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    • Bourne, Sylvanus
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    • Madison, James

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As you are Shortly to leave the busy scenes of public life, to enjoy the calm repose of a philosophic retirement, sweetened by the consciousness of having faithfully discharged for a long term of years the duties incumbent on the various elevated stations to which the public voice has called you, I beg leave to tender you the tribute of my thanks for the confidence you have been pleased to...
Relying on the candor & liberality of your Mind & reposing myself on the Sentiments of Justice which influence your conduct publick & private, I am encouraged once more to address you in regard to my situation here. I recollect to have seen in Some address or letter of your venerable predecessor the following Sentiment “That a thing to be right ought to reasonable.” I have unceasingly &...
Mr. Changuion lately appointed by this Government as Minister to the United States, will have the honor to deliver you this Letter. The special motives which may have induced this appointment at such an early stage of the existence of the actual Government & in a state yet so unsettled of the general relations of the Country; as also of those of the United States with Great Britain, will be...
3 July 1812, Amsterdam. “I most respectfully & solicitously renew my request for the appointment to the Consulate in London & my gratitude for the favr. shall be evinced by the zealous & faithfull discharge of the duties it may impose & I shall hope to derive from it some Compensation for my long services & sufferings.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR , 1809–17, filed under “Bourne”). 1 p.
5 September 1810, American Consulate, Amsterdam. Requests that his commission as consul at Amsterdam be renewed to enable him to address the emperor of France. Adds in a postscript that U.S. minister John Armstrong will leave Paris on 20 Sept. for Bordeaux to depart for home. RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR , 1809–17, filed under “Bourne”). 2 pp.
It is my duty to mention that I have been given to understand both by a letter from Genl Armstrong & by information from the Prince Le Brun Arch Treasurer of the Empire now here, that it will be necessary owing to the political change in this Country to have my Commission renewed & addressed to the Emperor —if pleasing the President of the U States—& which I respectfully hope may be...
12 April 1809, Amsterdam. The consul reports that American vessels are now being allowed “to depart in Ballast or with Specified Cargoes at the option of those concerned.” An enclosed newspaper gives the details of a royal decree which lifts the restrictions on U.S. ships “in the Ports of Holland.” Has discussed the situation with the minister of foreign affairs and made assurances that the...
I have the honor to transmit you via Hamburg the Leyden Gazettes to this date agreeably to usage & I should be happy to have it in my power to communicate any favorable intelligence of a political Sort. The Affairs of Europe long ality Still remain in that posture to render the continuance of the embargo in the U States necessary as the most wise & prudential measures under all circumstances &...
I herewith transmit to you (via Hamburg) a letter recd. from our Consul at Antwerp with the Leyden Gazettes up to this date, & I beg leave here to mention that as on the result of my late application to Govt. for Some Small Compensation in aid of my expences during the present Stagnation of trade will depend my decision of breaking up house keeping or not. The 1st. of next May I Shall esteem...
I had the honor to address you a few days past pr the Sheperdess on the Subject of my truly unpleasant Situation here being since a year deprived of all income from my Office by the State of Affairs in Europe, while many reasons interesting to the publick & our Citizens make it necessary that I should nevertheless remain at my Post. Since the date of the letter referred to, I have recd one on...
I hasten to Send the inclosed to go by the Sheperdess as it contains the advice of the safe arrival at Havre in 24 days of the Schooner Hope Capt Wood with dispatches from our Govt. to Mr Armstrong, which may be interesting for you to be informed of, & I have the honor to be With high Respect Sir Yr Ob Servt. In my last packet to you this I ed the word Dispatches in order to facilitate its...
Having lately had the honor to address you Pr the America Capt. Seton I have nothing Special to Communicate at this time except that of my having Sent home by this Conveyance (the Ship Sheperdess Capt Nelson,) sundry Amn Seamen who have come on here from Condemned Amn Ships in France the Certs; of which will when ready be transmitted duly to the Treasy of the: U States. I hope these may be...
This goes by Mr. Baker who is charged with dispatches to the Govt. of the U States from our Minr. at Paris & which will convey every Species of intelligence relative to the Affairs of Europe that is interesting to our Country & some of which I have reason to fear is not of the most favorable Character. For the better Security of my letters in these perplexing times I have taken the liberty to...
I herewith transmit you the last Ley den Gazettes to which I beg leave to refer for many interesting relations relative to the affairs of Europe which do not as yet assume any aspect of a pacifick nature. The Embargo In the U States will (though a necessary measure) be found very irksome. I fear that our Country will become Restless under its effects & that unless our Citizens are occupied in...
Since I had last the honor to write you nothing material has occurred in regard to the Situation of public Affairs here. The Embargo on our Vessells is still continued except under certain Circumstances when they have liberty to depart, if they take out Cargoes of Gin Butter & Cheese to a neutral Port but as this will expose them to the British Blockade Act of Novr 11. few of the Masters are...
I herein transmit you sundry Leiden Gazettes up to this date, which contain the most correct intelligence that can be given of the events passing in Europe, none of which are of a nature to justify the expectation of peace, or any other material change, in the present situation of affairs. It would be satisfactory to me to be informed of the intentions of Govt. in my regard on the subject...
I have to advise the due rect of a letter from your Department of 15 Feby. with sundry documents to prove the Citizenship of Edward Goodwin of Charleston (Massa.) & requesting my reclaim of him from this Govt. which I have already attended to but have as yet no reply. It is somewhat surprising that he should have been in this Country so long confined without having applied to me as many others...
All my endeavours with this Govt. to obtain a levy of the present embargo now on our Ships being proved fruitless, I have Solicited the interference of our Minr. at Paris in this regard, which may possibly be more fruitfull. It is indeed difficult to probe into the motives influencing the Cabinet in this measure Seeing that our Vessells are free to sail from the Ports of France. It was at...
It appears to every one extraordinary what can be the motives influencing this Govt. to hold on the embargo on Amn Vessels while such is not at present the case in France & indeed in some degree to controvert the favorable disposition of this Govt. towards the U States of which I have indulged an opinion as before communicated. I have made two applications on this subject indirectly but can...
Capt: Nathl. Harvey of the Ship Eliza of Baltimore Joseph Street & others owners died here on the 7 Novr. last & not having prior to his decease appointed any one to take charge of his effects I esteemed it to be my duty to attend thereto agreeably to the Law of the UStates in such cases. I herewith transmit my accounts with said Estate that you may take Steps as the Law provides for...
I had the honor to write to you lately by the Ship Eliza Capt. Stuffington of & for Baltimore who took out with him, about one hundred destitute & distressed Seamen under a Special permission of the King, given to me of sending off a vessell for that purpose notwithstanding the embargo which has long had place here. Those men had gradually collected in this Port for some time past from all the...
The feeble State of my nerves after a sickness of about two months renders it quite inconvenient for me to write, but I endeavor just to mention to you that notwithstanding I had before sent on to the UStates since the 1st. of Novr. last a great number of destitute Amn. Seamen, I found myself surrounded with about 100 more collected from difft. quarters of Europe when an embargo took place...
I had the honor to address you a few days past. This serves especially to convey to you the Gazette of this day which contains the important & very extraordinary decree of the Emperor of France taken at Milan on the 17 Ulto, with the Circular of the Minister of the Interior (so called) in France, which says in plain terms that for the privations that Country suffers from the position of Europe...
As in the event of the war with England, which appears to be almost inevitable it is probable that the Privateers of the U States may cruise in these Seas & occasionally bring Prizes into the Ports of Holland, it will be necessary that our Govt. should pass a Law regulating the process of trial & condemnation & prescribing the Powers & Duties of our Consuls in this regard or in such oth er...
I herewith send you the Leyden Gazettes up to this date, from which may be collected a compendium of the present State of affairs in Europe, extraordinary in their Character. The Annals of History contain nothing to be Compared therewith. You will doubtless before this reaches you have read Accounts of the Decree of the British Govt of Novr. 11th. & the Consequent explanations thereof which...
Inclosed I have the pleasure to forward you by particular conveyance a packet of Leyden Papers which hope may duly reach you. In regard to Amn. Affairs in this quarter of the World, I have been advised from a respectable Channell that G B has by no means satisfied the demands of our Govt. but in lieu thereof, sent out a Special Mission to the U: S to arrange the matters there. This savours of...
I have the honor to acquaint you by way of a triplicate communication on the Subject, that I have lately recd. a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Hague in reply to what I had wrote him relative to Anthony Morales, saying that this Govt. heard with great pleasure of what our Govt. had done in his regard, as he was never commissioned by the Govt. of Holland as Consul for...
Expecting for a long time to go on to the Hague myself I delayed making the communication to the Secy. of State on the affair of Mr. Morales till a few days past & have now the honor to inclose you his reply by which you will find that your opinion of his being an Impostor confirmed, & the consequent approbation on the part of this Govt. of the measures which have been taken by ours in his...
I beg leave to mention by way of duplicate that the very rigorous execution of the Laws of this Govt. at present relative to either Vessels & Cargoes or persons Coming to this Country from England renders it expedient that the merchants of the U States should be publickly Cautioned against ordering their Vessells even to touch into England for orders if eventually destined to any port in...
I conceive it to be my duty to acquaint you that the rigorous execution of the decrees of this Govt. which forbid the entry in to this Country of either Ships & Cargoes or Persons which have been in England has given rise to many difficulties & embarrassments of the most perplexing nature & will render it expedient that the Commerce of the U States should be duly advised thereof in order that...
We are this day much alarmed by the rect. of the news from the U States of the unwarranted attack of one of our frigates by a British Ship of War. That haughty nation losing sight of principle & relying alone on force daily adds insults to injury in her conduct towards Neutrals but her just punishment may not be far distant. I hope our Country will conduct with becoming dignity & firmness on...
Inclosed you have the Leyden Gazettes up to this day, the last of which contains the Treaties of Peace lately made between France & Russia & Prussia. The first stipulates for the Conditional mediation of the Empr. of Russia towards making a peace between France & England, but the Condition is of nature which may tend to defeat the Object it is ostensibly designed to promote. I have the honor...
I had the honor to send you by two Vessels lately Copies of a letter recd from the Minister of foreign Affairs at the Hague requesting me to communicate to the Govt. of the U States the desire of this, that Mr Smissaert may be provisionally admitted to exercise the Office of Consul of Holland for the State of New york though he has not yet his Commission in form, the delay in sending which to...
I have the honor to transmit you here inclosed the copy of a letter I yesterday recd from the Minr. of Foreign affairs at the Hague relative to the provisional admission of Mr Smissaert as Consul of Holland for the State of New york & which is respectfully submitted to the decision of the President who will doubtless be disposed to give due weight to the arguments urged in support of the...
Inclosed I send you the Leyden Gazette for the last month & to the contents of the news they contain I have to add an acct. which reached us yesterday by the post from Constantinople that a revolution has lately been effected there. The Grand Sultan & forty of his Ministers being of what is called the french Party had been massacred & Mustapha (Nephew of the late Sultan) placed on the throne....
I have not yet had the opportunity of presenting the Presidents Letter to the King as he has been absent from the Hague ever since the death of his Son which took place about the time I recd it. I now wait only his return to the Hague when I shall go on to that place. You will do our Citizens travelling to this Country from the U States a special favr. by publickly advising them of the...
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the President’s Letter to the King of Holland which I should have presented last week, had not the death of the King’s eldest Son prevented my admittance at Court. I now wait advice from the Minr. of foreign affairs relative to the time it will be convenient to his Majesty to receive me. Many alarming apprehensions have been of late entertained...
I this day recd. by Capt. Johnson of the Brig Thomas of Newyork a letter from yr. Depart. of March 12th. Covering one from the president of the U. States to the King of Holland of February 28th. which it appears was broken open by Capt. Davis of the British Sloop of war Hyacinth on the 25 April in the north Sea. I Shall in course of a few Day’s proceed to the Hague for the purpose of...
It is only a few days since that I had the honor to receive your letter of Novr. last, covering Sundry Documents relative to the Conduct of Mr Morales Batavian Consul at Charleston with your instructions therein which shall be duly attended to. As I now momently expect to hear from you in reply to the Letter from the King of Holland to the Presidt. of the U States, which I transmitted to yr...
Herewith I transmit the Leyden Gazette up to yesterday in which will be seen a Short Acct. of a most affecting Accident that has lately occurred in that City by the bursting of an immense quantity of Gun Powder, fire being communicated thereto in a way unknown to any one. 100 houses are totally ruined & as many more heavily damaged & two to three hundred people have lost their lives & among...
I have the honor to transmit you herewith Copies of the communication which I esteemed it to be my duty to make to the Govt. of this Country on the emanation of the late decree of the King (contained in one of the inclosed Gazettes), & of the reply of the Minister of Foreign Affairs thereto. I would beg leave here to observe that I did not find it necessary to take notice of the Decree of 1805...
I herewith transmit some of the latest Gazettes printed in English at Schiedam & Shall hereafter continue to send them as occasion may offer. In the two last Numbers are some with digested observations on the Conduct of the Prussian Govt. which tend to shew that Nations as much as Individuals expose themselves to Misfortune & disgrace by a deviation from good faith & other Correct principles...
I have the honor to send you herewith a letter to the President as the due medium of the Communication of the request it Contains I hope it receives your approbation. With great Respect I am Sir Yr. Ob Sert. DNA : RG 59--CD--Consular Despatches, Amsterdam.
The inclosed Gazette contains some interesting details of the late military operations of the Emperor of France, which must be read with astonishment by posterity: indeed the scenes which daily present themselves to view on the theater of Europe are in the highest degree calculated to excite surprise & they cannot fail to arrest the attention of the philosophic mind, disposed to search into...
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 28 October 1806, Amsterdam. “The Campaign between the French & Prussian Armies opened on the 8th. Instant & it appears that Success remains faithful to the french Standard & that the Prussians have been beaten in every conflict & particularly on the 14t in a most decisive manner. The Policy of Prussia in having (for successive years) remained neutral a silent Witness of...
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 16 October 1806, Amsterdam. “You will see by the inclosed Gazettes that Ld Lauderdale has left Paris without accomplishing the object of his mission & that the Armies of France & Prussia are in sight of each other only waiting the signal for Battle; indeed every thing appears to forebode a renewal of the continental war but whether this fourth trial to Stem the Current...
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 6 September 1806. “The great work of peace is not yet accomplished & it indeed Seems to drag on so heavily that I esteem the result to be quite problematical, especially as Russia is said not to be inclined to ratify the treaty lately signed by their Agent at Paris & Prussia is quite sore & soured by the claim which the french Govt makes for the restoration of Hanover...
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 31 July 1806, Amsterdam. “Will you have the goodness to make my respects to the President informing him that I have duly recd (via Bordeaux) the letters he sent to my care for Mesrs. Van Marum at Harlem—Luiscius at Delft & Jacobsen at Altona; & which have been forwarded to their respective addresses. “The latest accounts from Paris say that peace is made between France...
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 8 July 1806, Amsterdam. “Inclosed I transmit you the latest Leyden Gazettes, the most interesting relations they contain are relative to the new order of things just established in this Country: indeed Europe offers nothing specially new exclusive of the correspondence said to exist between England & France the object of which gives rise to various conjectures. Those...
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 26 June 1806, Amsterdam. “I have within a few days addressed you by triplicates—transmitting the official Communication of the late Change of Govt here. The inclosed Gazette has a copy of said Communication with some aditions relative to the alteration of the Commissions of the foreign Agents here referred to in my last.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Amsterdam, vol. 1). 1 p....