2801To James Madison from George W. Erving, 9 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have been favord with your private letter of June 15th; its inclosures were duly forwarded. I am very happy to find by the observations which you have made with respect to the impressment of our seamen, that in my letters to Sir Evan Nepean (copies inclosed in my official letter No 23) I have not made use of a language too strong upon this interesting subject. The statement which with Mr...
2802To James Madison from George W. Erving, 29 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
You will doubtless receive thro’ a variety of channels the declaration of war against the U nited States by the Emperor of Morrocco: The in closed are copies of letters which have come to me upon that subject from Mr. Simpson & from our Co nsul at Gibraltar; in consequence of which as we ll as of information from Mr. King I have published a notification to our citizens here, & forwarded the...
2803To James Madison from George W. Erving, 9 August 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 9 August 1806, Madrid. No. 10. “I had the honor to address you last on the 25th. of July. In that letter I mentioned that no complaints had reached me from the Ports, but what related to Quarantine; but it was scarcely dispatched when I was informed through Mr. Young of these recent captures & Condemnations at Algeciras. These are: “The Felicity, Wm. Boyd, Master “The...
2804To James Madison from George W. Erving (Abstract), 21 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
21 June 1805, London . No. 32. “I have lately heard of the unfortunate loss of the ‘Jupiter’ Captn R. Law which sailed from hence in Febuary bound to New York: by that vessel I sent as usual a large number of letters & my half yearly Accounts &c &c up to Decr 31st. My official letters to you were Nos 47, 48, 49, 50 & private 27—28—29; of the former I send duplicates herewith 47, 48, 49: No 50...
2805To James Madison from George W. Erving, 19 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose Copy of a Letter which I yesterday received from our Consul at Lisbon. I am Sir with perfect Respect Your very Obt. St. The preceding is the full transcription of a document that was previously abstracted in The Papers of James Madison , Secretary of State series. The original abstract contains additional annotation and source information. Go to the original abstract
2806To James Madison from George W. Erving, 12 September 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 12 September 1806, Madrid. No. 13. “Pursuant to the instructions contained in your letter of May 1st. I addressed a note to Mr. Cevallos on the 22nd. of July requesting to know whether his Calic Majesty’s approbation of the decision of the Governor of Cuba in the case of the Brigantine ’Minerva,’ mentioned in your letter to said Governor, of April 21st., had or had not...
2807To James Madison from George W. Erving, 13 September 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W Erving. 13 September 1806, Madrid. No. 14. “In my letter No. 10. (August 9th.) I had the honor to submit to you the steps which I had taken with respect to the cargoes of three American Vessels lately condemned at Algeciras, & to transmit copies of my note to Mr. Cevallos (August 3rd.) & of his answer (August 6th.). The inclosed is a copy of what I wrote to him September 2nd....
2808To James Madison from George W. Erving, 5 February 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your sources of intelligence are now so numerous that I hardly Expect an opportunity of making the first communication of important Events; my reflections upon the passing scene, or the political suggestions which it may give rise to, I fear at the best can be of little consideration; & according to the Eccentric course of political Events for these last few years, may more than probably be...
2809To James Madison from George W. Erving, 1 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have now completed and by the Jupiter—Captain Law bound to N. York have transmitted to you the statements required by your official letter of April 22d; & duplicates of the same have been sent by the Hardware Captain Matlock—for N. York. I have endeavoured to make these as distinct & accurate as possible, so that Mr Davidson the agent at Washington for paying the compensation to the...
2810To James Madison from George W. Erving, 1 November 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 November 1802, London. No. 11. Replies to the request in JM’s 1 Aug. 1801 circular instructions for information on the extent to which American captains discharge American seamen abroad in order to hire foreigners for lower wages. There is probably no port worse than London for the frequency of this and “other irregularities which can only be prevented by Legislative interference,” as the...
2811To James Madison from George W. Erving, 24 February 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 24 February 1806, Madrid. No. 5. “I wrote to you on the 21st. Inst. to mention that the very severe calamity which has befallen me, the death of my Father, has rendered my presence in England for a time necessary. As you will have observed from my former letters that I have already used every proper means of obtaining some concessions from this Government which might...
2812To James Madison from George W. Erving, 1 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
The return of Mr Lewis to Washington affords me an opportunity of acknowledging the rect of your private & friendly letter (May 3d) upon the subject of the assessorship to the board of commissioners; It is unnecessary I hope for me to assure you that I feel on all occasions the most perfect disposition to acquiesce in, & chearfully conform to, the Opinions & wishes of the President & of...
2813To James Madison from George W. Erving, 10 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 November 1803, London. No. 27. Encloses the “Tables of Quarantine, Light-Money and other dues” [not found] that JM requested in his circular letter of 4 Apr. Trusts that these, “together with the Returns from our other Consuls,” will enable JM “to lay before the House of Representatives the Statements required by their resolution of the 3d. of March last.” Forwards “‘Mascalls Book of...
2814To James Madison from George W. Erving, 14 December 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 14 December 1805, Madrid. “Private No 6. ” “I wrote to you in great haste unofficially on the 27th. Ulto. to announce some telegraphic news which had just been Received from Paris. It did not however prove to be well founded. The annexed may be depended upon as I had it from the Prussian Minister who Received it from his Court yesterday, & by the French mail to day it...
2815To James Madison from George W. Erving, 7 October 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 7 October 1806, Madrid. No. 16. “ Count D’Ega the portugal embassa[d]or with whom I have the pleasure of being rather intimeately acquainted informed me some days since of an explanation which he had received from the Prince of Peace upon questions which he made as to the present warlike preparations. The Prince gave him to understand that he had no hostile project...
2816To James Madison from George W. Erving, 30 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to address you in No. 12. of Jany 1st. upon several points relating to our Claims, & have now the satisfaction of confirming the assurances which I then gave, of the successful progress, and probable speedy termination of this Business. By the enclosed List you will be pleased to observe, that we have very considerably reduced the Number of Cases pending before the high Court...
2817To James Madison from George W. Erving, 27 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 January 1804, London. No. 28. Received JM’s circular of 1 Oct. 1803 respecting sales of American registered vessels. Sent in his 10 Nov. letter the documents required. Has found the powers lately vested in consuls extremely useful in preventing “irregularities both in the Transfers of Vessels, and the treatment of Seamen.” “To render their effect more complete by insuring the deposit of the...
2818To James Madison from George W. Erving, 26 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to write you on the 13th. Inst, & inclosed with my letter an extraordinary gazette of that da te announcing the conclusion of an Armistrice between the Em perors of France & Russia, made at Tilsit on the 1st. June. Last night a special Courier arrived with in telligence that peace between these two Powers was determ ined on the 8th. Presuming that this important ne ws may...
2819To James Madison from George W. Erving, 11 November 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 November 1802, London. Has “this day” drawn on JM in favor of Laurence Williams for $2,555 at thirty days’ sight. “This is for the service of the Agency for the relief and protection of American Seamen, according to particulars contained in my dispatch of Octr: 21st: to Nov: 5th: which went by the English Ship Mary, Thomas Temple Master on board which Vessel I sent as passengers eighty two...
2820To James Madison from George W. Erving, 16 July 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 16 July 1805. No. 33. “Since I wrote to you last the differences which have for a long time Existed between Mr Pitt & Lord Sid-mouth, more especially in relation to the proceedings against Lord Melville, have produced a seperation. Lord Sidmouth & his friends have resigned. Immediately after this Event the parliament was prorogued; which measure, as Mr Pitt has no...
2821To James Madison from George W. Erving (Abstract), 18 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
18 May 1805, London . “I had the honor to receive on the 7th. Instant your letter of March 19th. intended for Mr. Purviance directing measures to be taken for securing the consent of the British Government to the payment of the third instalment (becoming due from the United States to this Country under the late convention) in London, instead of at Washington; and having previously ascertained...
2822To James Madison from George W. Erving, 2 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 November 1803, London. No. 26. Encloses a sea letter of the brig John and Mary of Charleston, which he has canceled. The ship was sold in South America to a Spaniard, was recently brought into Plymouth for adjudication, and was reclaimed by the English supercargo, a brother of the original owners. [John] Hawker, U.S. consular agent at Plymouth, wrote Erving about the matter on 2 Oct.; Erving...
2823To James Madison from George W. Erving, 14 November 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 November 1801, London. Private No. 4. Encloses recently published compendium of British commercial statistics. Believes “Mr Luffman’s” favorable representation of British export trade is too optimistic, no allowance being made under imports and exports for those imported goods that are merely lodged in warehouses and promptly exported or for those exports that are seized by the enemy and...
2824To James Madison from George W. Erving, 8 January 1802 (Madison Papers)
Referring to my letter of Novr 30, I inclose a copy of a Sketch which I have sent to Mr King, it does not indeed pretend to be any thing like a correct calculation, but which brings into one view some interesting conjectures that cannot be very wide of the truth; If it be near the truth, it shews that so far from deriving any benefit from the 7t Article, (if we take into view the loss of...
2825To James Madison from George W. Erving (Abstract), 23 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
23 April 1805, London . No. 55. “I had the honor to receive in course your letter of December 27th. directing my attention to the Case of the ‘Richmond’ Captain Brattell, a Vessel which has been seised by the Governor of St. Helena, and requiring my assistance to the Claim instituted by the Captain before the Courts here. “Captain Brattell on his arrival in London represented to me his case, &...
2826To James Madison from George W. Erving (Abstract), 24 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
24 April 1805, London . No. 56. “On the 16th. Instant I received letters from Mr. Monroe dated at Aranjuez on the 12th. of March. Finding that Mr. Purviance’s illness has disabled him from attending to the duties of his station, & under an apprehension that the public interests might in some degree suffer by his absence, Mr. Monroe has thought proper to desire me to take charge of our affairs...
2827To James Madison from George W. Erving, 1 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
By my letter No. 28. of June 20th., I had the honor to submit to you copies of sundry correspondence with the Minister of State, upon the subject of the Spanish decree; upon several Cases of Capture, and upon the quarantine regulations; together with a note to the Prince of Peace upon the particular case of the fishing Vessel "Prince" Captn. Sears: these came down to May 25th. I now transmit...
2828To James Madison from George W. Erving, 25 October 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
25 October 1804, London. “ Private. No 25 .” On 24 Oct. received a 14 Oct. letter from Monroe at Rotterdam; a 16 Oct. “letter from Mr Dixon” says Monroe had left the city. “This will accompany my official report respecting the two ships ‘Louisiana’ & ‘Merrimack’ which appear to have been employed in the Slave-trade prohibited by law: It is extremely to be regretted if our regulations cannot be...
2829To James Madison from George W. Erving, 1 September 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 September 1804, London. No. 42. “In pursuance of the instructions contained in your letter of April 22d : I have prepared, and have the honor herewith to transmit to you a complete and as far as the Documents in my possession have enabled me to perfect it, a correct statement of the awards made payable to me by the Board of Commissioners under the 7th: article of our late Treaty with this...
2830To James Madison from George W. Erving, 30 July 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
30 July 1804, London. No. 41. “The Vessel Susan & polly called of Newport, Certificate No. 142 issued at Baltimore first of Novr. 1802, and owned as appears on it’s Documents by Thomas Eldred said to be of Newport in the State of R. Island, took her departure for Norfolk on the 18th instant. This Vessel I believe was formerly purchased by Mr. Eldred in this port, and some objections were then...
2831To James Madison from George W. Erving, 18 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
By General Lyman, who arrived here on the 4th. Instant, I have had the honor to receive your letter of January 12th. and the Commission, Credentials, and Instructions with which it was accompanied; the duplicates of these reached me about four weeks since. You are pleased to communicate to me my appointment by the Executive to be Secretary of Legation at Madrid, and to act in quality of Chargé...
2832To James Madison from George W. Erving, 22 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
My last dispatch dated May 27 was forwarded by post to Mr. Young at Algeciras; owing only (as I hope,) to the present disturbed state of the country & the consequent stoppage of all the couriers from Andalusia, I have not heard from him since he left Madrid on the 25th. Ulto., but lest unfortunately he may have met with any accident or detention, I lately transmitted a duplicate of said...
2833To James Madison from George W. Erving, 29 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
My last dispatch dated September 18th. acknowledged the receipt of the instructions which you were pleased to give me in the case of the "Grampus": By that which immediately preceded it (of September 1st.) I had the honor to submit to you the continuation of my correspondence with this Government upon certain matters of importance: The purpose of this is merely to inclose copies of the notes...
2834To James Madison from George W. Erving, 20 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
I communicated to Mr Monroe the contents of your (private) letter of June 20th; you have doubtless before this received in course the best newspapers which have been published here since that date, he having regularly forwarded them; with respect to pamphlets, few now appear which are worth attention, & scarcely any which concern our interests; that of Lord Sheffield is indeed the only one...
2835To James Madison from George W. Erving, 28 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 January 1804, London. No. 29. “Having had the honor to receive your Letter (Novr. 1st. 1803) respecting Alexander Mc.Elwee an American Citizen impressed into the British Service, I lost no time in applying to the Lords of the Admiralty for his discharge. Copies of my letter and their answer are herewith inclosed. “You will please to observe that their Lordships presume Mc.Elwee not to be at...
2836To James Madison from George W. Erving, 4 October 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 October 1801, London. Reports that on 2 Oct. Great Britain and France announced signing of peace preliminaries. Believes news of French surrender at Alexandria hastened this event. Relates unconfirmed rumor that the preliminaries provide for a French guarantee of the integrity of the Turkish Empire (which must include the surrender of Egypt) and also for the security of the Kingdom of...
2837To James Madison from George W. Erving, 13 August 1801 (Madison Papers)
I had taken my passage & actually Embarked for England on board a merchant ship from this Port but I found the accommodations so uncomfortable, & the decks so dangerously lumbered with Cotton, that I thought it best to return & take passage in the English Packet which sails without fail to morrow morning; in this mode of conveyance I am subject to a probability of some delay, but taking all...
2838To James Madison from George W. Erving (Abstract), 21 February 1805 (Madison Papers)
21 February 1805, London . No. 51. “By this conveyance the London Packet, Capt Mc:Dougall bound to Philadelphia, I transmit four Packages of Newspapers, and two others containing the Documents relating to the rupture between this Country and Spain as they have been printed for the use of the House of Commons, & consisting of four numbers.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , London, vol. 9). 1 p. Signature...
2839To James Madison from George W. Erving, 27 September 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 27 September 1806, Madrid. No. 14. “I wrote to you last unofficially on the 9t of this month. In the present very critical posture of European affairs the attention of all political Speculators is turned towards the king of Prussia. I have within these few days obtained a sight of several letters from him to his chargé d affaires here the contents of which are...
2840To James Madison from George W. Erving, 12 June 1802 (Madison Papers)
My last unofficial letter was dated March 6th; not having had the pleasure of hearing from you, & always supposing that my communications may have been found deficient in interest, it is not without apprehension that I again address you: To write too much however is an Error on the right side as long as our correspondent has the priviledge of burning; I conclude too that this may find you at...
2841To James Madison from George W. Erving, 21 January 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 21 January 1806, Madrid. No 7. “I have had the pleasure to receive your letter of Novr. 21st. but not delivered by the Mr. Smith therein referred to; & the newspapers which you have been so good as to send have not yet reached me. I do not know that I have any particular reason to complain of the stoppage or violation of my letters, but it is generally understood here...
2842To James Madison from George W. Erving, 29 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
I duly received from Mr: Le Couteulx the papers respecting his Claim on this Government, referred to in your letter to our Minister Resident here of May 16th. Upon this subject, I as the Agent of Mr: Le Couteulx, drew a memorial (of which I have the honor herewith to inclose a Copy) to the King in Council, & submitted it to the Minister for his approbation. This appeared to be the most...
2843To James Madison from George W. Erving, 17 June 1806 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to write to you on the 17th. April from England, ⟨m⟩entioning my intention of returning immediately to Madrid by way ⟨o⟩f Lisbon; pursuant to which I left London on the 5th. May, ⟨ar⟩rived here on the 2nd. Inst., and on the 6th. proceeded to Aranjuez, where the Court now is, & from whence I returned to this place on the 14th. In my first interview with Dn. Pedro Cevallos, which...
2844To James Madison from George W. Erving, 28 August 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 28 August 1806, San Ildefonso. No. 12. “We have not received here certain intelligence that Lord Lauderdale has actually quitted Paris; but by all that we have received it is to be presumed that he must have gone; & we know that he had demanded his passports. The french government attributes this rupture to the ill state of Mr Fox’s health; this appears to be absurd,...
2845To James Madison from George W. Erving, 11 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
My last unofficial letter to you was of May 17th.; I have nothing at present of a private nature connected with the matter of the accompanying dispatch, which is of sufficient importance to be communicated to you: indeed whatever information of any consequence that contains, I presume will reach you before this. The past transactions, & the actual state of affairs here, certainly merit the...
2846To James Madison from George W. Erving, 29 November 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 29 November 1805, Madrid. “Private No. 3.” “In my last unofficial letter dated Novr. 20 which was sent by way of Bourdeaux with the original of my official letter No. 2 I intimated an apprehension that the Cypher of this legation had been lost; but having today received a letter from Mr. Jarvis by ⟨w⟩;hich I find that Mr. Pinckney has carried it to Lisbon, & has now...
2847To James Madison from George W. Erving, 19 March 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
19 March 1803, London. No. 16. “I have the honor to inclose Copy of a Letter which I yesterday received from our Consul at Lisbon.” RC and enclosure ( DNA : RG 59, CD , London, vol. 8). RC 1 p. In a clerk’s hand, signed by Erving. Docketed by Wagner. For enclosure, see n. 1. The enclosure, Jarvis to Erving, 10 Feb. 1803 (1 p.; docketed by Wagner), reported that the prince regent had lifted...
2848To James Madison from George W. Erving (Abstract), 20 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
20 April 1805, London . No. 53. “I have the honor herewith to inclose a protest made at Lisbon by Lemuel Bruce Master, and Charles A. Coffin mate of the Vessel Venus belonging to New York; stating the very unjustifiable conduct of the officers of his Britanneck Majesty’s Ship ‘Wolfe’ in procuring two men Bailey & Knight part of the crew of the Venus, to enter on board the ‘Wolfe,’ and in...
2849To James Madison from George W. Erving, 13 July 1806 (Madison Papers)
The last letter which I had the honor to write to you was dated 17th June, and inclosed copies of Don Pedro Cevallos’s note of the 2d & my reply of the 15th: He has thought proper to retouch the subjects of that note in another of the 24th June, a copy of which & my answer of the 1st Instt are herewith transmitted. As Mr Cevallos in his last note has not attempted by any argument to contest...
2850To James Madison from George W. Erving, 20 November 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From George W. Erving. 20 November 1805, Madrid. No. 2. “I had the honor to write you on the 25th. Ulto. from the Escurial, by Mr. Pinckney who proceeded to Lisbon on the 26th. “Mr. Pinckney will have informed you particularly of the state in which he left our affairs here, of the means which he took, (but without success,) towards the close of his Mission, to obtain a Ratification of the...