From James Madison to James Monroe, 18 May 1815
To James Monroe
Montpelier May 18. 1815
Dear Sir
Yours of the 16 from Fredg. is recd. That of the 11th. from Washington came also duly to hand. Be so good as to drop me notice of the day of your leaving Richmond, and previous notice as soon as you fix on the day of your intended departure from Albemarle. The information may be useful in regulating any intermediate communications that may be called for.
I shall fix on my return to the City, when I have the promised pleasure of seeing you. This may furnish the ground of an answer to Changuion’s letter inclosed.1 If he chuse to visit me here, I shall welcome him: or if the motives for his return home be urgent, the formality of a personal farewell, may be waved [sic] altogether.
Daschcoff’s application is abrupt on us.2 He ought at least to have furnished a copy of the Russian regulations on which it is founded. I do not recollect what you was to say to Mr. Harris on the subject, or whether any reference can, with propriety be made to communications thro’ that channel, in acknowledging Mr. D’s letter. The absence of both of us from the City, will for the present furnish a dilatory answer.
I do not understand very well the case of W. S. Smith. If it was the wish of Mr. Adams that he shd. remain with him as Secy. at London, and the young Gentleman’s wish also, in the event of his not receiving an appt. here it seems odd that he should have put himself into his present situation.3 Perhaps Mr. Adams may have had a decided preference for the brother or for some one else, for the place at London. The letter to you from the son, referred to by the father, may contain explanations.
How did you understand Mr. Crawford letter, on the subject of his prolonged stay at Paris?4 Will he certainly return at an early day, or will he remain indefinitely for the pursuit of his object, under the new circumstances of the Fr. Govt.? I have never written to him on the subject of his appt. to the War Dept., having taken it for granted, that his stay in Europe would not be later than early in april. Affe respects
James Madison
RC (DLC: Monroe Papers).
1. Monroe had evidently forwarded to JM François D. Changuion’s letter of 9 May 1815 (2 pp.; in French), enclosing a copy of his 27 Feb. 1815 letter of recall as the Netherlands’ minister to the United States (1 p.; in French), and asking for an appointment with JM to take his official leave (DNA: RG 59, NFL, Netherlands).
2. JM evidently referred to Andrei Dashkov’s 6 May 1815 letter to Monroe, requesting that the provisions of a 3 Mar. 1815 act of Congress, repealing discriminatory duties on goods imported in the vessels of nations that reciprocated in kind, go into effect immediately for Russian ships (for the act, see , 3:224). Dashkov claimed that Russian ports were already admitting U.S. ships on the same basis as their own with regard to tonnage and customs. The letter is docketed by State Department clerk Daniel Brent, with his note: “This letter, with a Copy of the law to which it refers, is submitted to the President, by the direction of Mr Monroe, for his Instructions” (DNA: RG 59, NFL, Russia; 2 pp.).
3. JM probably referred to a letter to Monroe from William Steuben Smith, 4 May 1815 (DNA: RG 217, Office of the Fifth Auditor, Misc. Settled Accounts and Claims, no. 282; 4 pp.), which reported Smith’s arrival in New York two days earlier and attempted to explain his expense account by stating in detail the circumstances of his journey from St. Petersburg, Russia, where he had served as secretary of legation. He asked to be considered for a similar appointment in London or a government position in New York.
4. JM probably referred to the second of William Harris Crawford’s two 21 Mar. 1815 letters to Monroe, in which Crawford wrote regarding Napoleon’s return to power in France: “As our government has uniformly disclaimed the intention and the right of interfering in the internal concerns of other nations, I shall feel no difficulty in recognizing the change which in a few days will be completely effected, and in all human probability without bloodshed. But I shall not do this unless I have strong reason to believe that the indemnity to which we have an indubitable right will be promptly adjusted. My having obtained leave to return, and the period fixed for my departure having nearly arrived, will enable me to avoid all connection with the Court during my short stay without giving offence, or, in any degree, committing the Interests of the United States. Should the government be disposed to do justice, and should not require new letters of credence, I shall not hesitate to enter immediately upon that subject, and press it to an immediate close” (DNA: RG 59, DD, France; 8 pp.).