From James Madison to Tench Coxe, 28 April 1804 (Abstract)
§ To Tench Coxe
28 April 1804, Department of State. “I have requested the Secretary of the Treasury to cause two thousand dollars to be remitted to you,1 that you may be enabled to pay Mr. Carey for his laws as he delivers them. The sum of eleven hundred dollars more will be wanting to complete the contract: it not being however decided whether it can be taken from any existing appropriation, it will be well for you to apprize Mr. Carey of it, that his calculations may not be founded on a prompt payment of the whole. I shall write you again in a few days on this subject.”
RC (MH-H); letterbook copy (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14). RC 1 p.; in Wagner’s hand, signed and franked by JM; marked “ansd” by Coxe.
1. On 28 Apr., JM wrote Gallatin requesting him to send Coxe $2,000, “being the sum appropriated by the act of Congress of the last Session providing for a more general promulgation of the laws of the United States.” JM added: “In addition to the above sum, eleven hundred dollars will be requisite: be pleased therefore to favor me with your opinion, whence the last mentioned sum can be obtained. I have reason to suppose that it will be inconvenient to the Contractor (M. Carey) to wait for his money until a specific appropriation can be provided” (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14; 1 p.).