1To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 11 October 1793 (Madison Papers)
It is with pleasure I recollect the few hours in which I was so happy as to enjoy your company though I regret that a little indisposition, which was then beginning, & which terminated in a bilious fever, prevented it me from enjoying it so much as I should otherwise have done. I had then some distant thoughts of extending my little tour to the western country—and you were so obliging as to...
2To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 5 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
In conformity with the law of the United States relative to the securing of copy rights, I have the honour of transmitting to you a copy of a collection of the Laws of the general assembly of this commonwealth, and I am happy in the occasion it affords me of renewing, in some degree, that intercourse which several years ago, I had for a short time the pleasure of holding with you, and of...
3To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 25 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
I was much gratified by the letter which you lately did me the honour of addressing to me, conveying the agreable intelligence that a provision had been made in the treaty between Spain & France for a due respect to the rights of America, which could not fail of being highly pleasing to the people of this country, and (as an indication of the respect with which the government is held in...
4To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 12 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter of July the 20th. accompanied by the notifications to the members of congress, of their being extraordinarily convened by the president, which in the absence of the governor was delivered to me. Our election is but just closed, but having satisfactory information what gentlemen are elected, I have transmitted the letters to...
5To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 20 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
I feel myself much indebted to you for your favour of October the 7th and for the intimation which you are pleased to give that the offer of my services in making enquiries relative to the country lately acquired by the United States could not fail of being acceptable. Much discordancy of sentiment I find prevails on the course which ought to be taken relative to the purchased territory: but I...
6To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 1 May 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 May 1804, Frankfort. “I take the liberty of transmitting to you the inclosed letters from Mr Breckinridge [not found] and from Mr Wallace, one of the judges of our court of appeals. I had thought of intimating my wishes to some other gentlemen of respectability, conscious that I should receive a general testimonial of good wishes: but when I consider the high probability there is that I...
7To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 5 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
Having been absent from home, making preparations for a settlement in the southern part of this state, when your favour of Augst. the 30th. reached this place, it was not till some time last month that I had the pleasure of re⟨c⟩eiving it, which I mention to apologize for my not making an earlier acknowledgement of it. Believe me, sir, that I feel very grateful for your kindness, and I solicit...
8To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 6 July 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Harry Toulmin. 6 July 1805, Fort St. Stephen’s, Mississippi Territory. “Some time since, previously to my leaving the state of Kentucky, I observed a statement in the National Intelligencer, of my having been appointed to the office of receiver of public monies on the east side of Pearl river. Not receiving any personal information of the kind, I regarded it only as a mistake in the...
9To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 6 July 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Harry Toulmin. 6 July 1805. “You are informed, no doubt, that all the Vessels to and from the Country, even though bound to Fort Stoddart and clearing out from Fort Stoddart, are obliged to come to at Mobille, and to pay twelve per centum ad valorem, on their Cargoes, according to the estimate of the Spanish Officers. “Such an exaction as this you may well conceive must be ruinous to...
10To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 8 August 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Harry Toulmin. 8 August 1805 . “I mentioned to you in a letter some time since, that I understood that a Vessel then lying in the River was about to pass Mobille without calling. Captain Schuyler (who is just now from Orleans) tells me that she passed Mobille in the Night—that the Spaniards were exceedingly irritated, and threatened to imprison the owner of the Cargo on his return from...
11To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 11 October 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Harry Toulmin. 11 October 1805. “Duties are still rigorously insisted upon at Mobille, Cargoes unladed and inventories taken of them, in order to ascertain the duties to be paid. The Schooner Cato which wen⟨t⟩; down the river without calling, is still detained and will probably be confiscated, if not her Cargo. I could not even get a few articles belonging to the United States from on...
12To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 14 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
I wrote to you about a fortnight ago and transmitted to you a statement of an examination which had taken place in this county of a young gentleman who had been in the employ of Mr Burr and came hither to meet him. It did not appear to me at that time that there was any ground for making any further inquiry relating to him. But a letter partly in the German language which has been sent to this...
13To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 6 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your favour by Mr. Milliken, both on account of the information which you were so kind as to communicate, and because I did harbour some fears that I might have been too troublesome in my previous Communications to you. I have read with high satisfaction your treatise on neutral rights. To my judgement it is clear & decisive beyond all contradiction: but alas! such...
14To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 25 February 1809 (Madison Papers)
As the present critical situation of public affairs renders it, I should Conceive, more interesting than ordinary to the government, to be acquainted with the temper and conduct of those public officers of foreign governments who are stationed adjacent to the territories of the U. States; I persuade myself that it will be deemed no intrusion to detail to you what has occurred with relation to...
15To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 28 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
Placed as you are in the highest station to which the good sense of a republican nation can elevate an individual; fully occupied, no doubt, if not burthened with concerns highly interesting to a large portion of the globe; I have felt reluctant to intrude myself and my own little circle on your attention. And although from the peculiar local position of this settlement, surrounded by indians,...
16To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 31 October 1810 (Madison Papers)
I have just been honoured with your favour of Septr. 5th. which has been so long on the road in consequence of its going round by way of Natchez. I am gratified to find that my communication to you was acceptable, and still more so to be able to repeat my assurances that the expedition is at an end. One of the leading partizans takes to himself the merit of having induced the government to...
17To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, [6 November] 1810 (Madison Papers)
… of some troops for this place: but I know not on what foundation. If only two or three hundred men came; I think it highly probable that several from our settlement would join them: but I have no great apprehension that any body of men will go from this place alone , to attack Mobile. Lawyer Kennedy a Major of the militia seems indeed very solicitous to impress the idea, that as the...
18To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 22 November 1810 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
22 November 1810, Fort Stoddert. Writes again to inform JM of “the situation of this country in the present critical state of affairs” as he fears that certain American citizens will do “some rash act … highly injurious to the cause of peace and good order.” The population of the district is divided into three settlements. In the settlement near and above St. Stephens there is “little or no...
19To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 28 November 1810 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 November 1810, Fort Stoddert. “The situation of our country here [which] becomes every day so truly critical … will excuse me, I hope, if I should even communicate to you more frequently or more fully than may be deemed absolutely necessary.” Has no doubt that “the alarm excited in the summer, induced the government to take the best measures” possible, but the “judicial arm is (for the want...
20To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 6 December 1810 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 December 1810, Fort Stoddert. Reports that there is no sign of any force from Baton Rouge. “The party which assembled from this district, have moved down to a bluff nearly opposite to the town of Mobile.… Governor Folch attempted to cross the bay with a force to disperse them; but a storm arose, and he was compelled to return. They have occasioned a general terror to the inhabitants.… Their...
21To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 12 December 1810 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 December 1810, Fort Stoddert. Reports issuing arrest warrants for Dr. Pollard and others engaged in illegal military enterprises. “Previous to the return of the Sheriff; the inclosed application for a writ of Habeas Corpus was made to me by Lawyer Kennedy, which I send because it exhibits the legal talents of the petitioner, & because … it has afforded ground for a clamour that I had denied...
22To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 10 January 1811 (Madison Papers)
When I last took the liberty of addressing you, I was engaged I believe in the examination of Reuben Kemper and John Callier. Col. Kennedy of the conventional army had been arrested and held to bail, and had thereupon applied to me for a writ of habeas corpus , to bring up the recognizance ; in consequence of which I stand charged before the public of denying to a freeman the sacred writ of...
23To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 23 January 1811 (Madison Papers)
As I have observed in the instructions from the Secretary of State to Govr. Claiborne, which have lately reached this Country; that weekly communications from him were expected relative to the State of things in West Florida; I feel less apprehensive of being considered as guilty of intrusion, in the frequent reports which I have thought it proper to trouble you with, relating to events more...
24To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 6 February 1811 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 February 1811, Fort Stoddert. Writes that “nothing material has occurred” since his last letter other than the failure of the judge sent by Claiborne to establish civil government in the settlement on the Pascagoula River. Quotes from a 27 Jan. letter written to him by Judge Cumming describing “‘the state of anarchy and confusion’” on the Pascagoula and the refusal of Dupree to permit the...
25To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 27 February 1811 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 February 1811, Fort Stoddert. Acknowledges having received JM’s letter of 22 Dec. [not found] “about three weeks ago.” “Since that was written you will have seen that the authority given to governor Claiborne, instead of having the effect … to extinguish illegal enterprize, has only given a new direction to it: and that nothing probably but the timely, tho’ barely timely, arrival of Col....
26To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 6 March 1811 (Madison Papers)
When I had last the honour of addressing you, I did not think it probable that any event would speedily occur which would render it proper for me again to intrude upon your attention: nor am I certain at the present moment that any will occur which will absolutely require the interference of the chief magistrate of the Union: but so great is our distance from the seat of government, and so...
27To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 14 March 1811 (Madison Papers)
On monday last a report was brought to this place from Pensacola; that a fleet of 30 sail of British were off the Barancas, at the mouth of the bay. I felt extremely anxious to ascertain both the fact, and the sentiments with which such an event would be viewed by Govr. Folch: for altho’ it might prima facie, be presumed that it would be very grateful to him as a Spaniard, yet without a minute...
28To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 14 May 1811 (Madison Papers)
The reports which I some time since communicated to you relative to the dispositions towards the government of the United States existing in a part of the country lately taken possession of, adjacent to the Mississippi, render it proper that I should state to you the impressions which have resulted from personal observation. I have lately been attending at Baton Rouge as a witness in the case...
29To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 13 February 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 February 1812, Fort Stoddert. Is reluctant to trouble JM at a time of crisis with “a tedious communication” on a “mere personal concern,” but “the cause of Justice … is as interesting as the cause of War: and the Chief of the Union … will never be insensible to the importance of maintaining at home, the good order of society, the vigour of the laws, and the Character of the Government.” Has...
30To James Madison from Harry Toulmin, 17 February 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 February 1812, Fort Stoddert. Is uncertain whether he has deviated from “etiquette” in addressing a public letter to JM personally, rather than to the secretary of state. “The idea … was suggested by a friend, and there was not time enough then to avail myself of it without losing another week.… I feel that I have lost too many weeks already, occasioned at first by a total ignorance of the...