1To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 30 May 1801 (Madison Papers)
Next to the pleasure of paying my respects to the President, & seeing my friends, my object in Visiting this place was to receive your instructions, & any information you may think it proper to afford me on the subject of my mission, as well as to assertain the time & manner of my departure, that I may make my domestic arrangments accord with them. I will do myself the honor to wait upon you...
2To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 13 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
At Philadelphia Mr: Latrobe and Mr: Rosevelt shewed me proposals that they were about submitting to your inspection and consideration relative to the mint and requested me to state to you my opinion thereon it is certain that the Coin we now make is very imperfect & that the manner of Coining is more expensive than that they proposed if we must Coin (which by the by I have always Considered as...
3To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 1 July 1801 (Madison Papers)
Since leaving Washington I have maturly reflected on the principles adopted by the President on the subject of neutral rights. The more I consider them, the more sound they appear to me. It has always been my opinion that the law of nations must necessarily take its complextion from the existing circumstances of nations, & must of course change with those circumstances. When the revenues of...
4To 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...
5To 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....
6To 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...
7To 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.
8To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 10 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 October 1801, New York. Reports Boston “got off the rocks last night” undamaged and will be ready to sail by Tuesday [13 Oct.]. In postscript, states that accounts from France confirm British capture of Cairo; believes Alexandria will follow. Notes that yellow fever in city has ceased. RC ( DNA : RG 59, DD , France, vol. 8). 1 p.; docketed by Wagner. The Boston finally sailed on 15 Oct....
9To 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...
10To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 22 November 1801 (Madison Papers)
I arrived this evening from L’Orient at this place, I have yet seen nobody here from whom I could collect any sort of information of what is doing at Paris. At L’Orient I met with Genl. Desfourneaux who is going with the armament that sails from that place for St. Domingo. He told me that it was probable that either Adet or Mr. De Puissay (who was Aid to the Marquis La Fayette & his fellow...
11To 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...
12To 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...
13To 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...
14To 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...
15To 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...
16To 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...
17To 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...
18To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 26 February 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have written to you by the way of havre & by that conveyance you will receive packets &c. but as I would wish to omit no opportunit[y] I send this to L’Orient from whence I am told that a vessel is about to sail for Norfolk. You will find by the notes I sent you at different times that the administration here preserve the most absolute silence as to every point on which I press them & I am...
19To 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...
20To 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...
21To 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...
22To 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...
23To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 24 April 1802 (Madison Papers)
I send with this duplicates of my two last letters & the notes that have since passed between me & the minister on the subject of prizes tho I found much clamor on my arrival I confess I have found less reason for it than I expected there are not more than four or five cases on which we have any just cause of complaint. The Winyaw mentioned in my note was evidently british property covered by...
24To 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...
25To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 10 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
Since my letter of this morning I have recieved farther information on the subjects there hinted at. In consequence of the resolution of the Tribunat mentioned in my letter a motion was brought forward in the Senate to invest the First Consul with the Consulate for life. This was violently opposed—one of the members in a most animated speech was so hurried on that He droped the following...
26To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 12 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have only to add to my last that as I conjectured the Consul has rejected the continuance of his term for ten yrs Upon the ground of his having recd his office from the people they only can add to it. The Council of State have in consequence referred it to the people to determine not whether he shall be consul for ten years but for life. This business creates not the least sensation here Nor...
27To 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 &...
28To 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...
29To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 8 June 1802 (Madison Papers)
Enclosed is the answer of the Spanish ambassadour to my letter a copy of which was forwarded on the 28 ult. It accords with the conclusions I drew from the delay of the expedition & the conduct of the Minister for exterior relations. I have had a conversation with Collot & Adet separatly I find that tho they both consider their going in official characters to Louisiania as settled yet that...
30To 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...