61To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 7 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
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...
62To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 7 March 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 7 March 1806, Amsterdam. “I perceive with much pleasure by the public papers that our Country shews a just indignation at the conduct of the British Govt towards our flag—the memorial of the merchants of New york on this subject is truly intelligent & spirited & I have no doubt that firm measures on the part of our Govt will have the happy effect of supporting our...
63To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 21 December 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 December 1803, Amsterdam. “It is with regret I acquaint you that notwithstanding every exertion on my part to obtain a system of quarantine in this Country, more reasonable in itself & less vexatious for our Commerce than the one at present adopted I cannot procure the desired relief—their tenacity is unbounded & the consequence is that many of the Vessels under quarantine in the open roads...
64To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 24 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
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...
65To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
The foregoing is a duplicate of what I had the honor to address you on the 15 Inst. I would now beg leave to mention the nature of certain difficulties which attend the position of this port in respect to the signature of Drawback Certific ates by the Mates of Vessells, seeing that not mo re than one third of our vessells come further than The Helder 50 Miles distant from this port & as the...
66To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 18 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
I here transmit in course the last numbers of the Leyden Gazette. Altho’ many months have passed since the preliminaries of peace were signed between F. E we are yet waiting for the final arrangment of this important buisness; which leaves us in a State of suspense painfull to the mind & extremely prejudicial to the general Interests of Commerce. Some persons are of opinion that we are not yet...
67To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 12 April 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
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...
68To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 27 July 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 27 July 1805, Amsterdam. “I have now the pleasure to inclose you a Copy of an advertisement to which I referred in some of my late letters which has been circulated throughout all Germany in order to entice people to go to America or elsewhere. What a violation of truth? What a Vile prostitution of the Character & dignity of the Govt of the U States to answer private...
69To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 8 February 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 8 February 1806, Amsterdam. “By the Delaware Capt Ferrier & the Orion Capt Johnson both for Newyork —I lately transmitted you duplicates of the Leyden Gazettes bound in the form of a Book for the last year & I hope they may arrive in safety. “It is with much regret I have to acquaint you that the present season has been peculiarly disastrous to the American Navigation...
70To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 3 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
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....
71To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 5 May 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 May 1801, Amsterdam. Is disappointed to learn Congress rejected the memorial on behalf of U.S. consuls that he transmitted in fall of 1800. Fears request was misinterpreted, the point being that consular fees ought to be paid according to tonnage of American ships. No fixed salary was sought, and the request was never intended for stipulated fees “by way of Salary from the public Chest.” RC (...
72To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 15 October 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 15 October 1805, Amsterdam. “I have the honor to advise the due rect of your Circulars of July 1t & 12h last & shall give a strict & scrupulous attention to the instructions they contain in every respect. “The war on the continent is to all appearances about commencing under circumstances which presage a wide extended scene of horror & carnage to afflicted Europe. It...
73To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 17 November 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 November 1804 , “ Amn. Consulate. ” “It appears by an Accot we have yesterday in an official paper from Paris that Mr Rumbold the British Chargé des affaires who had been lately taken from Hamburg by a party of french troops has by the interference of the K of Prussia been restored to his liberty & sent on to England. So that the voice of some Powers is listened to when raised to support...
74To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 26 October 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
26 October 1802, Baltimore. “The situation of Mrs. Bourne’s health since my arrival from Europe has hitherto retarded my intended visit to Washington.” Hopes to be able to proceed there soon to pay his respects and arrange some business matters. Has nothing material to report, as “accounts from Europe of a much later date” will have had more recent news. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Amsterdam, vol....
75To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 1 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
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...
76To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
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...
77To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 July 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 20 July 1805, Amsterdam. “I had the honor to write you fully of late by Captains, King, Allen & Davis on the Subject of the question made me in your favr of May 23 & I feel every confidence that those letters will serve to develope to you a Scene of intriguing & unfustiable practices in a certain quarter that must tend to convince you that the appellation I gave in mine...
78To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 9 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
It appears now confirmed that preliminary Articles of peace between England & France were signed on the 2d. Inst at London the Contents are momently expected to be published when I shall not lose A Moment to transmit them to you. Important reflections are awakened by this event which I cordially hope may fix the future peace & happiness of Europe on a permanent base. In my last letter I took...
79To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 16 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
I send you herewith the L. Gazettes to the present date. Those you desired for the last years are all packed & only want a Conveyance to Baltimore—my house here will continue to forward those which succeed. Seeing that (agreeably to the tenor of my last to you) I expect to embark for UStates in all this month, as the most probable means of restoring the physical & intellectual health of Mrs B....
80To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 26 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
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...
81To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 6 April 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 6 April 1806, Amsterdam. “I have recd from the Department of State two Copies of a Pamphlett entitled ‘An Examination of the British Doctrine which Subjects to capture a neutral trade not open in time of peace’ and I have perused with peculiar interest this volume of laborious research & critical investigation of the principles of the Laws of nations relative to the...
82To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 16 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
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...
83To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 16 July 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
16 July 1802, Amsterdam. Transmits latest issues of Leiden Gazette ; “those you desired for the last years are all packed & only want a Conveyance to Baltimore—my house here will continue to forward those which succeed.” Expects to embark for the U.S. within the month, “as the most probable means of restoring the physical & intellectual health of Mrs B.,” and has made arrangements for filling...
84To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 18 March 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 March 1802, Amsterdam. Transmits the latest issues of the Leiden Gazette . Although many months have passed since the signing of peace preliminaries between France and Great Britain, no final arrangement has been made and the state of suspense is prejudicial to commerce. British government has ordered a “respectable fleet” to sea; this has created alarm as to the prospects for the...
85To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 22 July 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Sylvanus Bourne. 22 July 1805, Amsterdam. “Agreably to what I had the honor to write you sometime since I have been to Rotterdam & made due inquiry into the affairs of the Consulate there & finding from the information given me both by the masters of Vessells & Merchants who have buisness at the Consular Office that the actual State of Mr Alexander’s enables to attend with propriety to...
86To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 4 April 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 April 1804, Amsterdam. “I lately had the honor to address you relative to the appointment of an Agent for the Consulate at the Helder —suggesting that it might be neccessary that our Govt should afford its patronage to this appointment by allowing a few hundred dollars per Annum towards its support, since which the inclosed request has been made to me by the Amn. Masters now in port which I...
87To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
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 &...
88To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 1 December 1790 (Madison Papers)
Expecting in a few days to embark for Hispaniola under a Consular Commission from the United States—I feel very desirous to have the Consular Bill now pending in Govt. matured & passed as early as other public Interests will permit; wishing not to have gone till it was finished I requested leave of Govt to tarry yet a while but the Secy of State informed me it was “peculiarly interesting to...
89To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 March 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 March 1801, Amsterdam. Transmits copies of Leiden Gazette . Reports that weight Great Britain will have in European balance of power is still undecided. France and Russia have important plans to be developed in a short time. Requests information on congressional action on memorial of consuls. In postscript, mentions Cathcart’s circular letter of 3 Jan. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Amsterdam, vol....
90To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 23 October 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
23 October 1804, Amsterdam. Encloses a copy of the Leiden Gazette , “under a new title owing to the old one having lately been forbid by the Govt here.” Notes that “as Mr Foreman from whom Mr Alexander at Rotterdam recd his appointment as agent in the Consulate has long since resigned his Commission & that Mr Alexander has never recd any appointment from Govt many embarrasments are found to...