61To James Madison from James Monroe, 7 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you yesterday by the Iris a publick & private letter: the first bore date the 31. of augt. the 2d. of yesterday. I sent you in the first copies of mr. Marbois’s letter to me & my reply relative to the guaranty of 10. millions of livres & also of the act itself, and in the private one copies of Mr. Livingstons letter to me & my reply on the same subject. My motive for not comprizing the...
62To James Madison from James Monroe, 13 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Merry will have the pleasure to present you this, in whose favor an introduction from me is unnecessary. His official character will place him in such a relation with you as to honor him your polite attention.… The good disposition with which he goes out, towards our country, and the amiable character of himself & Lady, justify a belief that yourself & Mrs. Madison will find them an...
63To James Madison from James Monroe, 17 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have been anxious for a moment of leasure when I might enter somewhat in detail on subjects of a personal nature. I am not yet in that situation tho’ in a greater degree than I have been since my arrival at Havre. I have forwarded the last letters by the Iris Captn. Skinner for N. Yk. & by Liverpool, that there is any hope of yr. receiving before the meeting of Congress. This gives me a...
64To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
From every thing I can hear Mr. Merry is a worthy candid man, & I hope you will find him reasonable & have an easy time with him. I think it will have a good effect to apprize him of the manner in wh. I have spoken of my reception here, as of the sincerity of my desire to promote the objects of our govt. in promoting peace &ca. A like course may be equally useful with Mr. Pichon to whom I...
65To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed is an extract of a private letter of great length, which I have committed to Mr. Law, who sails in the monticello to morrow. Not having time to write a publick one, & wishing the information it contains to reach you, I have had that much copied to be forwarded by Mr. Merry, who sails also to morrow. A few weeks since Mr. Erving stated to me the conduct of the press gangs towards...
66To James Madison from James Monroe, 20 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
Since writing the within letter I have seen Mr. Merry on [ sic ] had an interesting conversation with him on our affrs. especially the impressment of our seamen. I have given you an acct. of it in a letter committed to his care, but it may be well to add it here also; He told me that he had confer’d with Ld. H. on that subject as he had promised me, and that he was instructed by Ld. H. to...
67To James Madison from James Monroe, 28 September 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 September 1803, London . Introduces the bearer, Mr. Halsey, “a respectable citizen” of Rhode Island. “He has been introduced to me as a young man of the best connections there, and I have understood from the best authority, that his character & conduct in Europe, have been such as might be expected from a person well educated and connected in the UStates. I shall thank you to present Mr....
68To James Madison from James Monroe, 29 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
Since my last nothing material has occurr’d here or in any other quarter that has come to my knowledge in which the United States are interested. On the impressment of our seamen and some other interferences with our commerce, I propose shortly to address a note to the Secretary of State for foreign affairs, to which I have reason to expect that a suitable attention will be paid. I took...
69To James Madison from James Monroe, 21 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have not yet presented a note to this govt. respecting the impressment of our seamen, as I intimated to you in my last I shod. do. Mr. Erving is very attentive to the object, who most probably obtains every thing that can be expected on it at this time. I am persuaded that at no former period had we so little cause of complaint for injuries under this practice. Some however have occurr’d...
70To James Madison from James Monroe, 22 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
I enclose you a copy of a letter recd. not long since from Mr. Marbois and of my reply relative to the guaranty of ten millions of livres, of wh. you are already informd, and also of a communication with Mr. Livingston on the same subject. I comprize the latter in a private letter for the reason mentioned in my last, subjecting it nevertheless to yr. disposition. I have been very reluctantly...
71To James Madison from James Monroe, 16 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
Within a few days past I have received your letters of the 29. of July, the first addressed to Mr. Livingston & myself, the second to me singly, with seperate letters to him & Mr. Pinckney, & also your letter to me of the 29. of september. These are the only communications that I have recd. from you since my arrival in this country. The letters to Mr. Livingston & Mr. Pinckney shall be...
72To James Madison from James Monroe, 25 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
Since my publick letter of the 16. I have recd. yr. private one of July 30th. with the originals of those of the 29th. They were sent from Paris by Mr. Livingston who expressed his satisfaction to find that our conduct had been approved in the great outline and surprise at the intimation it conveyed of a wish that the money intended for France had been so applied. He had not then (28. octr.)...
73To James Madison from James Monroe, [14] December 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have just received your circular letter of October 22d. with a copy of the President’s message to the Congress at the commencement of the session. It is with the highest satisfaction I learn, that the treaty and conventions with France are ratified by the President with the advice of the Senate; that the ratifications are exchanged; and that the ceded territory will be taken possession of...
74To James Madison from James Monroe, 15 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have yours by Mr. Purviance of the 10th. Octr. and had before recd. that of the 29. Sepr. with a list of the articles from Richmond. You will have recd. a note of the silver smith at Paris of the prices of the plate, several correspondent articles of wh. we obtaind of the same man when there last at the same prices. This note is good for the price of workmanship; your ⟨weight?⟩ of the silver...
75To James Madison from James Monroe, 17 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
The opposition of Spain to our treaty with France, by her minister in the UStates, attracts some attention here, and is the subject of speculation in certain circles as to the causes & probable effects. Some suspect France at the bottom of it, others ascribe it to the measures of this govt.: but I am far from suspecting either of any agency in the affair. I see no reason to doubt the good...
76To James Madison from James Monroe, 9 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
Every circumstance that has come to my Knowledge since my last, tends to confirm the doctrine it contains, that no time was to be lost in taking possession of Louisiana after the exchange of ratifications. It gives me great pleasure to find that the President has adopted the most decisive measures for that purpose. I hope in the course of a few weeks to hear that the ceded territory is in our...
77To James Madison from James Monroe, 12 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I enclose you the letter from Mr. Livingston wh. was referr’d to in my publick one of the 9th. It is to be presumed that this affr. is ended between him & me. I have adverted to the guaranty in my publick letter in all the lights in wh. it seemed to be applicable to the existing state of affrs. in relation to France & Spain. It appears probable that it may be necessary that some person shod....
78To James Madison from James Monroe, 16 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
I sent you by Liverpool lately a copy of Mr. Livingstons last letter to me relative to the guaranty, wh. communicated his having joined me in it. I send you herewith a duplicate of it, and a copy of my answer, which shews how the affr. is wound up. It is an incident wh. has given me much anxiety, as you will readily conceive, but I now flatter myself, in consideration of the manner of its...
79To James Madison from James Monroe, 2 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my last nothing interesting has taken place in any view on this side of the atlantick. I have been told that my note was referrd to the admiralty, from whom a report had not been recd wh. was the cause of delay in the answer; that the delay in the admiralty was in part owing to some changes in it, Sr. Evan Nepean being removed to Ireland in character of chief secry. to the Ld....
80To James Madison from James Monroe, 17 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have yours of the 26th. of decr (private[)] with those which accompanied it. No change of any kind has taken place in publick affrs. since my last. It will I think be more easy to form a treaty than obtain thro’ the admiralty any important change in the system as to impressments. I expect to receive further instructions by Mr. Baring, & powers if it is yr. wish to form a treaty. The King is...
81To James Madison from James Monroe, 25 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
The king has been several weeks and still continues to be dangerously ill. The report of his phisicians has been latterly favorable to his recovery, but the result by those who pretend to be best informed considered doubtful. No communication on the subject has been made to Parliament, nor will be while it can be avoided. It is said that the house of commons has been well attended lately in...
82To James Madison from James Monroe, 26 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. several letters of late from some of our friends, who complain of the arrangment or rather provision made in the treaties with France for American creditors, to whom they intimate an attention was paid wh. may embarrass our treasury. It is presumeable that we might have plac’d them on any reasonably satisfactory ground that we wod. have proposed; but as the payment of no part of...
83To James Madison from James Monroe, 2 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
I enclose you several letters on subjects wh. are explained by the parties, better than I can otherwise do. That of our friend La Fayette is no further material than as it mentions his not having recd. the copy of the grant by Congress. You will return it to me when we meet. Respecting those of Mr. Forbes I can only say that I think him a worthy man, very attentive to the enterest of his...
84To James Madison from James Monroe, 3 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you on the 26th. ulto a private letter which was sent with my publick one of the day before by Liverpool, respecting some objections wh. had been made to me by some friends to the arrangment abt. our citizens creditors of France in the late treaties with that power. I promised you in that letter one to some friends, open to be delivered or withheld as you thought fit, explanatory of...
85To James Madison from James Monroe, 12 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yr. communications by Mr. Baring, & shall write you in reply by Mr. Smith who sails the day after tomorrow (son of Genl. Smith) to New York. I shall avail myself of the same opportunity to write the President an acknowledgment of his. The object of this is to make known to you the bearer, a Mr. Herries, who visits our country with a view to make an establishment in the western or...
86To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have lately rece[i]ved by Mr. Baring your letters of the 5th. & 16. of Jany: that of Octr. 24th. with the documents mentioned in it had reached me at an earlier period. I rejoice to hear that our government has obtaind complete & quiet possession of Louisiana. Independant of the vast importance of the acquisition, which surely cannot be held in too high estimation, it is very satisfactory to...
87To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
My publick letter and the papers will give you every thing wh. is not communicated in my letter to the President. What has become of the convention formed by Mr. King just before he sailed from this country? You have not mentioned it in any communication of late. Mr. Baring tells me it was rejected, wh. is the only intelligence I have on the subject. In commencing a negotiation it is probable...
88To James Madison from James Monroe, 15 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
Soon after my last I requested an interview with Lord Hawkesbury which took place on the 2d instant, in which I informed him, that I had received your instructions to propose to his government, the regulation by Convention, of certain points which I was persuaded both countries would find their advantage in placing on explicit and equitable ground. I stated to his Lordship the concerns it was...
89To James Madison from James Monroe, 17 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
I enclose you two notes which I recd. from Baron Jacob, the Prussian minister here, requesting me to make enquiries respecting two persons mentioned in them, about whom he wishes to give information to his government. Will you be so good as make the necessary enquiries & communicate to me as soon as in yr. power what you hear respecting them. There is nothing new in our affairs here. The...
90To James Madison from James Monroe, 26 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yr. publick letter of Feby 14. & your private one of the 16. Having presented a project of a convention to Ld. H. in obedience to your instructions of Jany. 5., it seems adviseable, to reserve my communication with him on these latter topicks, for the opportunity wh. will be furnished me by his reply to that project, shod. the present ministry stand, wh. becomes by late events...
91To James Madison from James Monroe, 3 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
I received by duplicate two days past yours of March 5th. to which due attention shall be paid, in the progress of the business entrusted to me here. I had been advised by Commodore Preble of the blockade of Tripoli by the squadron under his command which he requested me to notify to this government. But as I doubted the propriety of the measure, I thought it best to take no step in it. Of...
92To James Madison from James Monroe, 5 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
My late letters will have communicated almost every thing that deserves notice at this time. The new ministry is not yet formed, but there seems now to be no doubt, of the present one’s withdrawing, & that Mr. Pitt, Mr. Fox, & their respective friends will take their places. The mind naturally looks forward to the consequences likely to result from such a change. The most probable & important...
93To James Madison from James Monroe, 22 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
As I shall write you a publick letter soon I take occasion to observe in this that the material changes in the ministry, are Mr. Pitt in the room of Mr. Addington, Ld. Harrowby in that of Ld. Hawkesbury who has taken that of Mr. Yorke retired; Ld. Melville at the head of the admiralty instead of Ld. St. Vincent. The Grenvilles & Wyndham refused to enter the ministry without Mr. Fox, who it is...
94To James Madison from James Monroe, 3 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
The late struggle in the parliament has produc’d the appointment of Mr. Pitt to the place of Mr. Addington, of Ld. Harrowby to that of Ld. Hawkesbury, the latter being removd to the home department from wh. Mr. Yorke retired, and Lord Melville to the head of the admiralty, in the room of Ld. St. Vincent. Not many other changes are made, the present ministry being formed principally of Mr. Pitt...
95To James Madison from James Monroe, 10 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
My last publick letter was of the 3d. instt.—my last private one of the 22d. ulto. In the publick letter I communicated to you what had passed between Ld. Harrowby & myself on the topicks depending between the UStates & this govt. in a conference specially obtained for the purpose. I omitted however what passed on another topick. You were apprizd by my private letter of the arrival of Mr....
96To James Madison from James Monroe, 12 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
You will receive with this a duplicate of a private letter sent some few days past by Liverpool. It is private from the reference it has to Mr. Livingston, of whom it may [be] better that any remarks however impartial which I make, shod. be thus convey’d. I hope you will receive that, as this being a bad copy from the press may not be easily read. I lately requested that you wod. be so good as...
97To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I received lately a letter from the house of Mackenzie and Glennie of this city giving an account of a fraud which has been practiced on them in the name of Commodore Preble, by which they have paid to his account in favor of the United States £4000. sterling. I transmit you a copy of their communication and beg to assure you that I shall not fail to make all the exertion in my power to trace...
98To James Madison from James Monroe, 23 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have just received your letter of the 15. of April containing instructions for the prosecution of our claims and interests which remain to be adjusted with Spain. I observed with pleasure that the pursuit of that object is made dependant on the state of our affairs here. Being deeply impressed with the importance of the trust with each power, and aware of its relative urgency, I beg you to...
99To James Madison from James Monroe, 28 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
My publick letter of the 23. acknowledges the rect. of yours of 15th april containg. instructions for Spain. My private one of June 10th. communicated the incidents attending Mr. Livingstons trip to this country, as far as they were known to me, with my opinion of the probable effect of it. From every information that I can obtain, it seems clear that it has given to the govt. very great...
100To James Madison from James Monroe, 1 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have made it a rule to throw together occasionally what occurr’d to me of fact or remark relative to our affairs, and give it you in a private letter in aid of my publick one. Altho this has been done without method yet I have hoped that you would be able to extract from the melange something that might be useful. About ten days since one of our vessels the Virga. captn. Dixon (I think it...
101To James Madison from James Monroe, 11 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
My last to you was of the first instant, since which nothing material has occurr’d here. The ministry rests on the same ground; the King enjoys the same state of health; and no overtures for peace are known or beleived to be made on either side. It is said, but on what authority I know not, that the govt. of France will not be indisposed, in any adjustment which may be made, to the restoration...
102To James Madison from James Monroe, 7 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
I received a note from Lord Harrowby on the 3d. instant requesting me to call on him at his office the next day, which I did. His Lordship asked me in what light was our treaty viewed by our goverment. I replied that it had been ratified with the exception of the 5th. Art:, as I had informed him on a former occasion. He observed that he meant the treaty of 1794, which by one of its...
103To James Madison from James Monroe, 10 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
My publick letter, which with this is committed to Mr. Pinkney, gives you the substance of the last communication which passed between Ld. Harrowby & myself respecting the questions depending with this govt. on our part. Whenever this govt. finds that our’s is established in its present system, that the great mass of the people are with it, and that the party on which it has relied as devoted...
104To James Madison from James Monroe, 15 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
I thought that Mr. Pinkney had concluded the business of the bank stock, when I wrote the last letter, but found that he had left it unfinished, for Deal to which place he followed the vessel, being compelled to go by the situation of Mrs. P., & his engagments with the captain. The state of the affr. promising a prompt conclusion on his return he was sent for & actually did return & conclude...
105To James Madison from James Monroe, 24 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
On the 21. I desired an interview of Lord Harrowby for the purpose of “ascertaining the sentiments and disposition of his majesty’s govt. on the subjects depending between the two nations” to which I recd. an answer the next day appointing the 29. for the meeting. I expect on that occasion either to conclude the business for the present by a postponment of it, or in case of agreement, to fix...
106To James Madison from James Monroe, 8 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I obtained an interview with Lord Harrowby on the first instant, which I had asked to ascertain the sentiments and disposition of his government on the subjects which I had long before submitted to it. The conference was free and full on every point, in which I urged every thing, which I could draw from the lights in my possession, to induce his government to adopt the convention which I had...
107To James Madison from James Monroe, 14 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
My publick letter of the 8th shew’d the state of affrs. here, since which nothing has occurr’d to change it, having recd. no reply from Lord Harrowby. As I inferr’d from what passed in the interview, that the cabinet was yet to deliberate on the whole subject, and of course that it had never acted on it before or even heard of it, for Lord Harrowby told me that by some casualty the project...
108To James Madison from James Monroe, 17 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my last of the 8th. I have received the enclosed note from Lord Harrowby which puts the period of my departure hence for Spain at a greater distance than I then supposed it to be. His trip to Weymouth may not take him from town more than a week, but that it appears is not likely to prove the only cause of delay. If the subjects between us are to be discussed, as he intimates, which...
109To James Madison from James Monroe, 25 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
This will be delivered to you by Col: Tatham who I have known for more than 20. years, at first a clerk of the council at Richmond. I have seen him here from my arrival to this period, frequently, and at his request, as he is about setting out for America, give him this to you. I consider him as a firm friend to the UStates of wh. he is a citizen, being there thro the whole of our revolution....
110To James Madison from James Monroe, 25 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I enclose you a press copy of my letter to you of the 14th. wh. I find however was not dated in the original sent by Liverpool. The postscript of the original is supplied by my official letter wh. accompanies this. I send this copy being anxious you shod. see the considerations wh. influence me at this time, or rather embarrass me. If I was to give an opinion as to the course to be taken, or...