1From James Madison to John Adams, 22 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
Being informed that our Mediterranean Passports and papers of navigation have been recently counterfeited and used by persons not entitled to them, and being referred to you for explanations respecting it, permit me to request you to make a deposition reciting your knowledge of the subject as circumstantially as may be and especially what you know respecting the interest Mr. Willis the...
2From James Madison to John Quincy Adams, 14 January 1802 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to Mr. Adams and incloses a letter just recd. from Mr. Randolph in answer to the letter from Mr. Adams, lately forwarded in one from Mr. M. to Mr. R. RC and enclosure ( MHi : Adams Papers). RC docketed by Adams. For enclosure, see n. 1. Edmund Randolph to Adams, 9 Jan. 1802 (1 p.; cover marked by Randolph: “To be read by the secretary of state”; docketed by...
3From James Madison to John Quincy Adams, 16 December 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
16 December 1803. “Having transmitted to Mr. King, the inquiry contained in your letter of , I have received the answer of which a copy is inclosed. The office of State possesses no further information on the particular point in question with the Committee.” RC ( DNA : RG 46, Foreign Relations, 8B-B2). 1 p.; printed in ASP American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the...
4From James Madison to James Akin (Abstract), 9 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
9 May 1805, Department of State . “The recommendations, under which you were formerly engaged in this Department, not being found on the files, I regret that I have it not in my power to comply with your request [not found] to have them or copies.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). 1 p. Engraver James Akin (ca. 1773–1846) had been a clerk in the State Department under Timothy...
5From James Madison to Andrew Allen Jr., 15 November 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Andrew Allen Jr. 15 November 1805, Department of State. “I have this day written to the Collector of the Customs at Boston to pay what he may deem reasonable for the passage of the American Seamen from Halifax to Boston as mentioned in your letter of the 28th. ultimo to the Secretary of the Treasury.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 15). 1 p. For Allen’s letter to Albert...
6From James Madison to Ira Allen, 4 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
Having received no official information respecting the decision in the case of the Olive Branch, I can only inform you, in consequence of your letter of the 1st. inst., that no convention exists between the two Nations af[f]ording a special remedy adapted to the circumstances under which the decree of restitution is made. I am &c. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14).
7From James Madison to James Allen, 13 January 1803 (Madison Papers)
Your letter complaining of the attempt by Mr. Lewis S. Pintard, acting as Consul at Maderia, to extort illegal fees from you, whereby your vessel was detained, has been received. As comprising a violation of public duty, the case will meet with the proper attention. For the private injury you have sustained, you have your remedy against Mr. Pintard who caused it, his principal Mr. John M....
8Circular Letter to American Consuls and Commercial Agents, 9 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
Since the commencement of the year 1802, I have received your letter of the date of June 28 and I now transmit you a copy of the laws of the session of Congress preceding the last. Of those of the last session, a copy of the ’Act supplementary to the “Act concerning Consuls and Vice-Consuls,” and for the further protection of American seamen,[’] is annexed; the remainder will be forwarded as...
9Circular Letter to American Consuls, Mediterreanean, 2 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
On receiving information of the loss of the Philadelphia, an act of Congress was passed whereby a Million of dollars, was appropriated to enable the President to impart such vigor to the conduct of the war as might at once change the exultation of the enemy in his casual fortune into a more proper sentiment of fear and prepare the way for a speedy & lasting peace with Barbary. The five...
10Circular Letter to American Consuls, Mediterranean, 21 May 1801 (Madison Papers)
The proofs which have been received of the hostile purposes of the Bashaw of Tripoli having imposed upon the President the obligation of providing immediately for the safety of our Mediterranean commerce, he has judged proper to send to the coast of Barbary a squadron of three frigates and a sloop of war, under the command of Commodore Dale. The squadron will sail in a very few days from this...
11Circular Letter to American Ministers, 22 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a copy of the President’s communication to the Legislature at the opening of the Session which commenced on the 17th instant. On the 21st the Senate advised the ratification of the Treaty and Conventions with France respecting the acquisition of Louisiana, and I have the pleasure to add, that yesterday those instruments received the final sanction of the President...
12Circular Letter to American Ministers, 21 May 1801 (Madison Papers)
For a considerable time past, suspicions have prevailed, that a rupture with the United States was intended by the Bashaw of Tripoli. Of late the alarms and proofs have been such, as to impose on the President the obligation of making immediately the most effectual provision within his authority, for the defence and protection of our Mediterranean commerce, in case it should be attacked from...
13Circular Letter to American Ministers, 16 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
By the mail of last Evening, dispatches were received from New Orleans, announcing the formal delivery of the Province of Louisiana to the Commissioners of the United States on the 20th Ulto. This day Mr Baring will receive the portion to which he is entitled by this event of the Stock created in pursuance of the Treaty. The remaining two thirds will be forwarded under arrangements of the...
14From James Madison to I. Hays and C. Amory, 22 April 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
22 April 1804, Department of State. “I duly received your letter [not found] enclosing a collection of documents respecting the Ship Perseverance. The late Convention with Spain having been ratified on our part, as soon as a similer [ sic ] form has been communicated to it by the King of Spain, a Board will be organized with powers to examine all unjust captures and detentions by Spanish...
15From James Madison to J. C. Amory and Others, 31 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have just written to Mr Pinckney, the Minister of the United States at Spain, and have called his attention to the case represented by your letter of the 22d January last, some time since received at this Office: and it will be well for you also to write to him on the same subject. I am, Gentlemen, very respectfully, Your Obedt Servant, RC ( DNA : RG 76, Spain, Treaty of 1819, Allowed...
16From James Madison to George Armroyd, 18 August 1805 (Madison Papers)
In conformity to the request in yours of the instant I have made the capture of the Brig Neptune the subject of a representation to the Marquis de Casa Yrujo, as a ground for his interposition with the Govr. of Porto Rico: I enclose the letter with a request that you will convey it to him. As no document proving the Citizenship of the Claimants or the ownership of the Vessel, accompanied...
17From James Madison to John Armstrong, 2 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
The Officers of the French Government in St Domingo having made that Government a debtor to Mr Tucker of Massachusetts by a restraint which left him no alternative, Mr Pichon undertook to liquidate the compensation due, for which he delivered Mr Tucker a draft on Paris. On the presentation of this draft payment has been refused on account of an alledged defect of authority in Mr Pichon. It has...
18From James Madison to John Armstrong, 14 March 1806 (Madison Papers)
The rein given by Great Britain thro’ the arbitrary decisions of her Admiralty Courts to the Cruizers against our commerce, has produced already heavy losses to our merchants, and a very general indignation throughout the nation. You will have observed the notice taken of the British conduct in the Message of the President to Congress at the opening of the Session. I now transmit a copy of a...
19From James Madison to John Armstrong, 6 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
On reviewing the letters from you not yet acknowledged I find them under the following dates, viz 12th Novr. 24. 25. & 30th Decr 14th Feby and 18th March last. I have the pleasure to observe to you that the President entirely approves the just and dignified answer given to the venal suggestions emanating from the French functionaries as explained in your letter of the 24th of December. The...
20From James Madison to John Armstrong, 26 October 1806 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of June 2. last to the Secretary of State was recd. during my late recess in Virginia, where it could not be conveniently answered; and since my return, I have till now been prevented by indisposition from giving it the proper attention. From a search into the correspondence of the Commissioners of which you wish a copy, I find that no part of it can have relation to the period of...
21From James Madison to John Armstrong, 15 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
A Commission by which the President appoints you Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to the French Republic is herewith inclosed, with a letter of credence to the First Consul. The delivery of these will be an occasion of which you will avail yourself to assure the French Government of the continuance of those friendly dispositions which the United States have hitherto expressed, and...
22From James Madison to John Armstrong, 5 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
With the exception of several letters on special subjects, my last was dated on the 24th of November; since which I have received from Mr Livingston his letters of Septr. 14 & 21st & October 10 & 23d, and yours of the 20th of October 1804. Congress did not adjourn till the night of the 3d instant. The greater part of their Acts were passed in a late stage of the session, and a number of them...
23From James Madison to John Armstrong, 6 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 6 September 1804, Department of State. Offered for sale by B. Altman & Co. (advertisement, Wall Street Journal , 15 July 1973), where it is represented as a one-page letter stating that U.S. claims regarding debts contracted by the French in Saint-Domingue have not been met nor has Livingston reported on the matter. JM asks to be informed about the probability and time of...
24From James Madison to John Armstrong, 2 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
From the period when the misunderstandings between France and the United States encouraged the Agents and cruizers of the former in the year 1797 to fall upon the trade of the United States, till the capture of Curaçoá, this Island served as a station for Commissioning and fitting out privateers, for holding judicial proceedings over prizes, for selling them, and in short could scarcely be...
25From James Madison to John Armstrong, 10 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my last of June 29th to Mr Livingston I have received his several communications under the dates of the 25 & 26th of July 8th. 28 & 29th of August & 4th of September. The course which the proceedings under the Convention for indemnifying our Citizens, has taken, seems to require no particular addition to the remarks and instructions already in your hands, until the result of them shall...
26From James Madison to John Armstrong, 25 August 1805 (Madison Papers)
It is represented by the parties interested in the ship New Jersey and cargo, for which indemnity is claimed under the late Convention with France, that a disallowance of the claim is likely to proceed from an idea that Insurers do not in such cases take the place of the Insured. As the Convention has provided for its own exposition and execution, it has been thought best that these should be...
27From James Madison to John Armstrong, 26 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
Your account dated 25th December last, which has not been examined at the Treasury for want of the vouchers, containing a charge for Office furniture, it is necessary to apprize you that such an allowance has never been made and cannot therefore at the Treasury, be admitted. The Commissioners under the Louisiana Convention have deposited with Mr Skipwith the papers, furniture and utensils of...
28From James Madison to John Armstrong, 15 August 1806 [letter not found] (Madison Papers)
¶ To John Armstrong. Letter not found. 15 August 1806. Acknowledged in Armstrong to JM , 24 Dec. 1806 ( DNA : RG 59, DD , France, vol. 10), and described in Jacob Wagner to JM , 15 Aug. 1806 , as having to do with the case of Benjamin Stoddert and John Mason.
29From James Madison to John Armstrong, 27 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 27 May 1804. Acknowledged in Armstrong to JM, 2 June 1804 , as an offer of appointment as U.S. minister to France and a suggestion, should Armstrong accept the commission, that he visit Washington before sailing to France.
30From James Madison to John Armstrong, 21 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of August 6th. has been duly received. Those of August 2d & 4 addressed to Mr. Wagner have also been transmitted to me. No regular notification has yet been received of the change which it seems certain has taken place in the French Government, nor are the new stile and title precisely known, by which it is to be addressed. All that can be done therefore in accommodation to the...
31From James Madison to John Armstrong, 15 March 1806 (Madison Papers)
I herewith inclose an act of Congress just passed on the subject of the commerce with St. Domingo. In prohibiting the commerce in unarmed as well as armed vessels the act goes beyond the obligation of the United States under the law of nations, but the measure was deemed expedient for the present and the eventual welfare of the United States. And altho’ it must be understood to have proceeded...
32From James Madison to John Armstrong, 19 February 1806 (Madison Papers)
Mr Skipwith has represented himself to be aggrieved by an attachment laid by the French Government upon a liquidation in his favor, under the Convention for the purchase of Louisiana. From the Documents he has exhibited, comprising as well a statement of the grounds upon which the attachment has been imposed, as his own explanations, it would appear that the principal stress is laid upon the...
33From James Madison to John Armstrong, [23] May 1805 (Madison Papers)
Messrs. Thomas Lewis & Son of Boston were the owners of the ship Hope and Cargo, which were captured after the signature of the Convention with France of the 30th of Sept. 1800, carried to Guadaloupe and condemned. Those gentlemen having prosecuted an appeal, the Council of Prizes pronounced the capture illegal and ordered restitution to be made. Fortified with this decision, they sent an...
34From James Madison to John Armstrong, George W. Erving, and James Monroe, 4 December 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To John Armstrong, George W. Erving, and James Monroe. 4 December 1805, Department of State. “Inclosed is a copy of the message of the President yesterday delivered to the two houses of Congress. The importance of its contents makes it desireable that you should receive it with as little delay as possible.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IM , vol. 6); RC ( DLC : Curry Autograph Collection);...
35From James Madison to John Armstrong and James Bowdoin, 26 May 1806 (Madison Papers)
On the supposition that by the time this reaches you the negotiations prescribed in my letter of March 13 will have taken their final turn and that this may not be a favorable one it is thought proper by the president that in such a state of things you should endeavour to bring about an arrangement providing first that the status quo taking for the date the transfer of possession of Louisiana...
36From James Madison to John Armstrong, 20 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have requested the Treasury to remit you three thousand dollars according to your request. If convenient to yourself, it would be preferred to pay you the whole outfit before you embark. Should time admit the balance being Six thousand dollars, shall be remitted on your intimating that it will be acceptable, or you may draw upon me for it payable here or at New York. The papers relating to...
37From James Madison to John Armstrong and James Bowdoin, 13 March 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have duly received from time to time your several letters bearing dates 3 July 10 & 15 Augt. 10 Sepr. 3 & 25 Octr & 26 Novr. Previous to the arrival of Mr Skipwith with your dispatches of Sept 10th our affairs with Spain had undergone the particular consideration of the President; with a reference as well to the change in the state of things in Europe, as to the approaching Session of...
38To James Madison from John Armstrong, 14 February 1805 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 10th of November had a long passage, and the duplicate copy by the way of Marseilles, was the first to reach me. With the exception of one of the 4th. of September, this is the only letter I have received from you. The claims are now nearly brought to a close, and my next dispatch will probably present a final report with regard to them. Of all the business I have ever had...
39From James Madison to Thomas Auldjo, 9 January 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Thomas Auldjo. 9 January 1806, Department of State. “I enclose a copy of a letter from Capt. Stephen Merrihew, stating that your Consular Agent at Portsmouth, also acts as prize Agent for the Vessel which captured and sent his into that port. As it would be contrary to his most obvious duty for any Consul or Agent of the United States to interfere in the incidents of the war, more...
40From James Madison to the Marqués de Avilés, 27 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
In behalf of an individual Citizen of the United States, who has been deeply injured in his private Circumstances by certain proceedings which took place in the province over which your Excellency presides, I am induced now to call your attention to his Case. This Individual is James Yard Esqre, who is a very respectable Inhabitant and extensive Merchant of Philadelphia. He represents to me...
41From James Madison to Joseph S. Ayers (Abstract), 20 February 1805 (Madison Papers)
20 February 1805, Department of State . “I have received your letter of the 27th. Ult. The injury you sustained by the detention of your vessel is of a nature to be redressed only by your prosecuting the captor or his surety. There is therefore no form in which the Executive can with propriety interpose.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). 1 p. No letter of 27 Jan. 1805 from Ayers...
42From James Madison to John Martin Baker, Ca. 7–15 April 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To John Martin Baker. Ca. 7–15 April 1806, Department of State. “I have received your letter of the 8th of January requesting leave to return to the United States this Spring, and I have the pleasure to inform you that no objections occur to the gratification of your wishes.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IC , vol. 1). 1 p. Undated; conjectural date assigned based on the document’s location...
43From James Madison to François Barbé-Marbois, 4 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
I recd your favor of the 21 prairial, with a pleasure which is redoubled by the consideration that I am able in acknowledging it, to inform you of the formal approbation of the late Treaty & Conns. by every branch of our Govt. The event establishes, I hope for ever, perfect harmony between the two countries. It is the more likely to do so, as it is founded in a policy, coeval with their...
44From James Madison to Joel Barlow, 30 April 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Joel Barlow. 30 April 1806, Department of State. “Mr. Madison’s compliments to Mr. Barlow. The Treasury is the proper Department to decide on his claim for exemption from duties; but it would seem from the letter to Mr. Pinckney of which a copy is enclosed, that there is scarcely any room to hope for a decision in Mr. B.’s favor, further than a liberal construction of the words of the...
45From James Madison to William Barlow, 22 April 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
22 April 1804, Department of State. “The claim for land, which you describe in your letter of the 2d. March [not found], appears to be barred both by the lapse of time and by the Sixty thousand acres allowed in the act of Congress of 13 May 1800, being exhausted by previous surveys.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). 1 p. For “An Act to authorize the issuing certain Patents,” 13...
46From James Madison to Joseph Barnes, 19 March 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
19 March 1803, Department of State. Encloses consular instructions and a blank bond. To execute the bond, “one or more persons beside yourself, who shall have property or a Commercial establishment in the United States, to be approved of by this Department, must be jointly bound in a sum not to be less than two thousand Dollars.” Asks that the bond be returned to the State Department when...
47From James Madison to Isaac Cox Barnet, 18 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since the letter which gave you an election of the appointments of Commercial Agent at Havre and Antwerp, information was received which indicated that the former place had your preference. A commission was therefore some time ago forwarded to Mr. Jacob Ridgway appointing him to Antwerp, and another to Mr. John Mitchell appointing him Vice Commercial Agent at Havre. The latter commission will...
48From James Madison to Isaac Cox Barnet, 12 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of Sepr. 10. has just been recd. I am glad to find that the appointment given you, proves so acceptable. Since it was forwarded, a vacancy in the consulate at Havre has come into view; and I am authorized by the President to enquire whether that place would be preferred by you to Antwerp. It is desireable that your answer on this point should be delayed as little as possible, that...
49From James Madison to Isaac Cox Barnet, 30 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
If the scope of your communication of the 19th. of June is correctly conceived you retain a predilection for the Commercial Agency at Antwerp; tho’ the uncertainty whether it remained vacant induced you to adhere to the appointment to Havre which you last received. Should this be the true state of your choice, you will be at liberty to retain Antwerp, and on your intimating that determination...
50From James Madison to Joshua Barney, 30 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
In answer to your letter intimating that a claim you had upon the French Government has been rejected by the Commissioners under the Convention respecting Louisiana, and desiring the interposition of the Executive, I have to inform you that as the Convention provides for its own exposition and execution there would be no room for such an interference. It may be further observed that your being...