1From James Madison to James Monroe, 16 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 16 July 1810. Acknowledged in Monroe to JM, 25 July 1810 . Concerns the employment of Bizet, a French gardener.
2From James Madison to James Monroe, 16 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
If I did not misunderstand you when in Washington the Gardener Beza, was not now engaged or wanted for your service, and would not, probably, be unwilling to undertake a job for me. Should this be the case, I would ask the favor of you to send him down as soon as possible. I wish to employ him, & 2 or 3 hands under him, in preparing a piece of ground for a Garden, and to have it executed in a...
3From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 March 1811 (Madison Papers)
I may perhaps consult too much my own wishes public & personal, and too little a proper estimate of yours, in intimating the near approach of a vacancy in the Department of State, which will present to your comparison, as far as lies with me, that sphere for your patriotic services, with the one in which they are now rendered. Should such a transfer of them be inadmissible or ineligible, on...
4From James Madison to James Monroe, 26 March 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 23d. and learn with much pleasure that you are not disinclined to the Station wch. the one answered by it, presented to your consideration. In discharging the duties of this Station, I am aware that the Functionary must carry into it, a just respect for his own principles, and above all for the dictates of his Conscience. But with the mutual knowledge of our...
5From James Madison to James Monroe, 31 March 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure this moment of receiving yours of the 29th. inst: I am particularly glad to find that you will be able to set out at so early a day for Washington. To the advantage of preventing an inconvenient chasm in the public business, will be added the opportunity of a provident attention to the accomodations required by your establishment here. The House occupied by Mr. Smith is the...
6From James Madison to James Monroe, 2 April 1811 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ I have expressed a hope that you would leave Richmond before a Commission of Secretary of State, could reach it, yet as it may have happened otherwise, & as it may be agreeable to you to have it previously in your hands, I now inclose the document as just compleated. There is the less objection to this step, as in case it should pass you on the road, another can readily be made out on...
7From James Madison to James Monroe, 2 [August] 1811 (Madison Papers)
I just find by the letters from W. that you had at length been liberated from your detention there. Mr. Graham having left the packet for you unsealed, I have glanced over the papers relating to Grassin & the letters of Foster. I am glad to find that the Owner of the Privateer, domicil[i]ated here, is taken in hand. There can be no legal difficulty I presume in dealing with him. Foster seems...
8From James Madison to James Monroe, 11 August 1811 (Madison Papers)
I snatch the opportunity by the bearer of yours of this date, to send to the Ct. House for the next rider who does not call here, the line you request in answer. As the report alluded to is erroneous as I supposed it to have been, a contradiction seemed to be due to the manner in which it was given to the public. Mr. Gales you will see has undertaken one which will probably be sufficient....
9From James Madison to James Monroe, 15 August 1811 (Madison Papers)
Among the papers herewith inclosed are letters from the Govt. at Santa fee, and among these one to the French Minister at Washington inclosing another to the Minister of Foreign relations at Paris. In opening the general packet addressed to the Executive, that for Serrurier was so involved as to be opened unintenti[on]ally at the same time. The more important one for Paris escaped this...
10From James Madison to James Monroe, 23 August 1811 (Madison Papers)
I ascribe to the heat of the weather my not having yet had the pleasure of your promised visit. We hope when the obstacle is removed that we shall have the gratification increased by the company of Mrs. Monroe. Among the papers now forwarded is another note from Mr. F. His late ones breathe a spirit which it is difficult to account for without the painful supposition that he believes it not...
11From James Madison to James Monroe, [6 September] 1811 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Hamilton from the John Adams reached me yesterday. He reposes to day, and will be with you tomorrow. I send by the bearer, the dispatches opened at the Dept. of State &c. The packets of less importance Mr. H. will take with him tomorrow. The Secy of the Navy you will observe suggests the disclosure of the intelligence recd. from Mr Russel. An abstract of the matter in the letter to Mr....
12From James Madison to James Monroe, [13 September] 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. your favor of this date. I need not express the perfect confidence I feel in the friendly & considerate inducements to your suggestion. But having made definitive preparation for the intended visit; having in no instance omitted it for many years, & the motive being strengthened by the late one recd. by myself, I think the omission, if tested by prudential calculations of a...
13From James Madison to James Monroe, [11 March] 1812 (Madison Papers)
It has so happened that the above &c did not come to my knowledge till the arrival of the bearer. I return them with regret for the hurry. Mr. P. did not come to dinner with me owing as I presume to the late hour of our separation. I concur in the idea you express. RC ( DLC : John Henry Papers). Undated; in JM’s hand, written at the foot of Monroe to JM, 11 Mar. 1812 . Date assigned here on...
14From James Madison to James Monroe, 1 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
The letter from Acheson, should be known in some of its contents. I inclose it to you for reasons on the face of it. I inclose also the letter from Gilbert Taylor, as a memento to the letter you are to write to the Govr. of Tennessee, on the subject of the illegal enterprize on foot in that State. We are so far well on our way. Yrs. RC ( DLC : Monroe Papers). JM probably enclosed the 25 Aug....
15From James Madison to James Monroe, 5 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
I recd. yours of the 2d. inst: last night. Your observations on the policy called for by the crisis produced by Hull’s surrender are entirely just; and I feel all the value of the aid you offer in meeting it in a proper manner. Both before & since our parting conversation on that subject, the idea has been revolved in the hope that some shape might be given to it worthy both of your standing...
16From James Madison to James Monroe, 6 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
I recd. last evening your favor of the 4th: with a subsequent note covering a letter from Mr. Graham. That from Duane, referred to as inclosed, was omitted. All the accts., printed & manuscript, coincide with the view given by Mr. Graham, of the Western feeling produced by Hull’s disaster. The great point is to seize it and give it proper direction. This requires one mind of the right sort,...
17From James Madison to James Monroe, 8 [September] 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 6th. I am sorry to find that Pike confides so little in our prospects. From a letter of Genl. Dearborn to the Secy. of War, it appears that the force at his disposal is more scanty than was hoped. I am not sure whether his immediate plan is to take advantage of the detachments of the B. force from Montreal, by directing his principal operations towards that place, or...
18From James Madison to James Monroe, 10 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment recd. yours of the 8th. & 9th. A failure in the mail, occasioned the recet. of them at the same time. I have not had time to examine the Volunteer Act, which has been forwarded to me, the present mail which brought it, remaining but a short period, & that being occupied in reading papers &c. now sent to the Secy. of War, & others requiring attention. He will shew you those...
19From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
Not a word from abroad, or the West, since you left us. Dearborn has still one eye on Montreal, and the other on Niagara: forcing the attention of the Enemy to both, with a purpose, doubtless of striking, himself, at either or both according to circumstances. The story of an armament agst. Plattsburg is groundless. Niagara was very weak at the last date, and more in danger of attack, than...
20From James Madison to James Monroe, 23 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
Still without authentic information from Abroad. The Halifax papers expect Adml. Warren with a naval force, and an offer of peace. It appears that Wellington has gained a victory over Marmont; The extent of it not ascertained. From the West the accounts are that a B & Indn. force amounting to about 600 left Malden after the surrender of Detroit, to attack F. Wayne, & in case of success, to...
21From James Madison to James Monroe, [ca. 1 April] 1813 (Madison Papers)
The views with which the U.S. entered into the war, necessarily dispose them to a just peace. The promptitude with which the mediation of H.I.M. was accepted and the purpose of sending ministers to St.P. without waiting for the determination of G.B. is proof of this disposition. An armistice as sparing an effusion of blood, & as contemplating an auspicious result to the mediation, can not...
22From James Madison to James Monroe, 19 July 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 18th. by Mr. Mercer and have weighed as well as I could the pros & cons of the little enterprize half-formed by you. If it cd. be eligibly undertaken under any auspices, I am sure it would be under yours. But I confess its success would seem to require more celerity & secrecy than might be attainable, and in our situation offensive measures even on a small scale would...
23From James Madison to James Monroe, 10 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your letter on the subject of Wyer. He puts both himself & us in an awkward position. He asks an appt. & the moment he gets it, tells us he has neither the money nor credit to execute it: and if we assist him, we admit what was no recommendation to the appt. As to a loan, have we any authority to lend money or to take a bond of legal validity? And does not an advance imply that...
24From James Madison to James Monroe, 15 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
I am just favored with yours of the 12th. which was due yesterday, but the mail it seems lost a day between Washington & Fredg. I hope the arrival of Bloomfield will contribute to lessen the collisions, which are so inconvenient. In the mean time your & the Secy. of the Navy’s advice cannot but be useful; and I dare say, from Bloomfield’s character, that it will occasionally be acceptable to...
25From James Madison to James Monroe, 16 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
I return the papers brought me from the Dept. of State by the mail of this morning. If it be found that Warden bargained with Dr. Stephens, his reasonable charges must of course be allowed. But, unless, the oral communications from W. thro’ S. be of importance and distinct from the case of the chargéship, it has but too much the aspect of a public expence incurred by W. for the purpose of...
26From James Madison to James Monroe, 19 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favors of the 16 & 17. The communication of de Forrest is extremely interesting. The view it gives of the B. policy towards the U.S. is so strikingly just, and so strictly accords with that which has regulated the course of the Executive that it is much to be regretted that his paper is not in a form and is without an authority, to be published. If it had been in the form of...
27From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
I return the papers relating to Yeaton, with the opinion of the attorney general on the case. According to that opinion, the claim of the Revenue officers does not commence, till recovery of the forfeiture takes place, and recovery means a receipt of the forfeiture & readiness for its distribution. The revenue officers are then barred of their claim or will be barred by a pardon issued...
28From James Madison to James Monroe, 22 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
I return the letter from Mr. Skinner to Genl. Mason, which merits attention as a circumstancial corroboration of other indications. I return also the letter from S. Kingston with the blank copy of the new licences. It is truly mortifying that an enemy depending on us for the necessaries of life should be permitted thus to regulate our whole trade as effectually by orders of the Cabinet as it...
29From James Madison to James Monroe, 1 September 1813 (Madison Papers)
I this moment receive your favor of the 30th. It gives me much pleasure, that you have so soon got rid of your fever. Whenever you come on you[r] visit to Albemarle, I should be glad to see you, if you could make this a Stage and be reconciled to the little delay it would incur. I can with great conveniency give you a conveyance for the residue of the journey; and if apprized in time wd. have...
30From James Madison to James Monroe, 2 September 1813 (Madison Papers)
I am just favored with yours of Aug. 31. In allotting Genl. Pinkney to take charge of the Expedition, I was governed by the sole consideration that it was in a manner necessary to an effective organization of the military supplies. In every other view the arrangement is ineligible. It will risk delays. It may be unsatisfactory to others, particularly Govr. Mitchell who derives weight from his...
31From James Madison to James Monroe, 11 September 1813 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed is the last information from the War & Navy Depts. Be so good as to return the letters. I have signed the Exequaturs for the Swedish Vice Consuls. But considering the source from which those appointments proceed, & the known abuses of the Sweedish flag, it seems proper that other evidence of character should be had, than the selection of Soderstrom. You may delay or issue the...
32From James Madison to James Monroe, 18 September 1813 (Madison Papers)
Will you have such an answer given Mr. Chandler, as will accord with precedents, which I presume may admit of his communicating through a flag, shd. one be sent to Bermuda for other purposes and in the mean time to make an expert: on the ships here. The indulgences given to others who have lost Negroes, either by the Genl. or State authorities, have probably encouraged this application....
33From James Madison to James Monroe, 23 September 1813 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter from the Secy. of the Navy, gives you I presume, a confirmation of the happy success of Perry. I hope the final information from Chauncy may give us another subject for congratulations. I have detained the letter from Barclay. The exemption from the impost of articles imported by Pub. Ministers was deemed a stretch, and acquiesced in by the Rep: admn. rather than approved....
34From James Madison to James Monroe, [ca. 3 October] 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have your favor of yesterday, & we shall expect the pleasure of seeing you with Mrs. Monroe tomorrow or next day. There is no mail from Fredg. today owing probably to high waters North of it. Inclosed is a paper or two recd. by that of yesterday. Would it be amiss to send to the press, the English papers forwarded to you. They contain sundry articles not uninteresting. I wonder that Genl....
35From James Madison to James Monroe, [ca. 10 October] 1813 (Madison Papers)
It is of the greatest importance that the Creek war should be crushed before it can invite or co-operate with British or Spanish attacks in that quarter, or draw other Tribes into it. In this view and under the circumstances existing, the large force from Tennissee may be adopted under the usual regulations. The Choctaw Agency may be furnished with an acceptance by the Govt. of the aid of that...
36From James Madison to James Monroe, 17 October 1813 (Madison Papers)
I return the communications from you rcd. by yesterday’s mail. If Mr. Daschkoffs application can not be parried, it will be better to comply with it than to appear rigid at the present moment. It is strange however that his object should be of such importance as to overballance the expence of a special flag to Warren. Why not make his communication thro’ some of the Commanders on the Coast?...
37From James Madison to James Monroe, 18 October 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. the gratifying confirmation of the late accts. from L. Ontario, with the important addition from Harrison of the 5th. inst: These successive events will be deeply felt by the Creeks & other Southern Indians, but not in time to prevent the sequel of the disaster at Fort Mimms or the heavy expence occasioned by the preparations for the Creek war. I shall soon be on the road for...
38From James Madison to James Monroe, 1 May 1814 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of yesterday, with the accompanying papers was delivered by the Express today, by 2 oC. The subject of them presents itself in a very perplexing posture. Under the power implied where not expressly waived, the arrangement might be rejected; but respect for the character & motives of our functionary unites with other considerations against that course. The course you suggest has...
39From James Madison to James Monroe, 7 May 1814 (Madison Papers)
Will you put the inclose case into the proper channel. It seems to have a fair claim to attention? The public I find are not yet apprised of the precise ground on which the arrangement at Quebec has left the subject of retaliation. Unless the original 23 hostages can be held in some situation responsible for those sent to England, I foresee complaint & reproach agst. the Ex: on the other hand...
40From James Madison to James Monroe, 12 May 1814 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 9th. with the instructions &c to Genl. Winder. The communications from McComb referred to, were not sent: and I cannot therefore understand the precise footing on which the business of the armistice rests. I hope Gen: Winder will be able if not to comprehend our 46 officers in the general exchange, to have them put on parole, which will ease the public feeling with...
41From James Madison to James Monroe, 19 May 1814 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 11th. 13. & 14 inst: with their respective enclosures. The affair of the Convention for exchanges is as you remark peculiarly embarrassing. I hope it will end, in a mutual liberation on parole of officers, and an improved condition of the privates, we retaining the 23 hostages standing agst. that number sent to England. The discharge of those hostages, without some...
42From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 May 1814 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two letters of the 16th. & 20th. the last misdated, and the former delayed by high waters. Your letter to Gen: Winder is best in the moderated temper you have given it. The return of the offensive paper from Prevost will be, however lenient in the manner, not a little grating to his pride. There is so little prospect of an armistice thro’ him, that it is scarcely worth while...
43From James Madison to James Monroe, 23 May 1814 (Madison Papers)
I return the papers relating to Moss. If the Treasury Department has no objections to the pardon recommended by the district Judge, and the Attorney Genl. thinks it legal under such modifications, let an instrument for the purpose be made out. The high waters continue to obstruct the mails. 2 from NY. and 1 from places South of it, are left in arrears by the arrival this morning. The English...
44From James Madison to James Monroe, 26 May 1814 (Madison Papers)
I have yours of the 24th. If the refusal of Bonaparte to accept peace, had not been followed by the seizure of Paris, it would have been impossible to believe his distress to be such as is represented. Even the latter event, does not extinguish doubts as to some others necessary to render it decisive. It is difficult also to calculate the effect external & internal, of the project in favor of...
45From James Madison to James Monroe, [3 June 1814] (Madison Papers)
J. Madison requests a consultation with the Heads of Dept. on Tuesday next at Eleven OClock. June 3. 1814. The object is to decide on the plan of Campaign which our means render most eligible. The Secy. of State will cause to be made out & send over, any information recd in his Dept. relative to the military or naval force of the Enemy destined to Canada or to the U.S; or to military or naval...
46From James Madison to James Monroe, [14 July 1814] (Madison Papers)
An Expres[s] mail from Genl. Brown, states Officially that an action took place at Chippeway with Genl. Riall (having probably the whole B. force in the Peninsa:) in which the Enemy were defeated, leaving 400 killed & wounded on the field, and escaping to their works not distant. Genl. Scott seems to have had a conspicuous share in the victory. Our loss is not mentioned. The details were to...
47From James Madison to James Monroe, [ca. 11 August 1814] (Madison Papers)
Is not Mr. Neilson’s request within the opinion of Mr. Rush agst the departure of American vessels with B. licence. Walkers case falls under a general regulation wch. Genl. Mason has in view. RC ( DNA : RG 59, War of 1812 Papers, Correspondence regarding Passports). In JM ’s hand. Undated; addressee not indicated. Conjectural date assigned and addressee identified based on evidence in nn. 1–2....
48From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
I recd. yours of yesterday between 5 & 6 OC and made known its contents to the Secy of W. & N. & to Genl. W. The information derived importance from the lateness of its date. You know that extensive & pressing calls have been made for militia, and we hope they will be prompt. Some of Laval’s horse, upwards of 100, arrived yesterday, & will be immediately where they ought to be. As our troops...
49From James Madison to James Monroe, [22 August 1814] (Madison Papers)
I recd yours of 11 P.M. about 20 minutes ago. You will hear from Genl. A. or myself by other express who will leave this about 9 or 10 OC. If the force of the Enemy be not greater than yet appears, & he be without Cavalry, it seems extraordinary that he shd. venture on an enterprize to this distance from his shipping. He may however count on the effect of boldness & celerity on his side, and...
50From James Madison to James Monroe, [22 August 1814] (Madison Papers)
Since mine of this morning Tatham has arived and speaks of reinforcements to the first Column of the Enemy at Notingham. Taylor, I understand is also here just from Parker, with a report that the Enemy have 3000 in the Potowmac. This must be a great exaggeration, if there be not more shipping than we know of. It wd. seem not improbable that if they have land force of any sensible importance,...