1From Abigail Smith Adams to James Monroe, 3 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
upon the 23d of Feb’ry mr Adams addrest a Letter to you, and inclosed a private Letter from my Son at St Petersburgh to me, requesting a return of it by the next Mail. as the Letter has not been received I presume in the multiplicity of buisness, It has been forgotten. You will oblige me by sending it, and at the same time do me the favour to forwarding the packet which accompanies this Letter...
2From Abigail Smith Adams to James Monroe, 20 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have this day the pleasure of your Letter of April 10th with the inclosure. The intelligence you have been pleased to communicate to mr Adams, and to me, occasion many reflections in my mind. But with respect, to the path of Duty before me, I have not any hesitation. Early taught to relinquish all personal considerations and enjoyments, at the call of my Country, Surrounded with a young...
3Jacob Adams to James Monroe, 9 January 1814 (Madison Papers)
I have your favor of the 5h. and shall pay due attention to the same. In two days from this shall be ready to proceed to sea, I am still of opinion, the ship will not get away before this day week. Should you wish to send any Dispatches or messengers by setting out Imedy. they will be in time, should it be your wish, I can proceed with my ship to Gottenburg (while my return passengers are...
4From John Adams to James Monroe, 23 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 15th, and the able Report of the Committee of foreign relations, and a very conciliatory Bill for the regulation of Seamen &c. I call it conciliatory, because in Theory it Should appear to be So; and because I believe it was sincerely intended to be so. The views were upright and the Motives pure, which produced it, I have no doubt. But will the present...
5From John Adams to James Monroe, 25 May 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have received, Letters from my Family at St. Petersbourg, at two Several Times, under the Seal of The Department of State, and honoured with the Frank of your Name. I ought to have acknowledged the first by the return of the Post: but I hope you will excuse that omission and Accept my Thanks for both at once. I wish you Sir, in your important and difficult office, all the Honour, Comfort and...
6From John Adams to James Monroe, 28 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the frank and friendly communication in your kind letter of the 19th. of the Arrangement for the Negotiations at St. Petersburg. I have no Objection to make to it. The Points of Rank and Ettiquette, of Such vast acknowledged importance in Europe, and felt by every Man in America to be more consequence here than any Man will acknowledge; are So unsettled in this Country, that I...
7From John Adams to James Monroe, 21 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
As you have many Years to live, and are likely to have Buissness enough to do with your Countrymen as long as you live: I Shall claim a merit rather than make an Apology for introducing to you George Ticknor Esqr a Schollar, a Lawyer and a Gentlemen very greatly esteemed in this northern Region. Knowing the imensity of your Burthens at this time I have no wish to increase them: but knowing...
8From John Adams to James Monroe, 17 December 1816 (Adams Papers)
All our intelligent Travellers to Washington, I find have an ambition to See both the present, and future President of the United States. I beg leave to introduce to you Colonelt William Sumner and his Sister, Miss Elizabeth Sumner, Children of our late Governor Sumner. Col Sumner has not only the Advantages of the best public Education at Colledge, and the Bar, but of many years service in...
9From John Adams to James Monroe, 19 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for The Copy of The Presidents Message, and for the Volume of Documents. They do great honour to The President, to his Ministers and Ambassadors: and I rejoice in the Appearance of unanimity they have produced in Congress and in The Nation: which not withstanding all the apprehensions representations and Threats of Divisions, is greater than I have ever known in America for fifty...
10From John Adams to James Monroe, 20 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 10th. of this month has laid me under very great Obligations to you. No intelligence could be more agreable to me, than the information, that the conduct of my Son has the entire approbation of The President. As a public Man I have no views for him, but to such Services as The President Shall assign him. As a private person, though his absence and the loss of his Society is...
11From John Adams to James Monroe, 1 March 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have to thank you for the Presidents message, and for a pacquet from our fellow Citizen La Fayette. I have also the honour to enclose a letter from C H Robbins, in favour of his brother. There Robinses, are Sons of our once Lieutenant Governor, now Judge of Probate. They are respectable people & have respectable connections. You probably know mr Forbes. There may be many applications from...
12From John Adams to James Monroe, 7 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour of your Letter of the 27 Ap. accompanied with one from St Petersbourg, for which, as well as for another which I received Sometime Since; and neglected to acknowledge, I pray you to accept my thanks. I am Sorry you had a moment’s uneasiness on account of the Accident you mention. I wish you had read the whole letter, not for any information in it, but to make you Smile at the...
13From John Adams to James Monroe, 23 November 1812 (Adams Papers)
Does History or Experience, afford an Example, of Such a Phenomenon, as this, now exhibited to Mankind, by our pious, virtuous and patriotic American Republick, whether We view it as a federative Republick, or whether We consider the Single and Simple Parts that compose the whole? The dread, of Taxes, to which all Mankind have a natural Antipathy; the hatred of War, which is Stronger in the...
14From John Adams to James Monroe, 6 December 1816 (Adams Papers)
Although, our good old Massachusetts, has encore quelques Prejuges; yet I find that all our liberal minded Men have a Strong desire to See our past present and future Presidents. They hesitate not to ask me for Introductions; and I hesitate not to give them; knowing as I do the past, present and future President to be as liberal Men as themselves. They all return So full of Gratitude for their...
15Ezekiel Bacon to James Monroe, 21 February 1814 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 12th. Inst. accompanying my commission as Comptroller of the Treasury was received by the last mail. I am not insensible of the high honor done me by this very unexpected mark of confidence on the part of the President. The circumstance of its being so entirely unexpected & out of the range of all my past calculations, will I trust be thought sufficient to justify me in asking a...
16Burwell Bassett to James Monroe, 6 March 1814 (Madison Papers)
I was peculiarly anxious to have communicated freely with you before I left Washington relative to the situation of our lower country. But I was hurried from Washington so as to deprive me of the opportunity of calling. Permit me now to call your attention to that subject. The situation of the Northern neck is familiar to you that of the other necks namely Gloucester and Hampton is simular....
17Stephen Belknap to James Monroe, 24 March 1813 (Madison Papers)
Knowing it an indispensable duty I owe, our beloved Cuntry at this momentous period, (and equally due from every good Citizen) to make every effort for her defence aganst the Stratagems of, both Foren, & domestic foes, and to give information of approaching dangers: Permit me to make the following communication, as lately made known to me by an inteligent gentleman now present, (but will leave...
18Juan Bautista Bernabeu to James Monroe, 29 August 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 August 1813, Baltimore , “ Spanish Consul’s Office .” “On my return home from a little excursion I had the honor to receive the letter you was pleased to address me under date of the 19th. inst. inclosing copies of one from the Collector of Savannah and another from the prize-master of the British Schooner Maria; who with other Citizens of the United States, is detained at the Havana; in...
19James H. Blake to James Monroe, 31 December 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ James H. Blake to James Monroe. 31 December 1813, Washington. “In consequence of the Death of Col. George Gilpin, the office of Judge of the Orphans Court in the County of Alexandria—has become vacant. “I have been requested to communicate to you, for the information of the President, that Col. Francis Peyton of that place would accept the appointment. “Col. Peytons high & respectable...
20Sylvanus Bourne to James Monroe, 26 October 1815 (Madison Papers)
It is now asserted here with confidence that Mr. Tencate, late Secretary of Legation from this Country to ours will Soon return thence as Chargé des Affaires & that no future Minister will be appointed to the U States. If this proves true & etiquette may occasion the removal of our minister here to Some other destination in which Case I beg leave respectfully to renew my hopes for the...
21Bowie and Kurtz to James Monroe, 18 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
As you were pleased to say to our Senior, at the interview he had the honor to have with you on Saturday last, that you would take into consideration, and give an early answer, to the proposal he made to you, of trying our claim on the United States, for the ship Allegany and our part of her Cargo, lost at Gilbraltar in their service, in the form of an amicable Suit, in one of the Courts of...
22Jacob Brown to James Monroe, 11 October 1814 (Madison Papers)
I observed in the National Intelligencer a letter addressed to me from Comdre. Chauncy, dated August 10th. My answer to this letter has not been published. This omission on the part of the Comdre. or his friend has induced me to send you a Copy of my reply with a request that it may appear in the paper selected by the Secretary of the Navy, With high respect, Your very humble Servt. Your...
23Pierce Butler to James Monroe, 19 December 1814 (Madison Papers)
I trouble You with reluctance, knowing how occupied You must be. I coud not promise myself attention from any other head of a Department. I had a letter on Saturday from the Man who has the Superintendance of my Estate; he informs that the Enemy are Committing great depredations near my property; that the formerly well and comfortably settled Island of Great St Simons, which produced so...
24William Carruthers to James Monroe, 12 December 1816 (Madison Papers)
Althoug Verry Slightly if at all Known to You, I hope the liberty I propose Takeing of Troubling You With my Ideas on a few Subjects that I think Interest Our Country Will not be thought Troublesome. Haveing Taken a long Ride this fall through the Western Country, Some Subjects of a public Nature came under my Observation Which I think Worth Mentioning to Some Member of the Administration....
25François Changuion to James Monroe, 16 January 1815 (Madison Papers)
Desirant envoyer vers le mois de Mars ou d’Avril prochain un Cartel porteur de déepeches à mon Gouvernement, et etant informé que l’Amiral Anglais Cockburn se trouve dans la Chesapeak, je prends la liberté Monsieur de vous prier de vouloir bien accorder à Mr. Janssand porteur de la présente une permission pour Se rendre à bord du Vaisseau Amiral, mais si contre mon attente l’Amiral Cockburn ne...
26Isaac Clason and Others to James Monroe, 21 January 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 January 1813, New York. “Several persons, neutral foreigners, as well as Americans, whose private affairs require their presence in England have applied to us to procure them passages, and having now in this Port a very fine ship lying idle, we ask permission to send her to England as a cartel to be commanded by our Cap. Joseph Skinner and Cap N. Willis or one of them.” Remark that the...
27William Cocke to James Monroe, 24 February 1813 (Madison Papers)
In my last I promised to advise you of the result of the Voninteer Expedition from East Tennessee United with the troops of the United States that march against the Semenolia Indians after a march of near Seven hundred miles with out being retarded by Ice Snow hammocks or Marshes which afforded the Enemy great Oppertunities for advantague we arrived at Paynes Town in the Lochway Settlements...
28Isaac Cox Barnet to James Monroe, 23 February 1813 (Madison Papers)
My Several communications by Doctor Stevens were under dates of the 25th. to the 30th. January inclusively, and I had the honor of adressing to you copies by Mr Doolittle with a letter introductory of him—on the 11st. [ sic ] Inst. Both these Gentlemen, according to last accounts—must be now about putting to sea the first from Nantes—the latter from L’Orient. From the high approbation lately...
29William Harris Crawford to James Monroe, 5 April 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. a letter from Genl Floyd (which I enclose for your perusal) giving an account of the transactions which have lately taken place at Amelia Island under the Auspices of Genl Mathews. From this account, the affair is worse than I had expected. The veracity and intelligence, & I may add, the patriotism of the writer, exclude the idea of misrepresentation, or mistake in the...
30Benjamin W. Crowninshield to James Monroe, 25 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
It has taken me more time than I was aware of obtain any information respecting the Fisheries; the Paper marked (a) is from our Friend Judge Story and the information or facts from a Marblehead practical Man, and may be I think fully relied upon but you should look at a good chart to understand it. The Paper marked B. is from Mr Bentley and rather shews what value we and other Nations have put...
31Thomas Dawes to James Monroe, 1 February 1817 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed is a copy of a Memorial from the Massachusetts Peace Society which from civility due to the President of the United States ought to have been transmitted to him when the Original was presented to Congress. The Society very much regret the unintentional omission, and now request you would do them the honor of submitting to him as soon as convenient, the inclosed copy for his...
32David Curtis DeForest to James Monroe, 30 October 1816 (Madison Papers)
Although I am very sensible that any request of mine will have but little weight with the President I think it my duty to request you to inform him that I am in posession of property to a large amount belonging to Citizens of the U. States &, that, as it is impossible to realize its value at the present moment, I fear it will be difficult to remit it in safety without some naval force to...
33George W. Erving to James Monroe, 16 March 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have transmitted to you lately copies of my correspondence with Mr Morris; I had intended to have accompanied these with some observations on the character of that gentleman’s agency, & of his qualifications, drawn from his communications & from those which have reached me unofficially & indirectly, but was restrained by an apprehension that I might possibly have formed my judgement too...
34William Eustis to James Monroe, 21 March 1815 (Madison Papers)
Doctor Francis Le Barron, the Apothecary General of the army, apprehending his office to be abolished by Law, has applied to me requesting a statement of his past duties & services, and I take pleasure in doing him justice. I found him a regimental surgeon of long standing and equal at least in merit to any gentleman of his standing. Great complaints had been made of medicines & hospital...
35Michael Garber to James Monroe, 1 June 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 June 1812, Washington. “I have invented a new method of constructing and throwing a Bomb Shell upon which the resistance of the atmosphere will be so small as that the shell may be sent three times the distance, which the same quantity of Powder, would send a common one; & with much the greater accuracy as it flies thro’ the air on the principle of a rifle Ball. I am fully convinced that I...
36William Gaston to James Monroe, 18 February 1816 (Madison Papers)
I am informed by a letter received from a respectable friend that under the Proclamation of the President of the U. S. ordering Intruders on the Public Lands to be removed, the Marshal for the District of Tennessee has given notice to the Tenants settled upon a Tract within the Congressional reservation, claimed under a Grant issued by the State of No. Carolina, that unless they remove...
37Aquila Giles to James Monroe, 3 August 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
3 August 1813, New York. “I hope it will not be considered as trespassing too much on your time, again to solicit the favor of you, to use your influence with the President, to obtain for me the Command of one of [the] Regiments to be raised for the defence of this City. I think I can with confidence say, that such an appointment, would be very generally acceptible to the Citizens of all...
38Elias Glenn to James Monroe, 15 January 1817 (Madison Papers)
Immediately upon the receipt of your letter of the 3rd. of this month, I applied to the Collector of this Port for such information relative to the Schooner Mangore as he had the means of giving, and upon Ascertaining the extent of his knowledge, I drew up a Statement embracing all the points of information which were within his power to substantiate on oath, which when sworn to by him, was...
39Vincent Gray to James Monroe, 14 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
Supposing that it would not be uninteresting to you to hear something relative to the unfortunate Sufferers in Fort Principe, from Florida, I take leave to enclose to you herewith, the answer of the Captain General to my note on that subject; written in conseguence [ sic ] of a letter recd. from Governor Claiborne, in behalf of those unfortunate men. His Excellency the Captain General, does...
40William Henry Harrison to James Monroe, 26 January 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to enclose herewith a duplicate of my letter of the 25th. Inst: together with the official report of Col: Lewis, to Genl. Winchester of the Action of the 18th. Inst: (No 1.) That you may be enabled to judge of the propriety of the Steps which were taken by me previously to the unfortunate event at the River Raisin, I proceed to give you an account of the Situation of the...
41Andrew Jackson to James Monroe, 12 May 1816 (Madison Papers)
Since I wrote you on the 8th. instant, I have had the pleasure of seeing Genl Coffee, The Genl has shewn me the whole correspondance between him & the other commissioners. The whole evidence of the right of Territory ceded by the creeks, which he included in the lines ran by him, The evidence of right in the creeks to the Territory Thus included in the lines ran by Genl Coffee appear clear &...
42Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 10 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
It would seem mighty idle for me to inform you formally of the merits of Col o Trumbull as a painter or as a man. yet he asks my notice of him to my friends , as if his talents had not already distinguished him in their notice. on the continent of Europe his genius was placed much above West ’s. Baron Grimm , the arbiter of taste at Paris in my day, expressed to me often his decided & high...
43Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 16 October 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 10 th has been duly recieved. the objects of our contest being thus entirely changed by England , we must prepare for interminable war. to this end we should put our house in order, by providing men and money to indefinite extent. the former may be done by classing our militia, and assigning each class to the description of duties for which it is fit. it is nonsense to talk...
44Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 3 November 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The strange jumble of names, places, & titles on the inclosed letter seemed to authorise me to open it, as it does also to forward it to you. yet it properly belongs to neither of us but to the Secretary of the Treasury to whom it makes splendid promises. Our election of electors took place yesterday. a general assurance that there would be no opposition ticket prevented half the voters from...
45Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 28 September 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you the letters on finance, for perusal. I had not an opportunity of proposing the reading them to the President , there being much company with him. when will the ladies & yourself do us the favor of a visit? RC ( NN : Monroe Papers); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “The Secretary of State”; with endorsement and notes by Monroe on verso. Not recorded in SJL . Enclosures: TJ to...
46Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 23 May 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose a letter from a M r John Dortic , who being bound to France shortly and to return again, wishes to be the bearer of any dispatches the government may have for that country. of this person I know nothing more than that he brought me lately a packet of seeds from M. Thouin Director of the National garden of France , which he very kindly notified me of from N.Y. and afterwards forwarded...
47Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 16 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last to you , the Directors of the Rivanna company have changed their minds, and instead of going through my canal they have determined to go through the bed of the river; and it being a question between us, whether they or I must build & maintain the lock at my dam, which dam they must have built had I not done it, they have proposed a reference to Arbitrators, to which I gladly...
48Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 21 January 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
When I retired from the government, I yielded with too much facility, first to the importunities of my friends to aid them in getting commands in the army and navy, next of mere acquaintances, and lastly of those also of whom I knew nothing. the business became laborious and irksome to myself, and, as I was sufficiently sensible, embarrassing and unpleasant to the government. determined at...
49Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 5 May 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor on your departure from Richmond came to hand in due time. altho’ I may not have been among the first, I am certainly with the sincerest who congratulate you on your reentrance into the public National councils. your value there has never been unduly estimated by those whom personal feelings did not misguide. the late misunderstandings at Washington have been a subject of real...
50Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 11 January 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for your letter of the 6 th . it is a proof of your friendship, and of the sincere interest you take in whatever concerns me. of this I have never had a moment’s doubt, and have ever valued it as a precious treasure. the question indeed whether I knew or approved of Gen l Wilkinson’s endeavors to prevent the restoration of the right of deposit at N. Orleans could never require a...