1From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 3 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed you by the Revd. Mr. Toulmin of the Unitarian Sect from England, whose attachment to liberty has led him to this land of it. You will find him intelligent, and modest, and in every respect deserving the attention I solicit for him. I was lately called on by a French gentleman who said he was your neighbour, and afforded me an opportunity of dropping you a few lines which I...
2From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 8 February 1795 (Madison Papers)
I am much obliged by your favor of the 30th. Ult. The information it gives on the subject of the Treaty is more exact on some points than any I had before received, particularly in relation to the footing on which the Posts are to be left. If Mr. Jay has really turned our exclusive right into a thoroughfare, which will in its operation be almost an exclusive right to G. Britain, it will...
3From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 10 August 1795 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of July 6, having been addressed to Williamsburg, instead of Orange Court House , did not come to hand till two days ago. Your gloomy picture of the Treaty does not exceed my ideas of it. After yielding terms which would have been scorned by this Country in the moment of its greatest embarrassments, & of G. Britains full enjoyment of peace & confidence, it adds to the ruinous...
4From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have lately recd. a letter from Mr. Freneau, who formerly edited the National Gazette in this City, in which he tells me that he has removed from N. Jersey to N. York, and is associating himself with Mr. Greenleaf in the publication of a Daily & Biweekly papers. Having been acquainted with Mr. Freneau from our youths, and being sensible of his private worth, his literary talents, and his...
5From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 11 July 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 1st. instant. Your observations on Neutral rights & the means of promoting them are certainly very interesting, & will merit consideration. It is questionable however whether any leading arrangements by the U. States during the war, even in an eventual form adapted to a state of peace, would be free from the danger of entangling us too much in the present...
6From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 4 September 1801 (Madison Papers)
Information is just received that the sloop of War, the Maryland, has arrived with despatches from Mr. Murray & Mr. Dawson. By some accident the despatches, tho’ forwarded from Washington have not yet got to hand. It appears however by letters alluding to their contents, that an objection is made by the French Government to the Treaty in the form given to it by striking out the second article....
7Draft of Instructions to Robert R. Livingston, [ca. 17 September] 1801 (Madison Papers)
You will herewith receive your commission as Minister Plenipotentiary from the U. States to the French Republic. You will also be furnished with copies of the instructions given to Mr. Dawson who carried to France the modified ratification of the Convention of the 30th of Sepr. last, and of those to Messrs. Elsworth and Murray charged with negociating a ratification in the same form by the...
8From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 September 1801 (Madison Papers)
You have already been informed of the intention of the President that your departure for France should be hastened, and that you would be furnished with a passage in the Boston Frigate, which after landing you at Bourdeaux, is to proceed to the Mediterranean. When this intention was communicated, it was understood that some difficulty had arisen in obtaining from the French Government a...
9From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 28 November 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 November 1801, Department of State, Washington. Requests Livingston’s aid in obtaining compensation for Elias Vander Horst, U.S. consul at Bristol, whose claim against the French government for the illegal seizure of some indigo by the French privateer Tyger is of long standing. Notes that Skip-with or Mountflorence can probably acquaint him with present state of the case. Letterbook copy (...
10From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 19 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
The Convention with the French Republic as finally exchanged by Mr. Murray arrived here on the 9th day of Octr last in the hands of Mr. Appleton. As the form of ratification by the French Government contained a clause declaratory of the effect given to the meaning of the Treaty by the suppression of the 2d. Article it was thought by the President most safe as a precedent to ask anew the...