111To James Madison from William Wirt, 26 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
I understand that Mr. Boyle has resigned the government of the Illinois territory, and that Ninian Edwards, the President of the court of Appeals of Kentucky, has been thought of and perhaps named to you, as a fit successor. Having known Mr. Edwards, personally, from the time he was fourteen years of age untill he grew up to manhood and having for several years past maintained an intimate...
112To James Madison from Jonathan Bull and Others, ca. 26 April 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
Ca. 26 April 1809. Urges JM to appoint Henry Seymour as federal marshal for Connecticut. His father has been a staunch Republican in the state Senate and was recently defeated by vindictive Federalists. Young Seymour, like his father, is “a firm supporter of the Administration.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, Letters of Application, 1809–17). 2 pp. Signed by Bull and thirteen other Hartford merchants....
113To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 27 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 24th. came to hand last night. The correspondence between mr. Smith & mr. Erskine had been recieved three days before. I sincerely congratulate you on the change it has produced in our situation. It is the source of very general joy here, & could it have arrived one month sooner would have had important effects not only on the elections of other states, but of this also, from...
114To James Madison from Rodolphe Tillier, 27 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
To represent the present situation of these remote parts of the United States Territory may be of public service, to the wise administration of your Excelency; and can give no offence if founded on Fact & real Truth. Two years ago an Expidition has been made here under the command of Lieut. Pryor to take back the Mandan Chief & family, it failed on account of being coupled with a private...
115Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 27 April 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 24 th came to hand last night. the correspondence between mr Smith & mr Erskine had been recieved three days before. I sincerely congratulate you on the change it has produced in our situation. it is the source of very general joy here, & could it have arrived one month sooner would have had important effects not only on the elections of other states, but of this also, from which...
116To James Madison from James Taylor, 29 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
I am informed by The Honble John Coburn that he has lately rec[e]ived a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury informing him that he must not draw on him for his Sallery until he explanes the Circumstance of his bills being uniformly dated from this state. From the intimacy between us & the connection between our families I think I have a pretty correct Idea of his veiws & intentions and I...
117To James Madison from Cathrine Wolger, 29 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
The humble Petition of the Subscriber to your Excellency begs leave to represent to you that she has been Confined in the City Goal for an Assault and Battery, and still remains Confined for the fines & fees which she [is] unable to discharge, she therefore solicits you will have the goodness to grant her a free Release from her present Confinement & she will be in duty bound ever to pray for...
118To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 30 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
The bearer of this letter, Mr. Pickman, is a Gentleman with whom for many years I have had the pleasure of a very intimate acquaintance, and for whose character I have had every reason to entertain the highest esteem. Being elected a member of the House of Representatives of the United States, to the present Congress, he is desirous of a personal introduction to the President, and in taking...
119To James Madison from Charles Willson Peale, 30 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
The Museum has increased very importantly since your visit to Philada. and the order and management of it meets with the approbation of all scientific men who have visited it, foreigners as well as Americans, every one agreeing in the sentiment that it ought to be national Property. I feel no trouble or difficulty in maintaining its order and extended usefulness, except what now arises for...
120To James Madison from William George Vidal, 30 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
The question who is to govern the Kingdom of Spain seems now to be decided. It is evident that in this continent the greatest and a very considerable part of the circulating intrinsic value medium came from Spain and its Colonies; that the expences of the coinage thereof are inconsequent, when compared to the deprivation of the intrinsic value itself, out of the orbit it was intended for. The...
121To James Madison from John G. Jackson, 1 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that my calculations as to the vote of Brooke County have been more than realized the Vote in it was Jackson 206—Lindsley 37 making an aggregate majority of 454 votes which is 100 more than at any antecedent election. If the accommodation with England had preceded the election—an accommodation as honorable to the Executive as gratifying to the nation: the...
122To James Madison from Catherine Johnson, 1 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Sir , having Received the enclosed Letter from New Orleans, from the best of Sons, with a Request that I shou’d Present it to you Sir, I am induced, Perhaps beyond the bounds of Strict Propriety, in assuming A liberty, which can only be forgiven, by the Philantrophy and benevolence of your own heart, to the humanity which marks your Private Character, do I Sir make My Appeal, Conscious that...
123To James Madison from William McKinley, 1 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have taken the liberty of enclosing Some addresses &c in order that you may be able to form a corect Idea of your friends & enemies in this part of the U. S. Enclosure A. is a statement of our election. B. Federal resolutions & Address C. Republican Address D. a reply & remarks upon said Address, so far as they relat⟨e⟩ to me personally they are false, I had determined to have Sued the...
124To James Madison from the Republican Meeting of Accomack County, Virginia, [1 May] 1809 (Madison Papers)
At a numerous meeting of the freeholders and other citizens of the county of Accomack convened on monday the first day of May 1809. at the Court-house of said county for the purpose of expressing their opinions upon the subject of the late negotiations at Washington between the Honorable David Montague Erskine, his Britannic Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, and the...
125To James Madison from David Bailie Warden, 1 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor of lately writing to you to congratulate You on your elevation to the Presidency of the United States. I now take the liberty of addressing you concerning my situation as Consul, and of praying you to continue me in my present office. My knowledge of some of the most useful modern languages, particularly of French, and the acquaintance I have already made with the authorities...
126To James Madison from James Wilkinson, 1 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
The extraordinary nature of the Communication I am about to make, and the Interests of the Person committed to my discretion, will I hope excuse my deviation, from the Ordinary course of my Correspondence, by addressing you directly. I yesterday had a most particular conversation with Governor Folch, & found his Mind decisively made up, as to the course he will pursue should European Spain be...
127To James Madison from Charles W. Goldsborough, 2 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
In the instructions to the several commanding Officers to lay up the gun boats, they were required to report to this Department, their respective opinions of the qualifications of the sailing masters recently appointed to command gun boats, and we are now receiving their reports accordingly. With your approbation I will proceed to dismiss all those of whom unfavorable reports have thus been...
128To James Madison from William Duane, 3 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Public motives, such as I conceive calculated to render service to the interests and honor of your administration, induce me to take the liberty of addressing you. The unhappy conflict which has arisen out of the case of Olmstead is now quieted so far as the law and the parties in that case are invol⟨ved⟩. The Militia men who under a blind opinion of obedience to their superiors have...
129To James Madison from Michael Leib, 3 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Yesterday General Bright and those associated with him in resisting the process of the district court, were sentenced to fine and imprisonment, and accordingly committed to prison. The public sensation on this event is considerable, and is transferring itself from the outrage upon the law, to those who are now suffering under it. A distinction is made between the legality and the justice of...
130To James Madison from James Maury, 3 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to present you my congratulations on your becoming president of the United States, hoping you will experience that comfort in the office, which those, who undertake so arduous an one under the influence of such motives as your’s, so highly merit. The partial repeal of the Embargo law was indeed very unexpected in this country; but the late revocation of the orders in council has...
131To James Madison from William Pinkney, 3 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have had the Honour to receive your Letter of the 17h. of March, and thank you sincerely for your kind Wishes. Permit me to offer you my cordial Congratulations upon the Manner in which you have been called to the Presidency. Such a Majority at such a Time is most honourable to our Country and to you. My Trust is that with the progress of your administration your Friends will grow in...
132To James Madison from Larkin Smith, 3 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Having at all times felt the most ardent desire to promote the interest and happiness of my Country, and to give my zealous support to a Government which I consider to be entirely calculated to produce these desirable effects; I now take the liberty to suggest to your Excellency the advantages which I believe would result, from the appointment of an officer of intelligence, and correct...
133To James Madison from James Dinsmore, 4 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Your favours of the 16th & 24 Ult have been received and Shall be attended to, the articles Sent for by the waggon have Come to hand except the Grindstone which the waggoner Says he forgot to Call for. We are at present engaged in preparing flooring plank for the Colonnade it being the only Stuff we have kiln dryed, or indeed I May Say Sawed, Mr Gooch has engaged Sawyers to Cut by hand, to...
134To James Madison from Charles W. Goldsborough, 4 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
With your approbation the enclosed letter to Comre. Rodgers will be forwarded and a similar proposition will be made, through the commanding officers, to all the supernumerary meritorious sailing masters. I incline to the opinion that the Government can retain the greater portion without any expence; and thus, on emergency, have a corps of valuable men, selected from personal knowledge of...
135To James Madison from William Pinkney, 4 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Will you permit me to make known to you a young Gentleman (Mr. Robert Walsh Junr. of Baltimore) for whom I have a particular Regard and whose extraordinary Merit will I am sure recommend him to your Notice & Esteem? I can truly say of him that he has the best Heart in the World—that he possesses a superiour Mind cultivated with Care, and informed by the most extensive Knowledge, and enriched...
136To James Madison from John Frazer, 4 May 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 May 1809, Washington. Frazer, a slave dealer, has lost a considerable sum owing to a peculiar circumstance. A cargo of his slaves consigned to the U.S. was forced into St. Kitts on a vessel “found to be unseaworthy.” While the ship was being repaired a U.S. law was passed prohibiting further slave importations. In St. Kitts, all the slaves were sold except four afflicted with leprosy. Frazer...
137To James Madison from John Cox, 5 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
You will receive by the bearer $727 2/100 as ⅌ statement below. Should Mrs. Madison or yourself have commands either to Philadelphia or Balte. It will give me pleasure to execute them; I set out on Sunday Morning. Most respectfully your Obt. St. Amount of your note 5,000 Discount 47 50 Net amt. of note $4952.50 Your Old note 2384.78 Order on Mr Latrobe 840.70 Amount passed to your Cr....
138To James Madison from George W. Erving, 5 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
With my last dispatches to the department of state I had the honor to address you a private letter dated April 14t; since then the spaniards have been rapidly repairing their military disasters in this quarter, but king Joseph is regulating the affairs of his government at Madrid by the appointment of Tribunals, councils &c as tho he had possession of the whole country; nevertheless his army...
139To James Madison from Thomas Leiper, 5 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
General Michael Bright certainly acted against Law when he obeyed the orders of Governor Snyder but at the same time the General did believe he had no discretionary powers but to act as he was ordered. The Grand Jury to my knowledge sixteen out of the nin[e]teen found the Bill and the sixteen were astonished at the three when they pronunced the Bill not true. Their are none who justify the...
140To James Madison from James Lovell, 5 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
As the fiercest Tyrant and the mildest philosopher possess equally the power of self-examination, so the whole human race may be allowed to search after the source of Life & of Morals. Such search, conducted by Reason, and proceeding downwards from the branching-ends of both those Trees, will assuredly find only the single common tap-root to be Self-Love. As no President of these United States...
141To James Madison from Charles W. Goldsborough, 8 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
In answer to Mr. Macgregor’s letter to you —I have informed him that there is not, at this time, any vacancy. The case of the son of W. G Anderson was attended to a few days since. The son is prodigiously clever—but unhappily for him, by severe exposure in gun boats, he has nearly lost the use of his limbs. I have, in consideration of his merit & sufferings, attached him to the Norfolk...
142To James Madison from Jacob Read, 8 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to offer you my Congratulations on your Election to the Office of the Supreme Executive of the United States, and my Very Sincere Wishes that your Presidency may be happy and honorable to yourself, and peaceful and prosperous to our Country, which has Conferred on you So distinguished a Mark of Confidence and respect. I hope Sir I do not presume too far on our former Acquaintance...
143To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 9 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I observed with pleasure in your inaugural speech that you still keep in view the immense importance of public improvements, the advancement of science, & the general diffusion of information, as essential to the happiness of our country. And I cannot but hope that the time is now approaching when some portion of the attention of Congress may be fixt on these objects. The ample scope of your...
144To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 9 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
The Encyclopedie methodique which I have to dispose of is complete as far as the 58th. livraison, and I shall agree to complete it as soon as the intercourse is open, as I presume the impression is finished. I have on hand in text 93 whole vols. bound 14 half vols. in boards. in plates 12 whole vos. bound & 15 half vos. in boards The price, as I find by a note stuck into one of the vols. &...
145To James Madison from David Gelston, 11 May 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 May 1809, New York. Has received a bill of lading from William Jarvis in Lisbon “for two pipes and one quarter cask Wine, and two boxes Citron.” Promises to send the wine and an account of expenses to JM in Washington. RC ( DLC ). 1 p. Docketed by JM.
146To James Madison from James Leander Cathcart, 12 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I was honor’d with your esteem’d favor of the 13th. March on the 28th. Ulto. & I most Sincerely congratulate you & our Country on the Success of your election, & hope you may live long to enjoy the fruits of your labours in the full confidence of the worthy part of the Community however they may differ in political matters. The Wines you order’d me to Send you are Ship’d by the Madeira as ⅌....
147To James Madison from Philip Freneau, 12 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
After a Months ramble through the States of New Jersey and New York, I returned to this place on Saturday last, and found Your friendly Letter on Mrs. Bailey’s table, with the contents. There was no occasion of inclosing any Money, as Your Name was all I wanted to have placed at the head of the Subscription list. I hope You will credit me when I say that the republication of these Poems, such...
148To James Madison from John Sevier, 12 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
About the 20th of August the Agents for the State of Tennes’see, purpose holding a Treaty with the Cherokee Indians, in expectation of extinguishing the claim of that Nation, to part of the lands Situated within the Chartered limits of the State. Permit me to observe, that on the North Side of Tennessee River, there is yet by computation about one Million three hundred thousand Acres of land,...
149To James Madison from Charles W. Goldsborough, 12 May 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 May 1809, Navy Department. James Owen, “lately appointed a surgeon’s mate in the navy,” has arrived in Washington too late to join the frigate United States before her departure. An extract of a letter from Commodore John Rodgers to Goldsborough, critical of Owen, is enclosed. “With your approbation I will dismiss him, allowing him his expences back to his home.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG...
150To James Madison from John Lang and John Turner, 13 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
For us, in a some-what humble sphere thus to address a man elevated to the highest office in the gift of an enlightened nation, may appear rather presumptuous; particularly, as we have a favor to ask, the granting of which is exclusively in your power. It is—that you would favor us with a copy of your next Message (or Speech) at the extra. session of Congress, at so early an hour that we may...
151To James Madison from the Right Reverend James Madison, 14 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Permit me to make known to you, Mr. Greenhow, a very worthy & respectable Inhabitant of this Place, & who wishes to be gratified with your Acquaintance. I congratulate you, most sincerely, on the irresistible Demonstration, which has been given, of the Wisdom & sound Policy of the Measures of the Genl. Govt, with Respect to our foreign Relations. Be pleased to present my best Regards to Mrs....
152To James Madison from Paul Hamilton, 14 May 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 May 1809. Covering letter from Secretary Hamilton accompanies a memorandum on the condition of ships of the line and gunboats. Of the fourteen commissioned ships, all but three “are ready for service at a moment’s warning; & the frigates United States & Essex & corvette Jno. Adams are very nearly ready.” All of the gunboats except those stationed in New Orleans “have been placed in a State...
153To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 15 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
The expenditure of the office of the Surveyor of the Public buildings prior to the death of the late clerk of the works were as follows: Salary of the Clerk of the Works, Pr Annum $1.400 Office and house rent, from 150 to 250, say 200 A Subordinate clerk appointed at the commencement of the Year 1808 being found absolutely necessary at 1.25 pr Day, say 300 days in each Year } 375 Total...
154To James Madison from James Dinsmore, 16 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I received by Sundays Mail your favour of the 12th inst. and Shall accordingly accommodate our work to the present height of the Ceiling. We yesterday Made a general examination of the Chimneys and find that it would not be prudent (if practicable) to Attempt any alteration in the Chimneys without takeing them down from the begining of the Shaft, the Shaft I beleive May be Saved: it is yet...
155To James Madison from David Ramsay, 17 May 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 May 1809, Charleston. Introduces Thomas Heyward, son and namesake of the signer of the Declaration of Independence. RC ( DLC ). 1 p.
156To James Madison from Pierpont Edwards, 18 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I did myself the honor to address you under the date of March the 13th., which letter however I thot proper to retain untill the 4th. of April, on which day I put it into the mail. I was influenced to adopt this course of proceeding by a desire to converse with the Marshal, on the subject to which, in that letter, I took the liberty of directing your attention. On the 30th. of March I saw him;...
157To James Madison from Albert Gallatin, 18 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I return the message with some general observations, but can offer nothing more precise, having an incipient intermittent [fever] very unpropitious to sound criticism & to correctness of expression. Respectfully Your obedt. Servt. The conciliatory dispositions of the U. S.—spirit of accommodation always felt by this Govt.—promptitude & cordiality shewn by us &ca. This treble repetition of the...
158To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 18 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
This will be delivered to you by Mr John Crow who is an applicant for the office of Marshall which it is expected, I understand, will become vacant before long, by the resignation of Paul Lewis. Mr Crow has been personally known to me a considerable time. In political Sentiment he has been uniform, and has been active on the Republican Side. He has been repeatedly Supported as the candidate...
159To James Madison from Robert Brent, 19 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
My Appointment, as Mayor of this City will expire on the last of this Month. I take the liberty of intimating to you, least you should think of Conferring that appointment again on me, that it will neither be proper, or in my power, to act again. My other duties, both of a public & private nature, have heretofore prevented, & will continue to prevent me from attending to the duties of that...
160To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 20 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have heard, Dear Sir, with no small surprize, that charges have been preferred against Doctor Waterhouse, for misconduct as physician of the U. S. marine hospital at Charleston. I have been intimately acquainted with the Doctor for thirty years, so far at least as to have been able to form for myself, a correct opinion, which has ever been a respectful one, of his moral, political, &...