4471To James Madison from James Simpson, 3 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
The 27th. last Month I had the honour of addressing No. 46 to you, with advice of my return to this Country. Original was sent Commodore Morris & duplicate via Lisbon. Last Night I returned from Tetuan after having had an interview with Hadge Abdarhaman Hashash, who confirmed to me that the Ship mentioned to be at Larach, was destined to detain American Vessels, as well as others; and shewed...
4472To James Madison from Smith Thompson and Others, 4 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
We have observed by the public prints, that the President of the United States, has pursuant to a late Act of Congress, appointed three setts of Commissioners of Bankruptcy for this State; two in the City of New York and one in the City of Albany. The distance between these two Cities is one hundred and sixty miles—and in the intermediate Country, on both sides of the river Hudson, are a...
4473To James Madison from John Lowell, 4 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 August 1802, Boston. “I am unacquainted with the forms which it is incumbent on me to pursue to obtain a ballance due to the Estate of my late lamented father. Perhaps the application should be to a different department, but knowing that my father had the honor of an acquaintance with you, I flattered myself that you would excuse any mistake I may make on this subject. I believe but am not...
4474To James Madison from Clement Biddle, 4 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 4 August 1802, Philadelphia. Mentioned in Daniel Brent to Biddle, 12 Aug. 1802 (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14), as a request for information about a claim for flour furnished by Thomas Truxtun to the French republic in 1794. Brent informed Biddle in JM’s absence that “a full and careful search among the Reports to this Department from our Agents at Paris” had not revealed anything...
4475To James Madison from Carter Bassett Harrison, 5 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of se[e]ing you I have received a letter from my Brother William Harrison in which there is the following passage “I know that you are upon intimate terms with Mr Madison & I believe with Genl Dearbourn, should you not think it improper I wish you to write to each of those Gentle[men] & request them to take me under their Patronage so far as to give me their private...
4476To James Madison from William Eaton, 5 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 August 1802, Tunis. Encloses copies of letters received from chargé d’affaires at Tripoli, Captain Morris, and Hamet Pasha. Has heard from a Tripolitan merchant that the presence of the latter at Malta has excited alarm at the Tripolitan court and “Universal discontentment and revolt pervade all clases” there. “The reigning Bashaw has caused as many shirts, or robes to be constructed as he...
4477To James Madison from Rufus King, 5 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 August 1802, London. No. 74. Requests that the president accept his resignation and permit him to return home. Had originally intended to serve no more than four years, but the war and subsequent negotiations kept him in Great Britain for six. Believing there is “nothing very material remaining to be discussed, in which I can flatter myself with being able to render any important Service,”...
4478To James Madison from Rufus King, 5 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 August 1802, London. Suggests that if the president consents to his return to the U.S., the same public ship could bring his successor and return King home. Realizes it is unlikely a frigate from the Mediterranean would be convenient, since “coming from that Quarter she might be liable to perform Quarantine which would occasion a long detention, as well as great Expense.” Requests to be...
4479To James Madison from George Washington McElroy, 5 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 August 1802, Philadelphia. Urgent personal business required his “leaving without permission my place of residence to return in about six weeks.” Reports that he was received with courtesy and attention in Tenerife by the governor; has consequently forwarded his exequatur to Madrid “to be recognized at Coart [ sic ].” Wishes consuls had “some defined instructions printed and signed by the...
4480To James Madison from William Eaton, 5 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor herewith to inclose for the information of Government copies of letters A. & B. which I this instant received from our Chargé des affaires and Cap. Morris at Tripoli. The American frigate mentioned in the latter was the Constellation Cap. Murray, as I presume from the circumstance of the Boston having left Malta on the 11th. ult. for the U States, and as I have no information...
4481To James Madison from George Washington McElroy, 5 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Business which particularly required my personal attendance obliged me to overleap the bounds prescribed to Consuls by leaving without permission my place of residence to return in about six weeks. On my arrival at Teneriffe I waited on his Excellency the Governor, and informed him that the President of the U. S had done me the honor to appoint me Consul for the Islands; assured him of the...
4482To James Madison from Elias Boudinot, 6 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I am sorry to inform the President of the United States through you, that a malignant fever now spreading through this City leaves the Mint little hope of keeping the workmen of the Mint many days longer. It being within about 500 yards of the Mint has greatly alarmed us. Indeed, such is the state of men’s minds on the occasion, that I think it neither advantageous nor safe to keep the Mint...
4483To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I now return you the letters of mr. Pichon, and of Jones; also those of Van Polanen & Thos. Sumter. The letter to be written to Van Polanen should be so friendly as to remove all doubt from the Batavian government that our suppression of that mission proceeds from any other motive than of domestic arrangement & e[c]onomy. I inclose you a draught of a letter to the emperor of Morocco, which...
4484To James Madison from James Leander Cathcart, 6 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 August 1802, Leghorn. No. 10. Has received circulars from Gibraltar announcing the Moroccan declaration of war against the U.S. “By my Circular of the 11th. of Septr. 1801 copy’s of which were forwarded to the Department of State and to Comodore Dale I foresaw this event, & I hope I will not be thought presumptuous should I assert that it might have been prevented.” Encloses Simpson’s answer...
4485To James Madison from James Leander Cathcart, 6 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
By circulars from Gibraltar we are informed that Mr. Simpson arrived at that place on the 25th. of June having recd. orders to depart the Emperor of Morocco’s dominions in half an hour, in consequence of his having declared war against the United States of America. By my Circular of the 11th. of Septr. 1801 copy’s of which were forwarded to the Department of State and to Comodore Dale I...
4486From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 6 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the letters of mr Pichon, and of Jones; also those of Van Polanen & Thos. Sumter . the letter to be written to Van Polanen should be so friendly as to remove all doubt from the Batavian government that our suppression of that mission proceeds from any other motive than of domestic arrangement & economy. —I inclose you a draught of a letter to the emperor of Marocco, which make...
4487To James Madison from William Eaton, 7 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Since closing my dispatches of day before yesterday I have received official information of the hostile menaces of the Emperor of Morocco, and of Commodore Morris being detained in that quarter to wait the result. In consequence of this intelligence I have written to Mahamet Bashaw and Consul Pulis, inclosures 1. & 2. It is now become, in my view of our actual situation, more important than...
4488To James Madison from Thomas G. Addison, 7 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 August 1802. Resigns his post as justice of the peace, “as I shall be no longer a Resident in the District of Columbia, after to day.” Suggests that another magistrate be appointed, since he was the only magistrate on the south side of the Eastern Branch. RC ( DLC ). 1 p. Cover postmarked Alexandria, Virginia, 8 Sept. Docketed by Brent as received 9 Sept.
4489To James Madison from Elias Vander Horst, 7 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 August 1802, Bristol. Transmits a copy of his last letter of 24 July . “Warm weather has at length commenced here,” and crops are expected to be “of fine quality as well as plentiful.” Encloses newspapers and a London price current. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Bristol, vol. 2). 1 p. Enclosures not found. A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.
4490To James Madison from William Gibb, 7 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 7 August 1802, Accomack County, Virginia. Mentioned in Brent to Gibb, 18 Aug. 1802 (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14), as enclosing documents proving the citizenship of John Elliott, an American impressed seaman, as well as information on the ship to which he had been transferred. Brent assured Gibb that “no time will be lost in making the proper application for his discharge.”
4491To James Madison from Elias Vanderhorst, 7 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
On the other side is a Copy of my last respects to you of the 24h. Ulto. since which period I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you. Warm weather has at length commenced here & the last three or four days have been very fine with every a ppearance of a continuance for some time. Accts. from the Country respecting the approaching Crops are more & more favorable, and should the Season...
4492To James Madison from John Dawson, 8 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 August 1802, Fredericksburg. “At the request of some of the lawyers and merchants at this place I state to you that they recieve great inconvenience for the want of some commissioners of bankruptcy, and to mention John Minor, Hugh Mercer, Benjamin Day, Stephen Winchester, and Thomas Goodwin as proper persons, shoud it be determind to appoint. I expect to leave this today & will thank you to...
4493To James Madison from Robert W. Fox, 8 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 August 1802, Falmouth. Encloses a list of American vessels that arrived in his district between 1 Jan. and 30 June 1802; “many more have touched off this port for orders and immediately proceeded on their Voyage whose names I could not procure.” Price of wheat in France has fallen. “On hearing of the Barbary Powers being hostile towards the Ships of the United States, I immediately...
4494To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith and Others, 8 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 August 1802, Paris. “Mr. Dobell lately appointed by the President, to the Commercial Agency of Havre, has declined accepting that Office.” Recommends John Lyle of New Jersey, “one of our best Republicans, an excellent Citizen, a Gentleman of very amiable mind, and as a Merchant, completely calculated to discharge the duties of the Office he now solicits with advantage to the Public.” RC ( DNA...
4495To James Madison from Robert W. Fox, 8 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Enclosed be pleased to receive an account of American Vessels arrived in my district from the 1st. of January to the 30th. of June; many more have touched off this port for orders and immediately proceeded on their Voyage whose names I could not procure. Since my last respects Flour has fallen in France to 42 Livres ⅌ Barrel, and very little in demand; in Spain it is quoted at 9 à 11 hard...
4496To James Madison from Fulwar Skipwith, 8 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Dobell lately appointed by the President, to the Commercial Agency of Havre, has declined accepting that Office. Mr. John Lyle a native of the State of New-Jersey is desirous of succeeding to it, and not having the advantage of being known to you, has requested of us to offer you the informations which a long acquaintance with him may enable us to afford of his Character and fitness to...
4497To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter from mr. Simpson our Consul in Marocco was forwarded to me from your office by yesterday’s post. The demand of the emperor of Marocco is so palpably against reason & the usage of nations that we may consider it as a proof either that he is determined to go to war with us at all events, or that he will always make common cause with the Barbary powers when we are at war with...
4498To James Madison from William Eaton, 9 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 August 1802, Tunis. Encloses copies of letters from chargé d’affaires at Tripoli and Captain Morris. These letters “serve to corroborate an opinion I have steadily entertained, and repeatedly stated to our commanders, of the necessity of having small vessels of war off and on this coast.” Points out that “there is no article in our treaty with this Bey which prohibits the sale of enemy...
4499To James Madison from John Morton, 9 August 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 August 1802, Newport, Rhode Island. Reports his arrival in the U.S., having departed from Havana on 15 July. As he informed JM in his letter of 24 May , he left Vincent Gray provisionally charged with U.S. affairs in Cuba; encloses a copy of his letter of instructions. States his opinion that “the residence of a public Agent (if it should continue to be desired by my Government) would in...
4500To James Madison from Alexander Moultrie, 9 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 9 August 1802, Charleston, South Carolina. Mentioned in Brent to Moultrie, 21 Aug. 1802 (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14). Brent promised to forward Moultrie’s letter to JM at Montpelier, and “in the mean time I will take the liberty of communicating it to the Secretary of the Treasury, who is, as well as the Secretary of State, a Commissioner on the part of the United States, with...