251From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, 18 July 1815 (Madison Papers)
You will receive herewith the Commission which conveys your appointment as Secretary for the Department of war. It will afford me great pleasure if it should be consistent with your present views to accept it. The delay in communicating with you on the subject has proceeded from the calculation that you would have left Europe before a dispatch could reach it. I leave this one in the hands of...
252From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, 6 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
The limited prosecution of the plan of Lt. Gadsden, which you suggest may be proper. A general system of works on which the permanent security of N.O. is to depend, and which will probably call for a million of dollars, ought not to be hastily adopted at a moment as little threatening as the present. The observations of the young Engineer indicate good sense; but it may well be supposed that...
253From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, 29 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
I return the draught of instructions to the Commissioners for treating with the Chicasaw Indians. Not being aided by a map, I am not sure that I understand distinctly all your demarkations. I take for granted they are correct, unless it be otherwise in the reference to the portion of the Chicasaw lands lying within the State of Tennessee. You will be able to decide on re-examining that part of...
254From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, 4 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
Previous to the rect. of yours of the 30th. aug. I had in acknowleging that written from Georgia, said what occurred on the subject of Dr. Bibb. I can add nothing now but a suggestion for consideration how far the Creek Agency could with propriety be offered to him. I am aware at the same time of the great probability that it would not be accepted, and of the possibility that the offer even...
255From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, 21 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
I return the letter of Genl: Gaines with the papers connected with it. It is to be hoped & much to be wished that a resort to the extreme measures contemplated may not be necessary: and it may be better that they shd. result from military discretion guided by imperious emergencies, than be prescribed by the Executive, without the sanction of the authority more competent to such decisions. In...
256From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, 21 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
I return the letter from Mr Hall inclosed in yours of the 19th. The fullest confidence is due to the truth of his statement and to the purity of his views. But it seems impossible to yield the sanction he suggests, to the wishes of his neighbours respectable as they may be. The difference between a forbearance to enforce a law, on considerations forbidding the attempt, and a notice that...
257From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, 23 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. from Mr. Monroe a very extraordinary communication confidentially made to him by Col: Jessup. A copy of it is inclosed. An invasion by a Spanish force at the present period might be pronoun[c]ed a mere chimæra, if a less degree of folly reigned at Madrid; unless indeed the Councils of Spain shd be supported by a power whose councils may reasonably be more confided in. It is...
258From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, [ante–12 December 1815] (Madison Papers)
Mr. Crawford will be so good as to put convenient dates into the Blanks. If there be any thing in the Proclamation which can be made better, he will retain it, till an interview be had. See the *Proclamation in the Mississippi Territory now sent & Govr. Williams’ complaint of neglect in removing Squatters within S. C—orders thro’ the Military Commanders of Divisions, will be necessary to give...
259From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, 31 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
I had the pleasure of duly receiving your letter written from Georgia, and have written one to Mr. Clay founded on its acquiescence in the arrangment tendered to you. I am truly concerned at the view you give of the situation into which the unfortunate measure of Congress has thrown Dr Bibb; and should consider myself as befriending one of the best of men and most enlightened of patriots, if I...
260From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, 3 October 1816 (Madison Papers)
I find by a letter from Mr. Dallas that he was to leave Washington on Tuesday last for Philadelphia. He kindly intends, however, to give official attention to the routine of business until apprised of his release. The date for this I wish to be governed by your conveniency. I have informed Mr. Lowndes of the approaching vacancy in the Department of War, and asked his permission to appoint him...
261From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, 9 November 1816 (Madison Papers)
In pursuance of the authority vested in the President of the United States, by the Act of Congress passed the 3d. of March 1809, entitled “An Act further to amend the several Acts for the establishment and regulation of the Treasury, War, and Navy Departments,” I do hereby direct, that the following transfers be made, viz. From the Appropriation for Navy Yards to Contingent Expenses the sum of...
262From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, 22 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
I return, with my approbation, the additional regulations for Mr. Lee, enclosed in yours of the 20th inst. If you have been correctly informed of the evidence on the claim of Mr. Carroll, it is truly extraordinary. Whether a House was a military deposit or not must depend on its being or not being occupied as such under the defined authority, and on the exhibition or the want of adequate proof...
263From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, [4 February 1817] (Madison Papers)
The letter & papers returned Feby. 4 with the following note. The arrangement communicated by the Presidt. of the U.S. Bank is So important an advance towards a universal return of specie circulation, that the Treasury sanction to it render existing circumstances evidently proper. Serious difficulties will notwithstanding remain to be encountered, if the pr[i]ncipal Banks in every State do not...
264From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 27 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 25th. and return the letter from Mr. Kerr, who I presume is the former Senator from the State of Ohio. Not being acquainted with all the circumstances, which would throw light on the subject, among which is “the unfortunate circumstance mentioned in the Envelope,” not accompanying your letter, I cannot appreciate properly, the representation made to you. It is due to...
265From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 27 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two letters of the 23 & 24. instant inclosing the correspondence with the Navy Board. This institution being without a precedent in our political System, and the definitions of the act of Congress not being as precise and as full as under other circumstances they might have been made, some difference in the construction of particular passages might well happen. But I had not...
266From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 22 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
You will be furnished from the Department of State with copies of the translation of the letter from the Dey of Algiers, and of the answer to it; with the letter of the Secretary of State to Mr. Shaler, and the instructions to him & Commodore Chauncey as Commissioners to accomodate matters with the Dey. As their negotiations may issue in a commencement of hostilities on the part of Algiers, it...
267From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 23 December 1814 (Madison Papers)
My letter of 15th will have informed you that I had taken the liberty of naming you to the Senate for the vacancy in the Secretaryship of the Navy. I have now the pleasure to inclose a Commission by which you will see that the Senate have sanctioned the appointment. I repeat my hope that it will not be inconsistent with your views to undertake that very important service, and that its urgency...
268From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 20 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 17. inclosing a copy of instructions for Commodore Decatur; which I presume you wish to decide finally on without delay. They appear to embrace all the essential points. It occurs however that it may be proper to apprize him, that as several nations, particularly the Dutch, are understood to be at war with Algiers, and will probably have armaments engaged in it,...
269From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 18 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 11th. I hope you will soon learn the decision of Capt: Stewart, that in the event of his refusal we may be turning our thoughts elsewhere. The peace with Algiers offers two points for decision. 1. What precautionary force ought to be continued in the Mediterranean. It will be best to leave this to the judgment of the naval Commander there. 2 What ought to be done...
270From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 15 December 1814 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Jones having retired from the Secretaryship of the Navy, my thoughts have been turned to you as a desireable Successor; and I have this day sent in your name to the Senate for the appointment. I hope you will excuse my doing it without your consent which would have been asked, if the business of that Dept. had less urged an avoidance of delay. The same consideration will apologize for my...
271From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 20 May 1815 (letter not found) (Madison Papers)
¶ To Benjamin W. Crowninshield. Letter not found. 20 May 1815. Extract printed in Stan. V Henkels Catalogue No. 1379 (1925), item 4.
272From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 6 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd yours of——. I regret that you could not gratify my hopes of the pleasure of a visit before your departure for Salem. Should your return to Washington afford an oppy. before the date of mine, perhaps the loss may be repaired. On our landing from the Boat of the Washington, I ask’d the favor of you to offer on my account some pecuniary present to the Rowers. I did not fail to give...
273From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 3 January 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 28 Dcr. communicating the agreeable result of your reconsideration of your first determination on the subject of the Secretaryship of the Navy. It only remains to say that no obstacle has been created by another nomination to the Senate, and to repeat my hopes that you will be with us as soon as possible. Accept my friendly respects RC ( MSaP ). See Crowninshield...
274From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 20 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 13th. The information given by Mr. Gardner’s letter inclosed in it, is agreeable. It may nevertheless be advisable to continue the equipment of the Congs. for the Pacific Ocean. You will keep us apprized of the progress, and of the time as nearly as it can be fixed, when she will be ready to sail. Capt: Morris will be a very fit Commander; and it is not proposed...
275From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 27 August 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 14th. inclosing the letter of Com: Chauncy declining a seat at the navy Board. Notwithstanding the merits which may distinguish the two officers you name, and the consideration particularly favoring the appointment of Sinclair, I think it will be most eligible on the whole not to pass by Capt: Steuart. You may therefore direct the Commission to be sent to him; or...
276From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 12 June 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have given to the questions growing out of your letter and communications of the 23rd. of May., and others from the Commissioners of the Navy Board, the consideration due to them. The following remarks convey the result of it. The Law which establishes the Board, containing provisions entirely new, and rendering the Constitution of the Navy Department, more complicated, at the same time that...
277From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 10 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have requested the Secy. of State to bring into consultation at Washington several subjects, which you will of course learn from him. Among them is the expediency of discontinuing the suspension of the Algerine expedition; with perhaps a reduction of the force to a minimum. The stake & the temptation being thus diminished, the objections to the departure of Commodore Decatur wd. be...
278From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 12 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 10th. inclosing one from Come Decatur of the 5th. now returned. My last has anticipated & provided for the object of the latter. I cannot conveniently consult the laws for the increase of the Navy. If the practice of the Dept. and the Opinion of the Atty. General, admit the purchase of the Prize Ship Cyane The purchase of such a vessel on the terms probable will...
279From James Madison to George Washington Parke Custis, 3 June 1810 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 31. May, accompanied by the specimens of wool, & followed by the opportunity of seeing your fine Rambuillet Merino Ram. I am much obliged by these marks of politeness, & particularly by the expressions of personal kindness which you have added to them. I have long thought that in the œconomy of our rural establishments, we ought by reducing the number of Black...
280From James Madison to Richard Cutts, 24 August 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the instant. I hope you will never withold a line to me when convenient to yourself, from an apprehension that it would not be so to me. The only regret I could ever feel would be, that my returns might so little repay you. To supply the deficiency, I again inclose some of the S. Newspapers, in wch. you may possibly find things worth reading, and not republished in...
281From James Madison to Richard Cutts, 7 September 1809 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 23d came duly to hand. I wish the favorable dispositions you speak of may continue to increase among those whose weight has heretofore been unfortunately shuffled into a foreign scale against that of their own Country, and even against that in which their own immediate and particular interests were placed. It will probably soon be seen how far the arrival of Jackson with his...
282From James Madison to Richard Cutts, [ca. 26 August] 1812 (Madison Papers)
Soon after my last was sent off, I recd. your favor of . The report of the Capt: relative to what came to his knowledge at Halifax, agrees substantially with accts. thro’ other channels. It is pretty certain that the war was little looked for, and that some of its effects are not a little dreaded. Still we ought to be prepared for an angry & malignant prosecution of it, on the B. side,...
283From James Madison to Richard Cutts, 23 June 1811 (Madison Papers)
I congratulate you & Mrs. Cutts on the event which has relieved your anxieties; the more so as it gratifies your joint desire of introducing a female series into your Nursery. We learn that our brother John landed on the Eastern shore South of the boundary between Va. & Maryland, & that he has been detained by sickness from which however he was recovering, with the expectation of setting out...
284From James Madison to Richard Cutts, 25 February 1812 (Madison Papers)
I enclose for your amusement a few papers of latest date. You will see that the Constn. has returned from France, and that an arrival from G. B. has brought the speech opening the B. Parlt. The latter decides nothing as to a change of the Cabinet or repeal of the Orders in Council. Its tone, on the whole is not arrogant. It is silent as to Russia & Ireland and as to trade & revenue. Distress...
285From James Madison to Richard Cutts, 6 [October] 1811 (Madison Papers)
A letter just recd. by Mr[s.] M. from Mrs. C. informs us that you had set out on a trip for Boston. This will probably find you returned, and I hope without any such accident as befel your former one. Mr. J. Q. Adams declines his Judiciary appt. Another is of course to be made as soon as the Senate are in session. Be so good as to give me without delay, information of the state of Mr....
286From James Madison to Richard Cutts, 27 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have re⟨c⟩d. yours of the . I am very glad that the loan has been useful to you. I shall not have a necessary call for it till I return to the City. You are therefore welcome to any further advantage to which you may be able to turn it. Inclosed are drafts on Mr. Maury of Liverpool for a ballance in his hands. Be so good as to have the bills filled up &c. and disposed of, putting the...
287From James Madison to Richard Cutts, 23 May 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 16th. by the mail which brought the result of the Election at Salem. The general result I infer will fulfill your wishes. The atmosphere has for several days been filled with reports of an engagement between the Frigate commanded by Rogers and a British frigate. You will estimate the testimony by the Contents of the inclosed papers. The occurrence is in itself so...
288From James Madison to Richard Cutts, 16 June 1811 (Madison Papers)
If I mistake not I have already acknowledged your favor of May 29. which brought the first information of the republican ascendancy in your Legislature. It was little to have been supposed that at this date I should be obliged to repeat that we remain without authentic information of a decisive character from both F. & G. B. This is the fact nevertheless; and it is very questionable whether...
289From James Madison to Richard Cutts, 5 May 1814 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. from H. Dearborn an acct. of duties paid for me on wine & brandy arrived at Boston. May I trouble you to convert the inclosed check into a note on that place and forward it to him with a request, that he will keep the articles in his hands, with the exception pointed out to him by Mrs. Madison, till he hears further on the subject. Can any thing be done in the case of Mr. Dalton...
290From James Madison to Richard Cutts, 30 September 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of with the pleasure I could not but feel in learning that the accident to your shoulder was so far advanced towards a cure. It is with a very different feeling I am given to understand that any doubt exists as to your coming to Washington this winter, where besides considerations of a public nature, the social ones would be so interesting to us. I shall not give up...
291From James Madison to Richard Cutts, 23 July 1811 (Madison Papers)
We are at length about to exchange Washington for Montpelier. The morning after tomorrow is fixt for our departure. The state of our affairs with France may be collected from the printed accts. Some obscurities hang over them as they respect the degree of our commerce with them. The Decrees seem not to be in operation in any sense giving pretext for the refusal of G. B. to revoke her orders in...
292From James Madison to Richard Cutts, 8 August 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 25th. Ult: The rancorous opposition in some of the E. States to the war, is peculiarly unfortunate, as it has the double effect of crippling its operations, and encouraging the Enemy to withold any pacific advances otherwise likely to be made. It appears that the B. Cabinet has been forced into a reconsideration of their refusal to repeal the...
293From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 9 April 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of yesterday communicating your purpose, of resigning the Department of the Treasury. I need not express to you the regret at such an event, which will be inspired by my recollection of the distinguished ability and unwearied zeal, with which you have filled a station, at all times deeply responsible in its duties, through a period rendering them peculiarly arduous...
294From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 21 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 16th. inclosing the propositions of Mr. Hassler, the Report of the Collector of Philada. and the letter from Mr Irving. The importance of the object, and the peculiar fitness of Mr. Hassler for it, prescribe an acquiescence in his terms. Will it not be better to throw his paper into the form of instructions and explanations accompanying his appointment, than to let it...
295From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 22 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 18th. has just reached me, enclosing two letters from Mr. Adams which are returned. Our engagements in Europe must be fulfilled both with a view to justice and to the public credit. In doing this there are so many reasons for preferring the purchase of bills to the sale of Stock abroad, where there is an approach to equality of loss, that I concur in your opinion in favor of the...
296From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 16 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
I return your communications of the 12th. inst. with my approbation of what you propose in relation to the Cumberland Road. Perplexing as this business is, it will become more so I fear, if Mr. Shriver should withdraw from it. He has, notwithstanding the impatience of some, more of the public confidence than will probably be enjoyed by a successor. And if a distrust of the Agent be added to...
297From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 15 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your several letters of the 5. 7. 8. & 11th. Your Statement in the case of Mr. Hassler, was sanctioned & sent to the Treasy; as was the proposed purchase of a Custom-House at Boston. Be so good as to have issued a Commission for Mr. Plumer, as Loan Officer for N.H. The recommendations of Mr. Wentworth are very weighty; but being local, justify the preference of Mr. P. who is...
298From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 14 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 12th. is duly recd. The result of the consultation on the discharge of the Army, and the expedition agst. Algiers is entirely satisfactory. That relating to the question of diplomatic measures required by the crisis is so also. My own idea was rather to ripen the subject for decision, than to act on it before the intelligence daily expected from Europe, and particularly from our...
299From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 19 July 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd your two favors of the 15. & 16. That inclosing the letter from the Collector of Barnstable had been previously recd. Mr. Monroe has presented this enormity to the attention of Mr. Baker, and will of course make it the subject of proper remarks & instructions to Mr. Adams. He has done & will do the same, in relation to the Indians. Your suggestion in favor of a Proclamation on...
300From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 7 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have this morning recd. yours of the 5 inst: those of the 3 & 4. having previously come to hand. They are accompanied by the Reports of the Board of Officers, on the organization of the Army—on the plan for establishing a N. & S. division Military Depts. &c. &c—and respecting Hospital Surgeons, Judge Advocates & Chaplains. It were to be wished that the act relating to the Peace Establishment...