecting his discharge: and I accordingly forward to you...
798From James Madison to James Monroe, 14 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
You will herewith receive the ratification by the President and Senate, of the Convention with the British Government signed on the 12th of May 1803, with an exception of the Vth article. Should the British Government accede to this change in the instrument, you will proceed to an exchange of ratifications and transmit the one received, without delay, in order that the proper steps may be...
799From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 15 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
The Convention with Spain of the 11th. August 1802, being ratified by the President, I have the honor to enclose an estimate, for a year, of the expense necessary for carrying it into effect, as far as relates to the Board of Commissioners to be organized in virtue thereof, at Madrid, including the compensation of a Secretary, Clerks and an Agent for the United States &c. Should any...
800From James Madison to Isaac Tichenor, 15 February 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
15 February 1804, Department of State. “Your letter [not found] stating the deficiencies of the laws of the United States, which ought to have been received as the proportion of Vermont, duly came to hand. Those deficiencies appear to consist of the 2 Sessions of the 6th. Congress and those of the seventh. The laws of the last session have not been forwarded, owing to this river being shut up...