1To James Madison from Rufus King, 26 November 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
26 November 1802, London. No. 76. Notes that Gore has acknowledged letters received from the State Department during King’s absence and informed JM of what has been done toward accomplishment of the president’s instructions. “I shall immediately resume the business that has been so well commenced, and as well from the nature of the subject, as from the temper and disposition that are...
2To James Madison from Rufus King, 18 December 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 December 1802, London. No. 77. The language and measures of the British ministry during October produced “no beneficial effect” upon the French government. “The temper then manifested, had it been persisted in, would have involved the Nation in a new War. But the tone was soon lowered: the orders supposed to have been given to retain certain Possessions … have been recalled, and with the...
3To James Madison from Rufus King, 29 December 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 December 1802, London. No. 78. “In the Bill that after the holidays will be brought into parliament for the consolidation of the Customs the Duties upon Articles imported from the United States will stand nearly as they do at present, except that it has been purposed to raise the Duty upon Spermaceti Oil coming from any foreign Country, from £22.3.1 to £31.10. I have had one or two...
4To James Madison from Rufus King, 31 December 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
31 December 1802, London. Acknowledges JM’s letter and expresses thanks for the early reply as well as for the “like communication” sent to King’s agent in New York. “As I expect the vessel coming to me from America, will be here, and ready for me & my family to embark by the 10. of April, I am making the requisite preparations and hope I may not be disappointed in receiving my Letters of...
5To James Madison from Rufus King, 28 January 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 January 1803, London. No. 79. Reports that no further progress has been made in the boundary discussion. “From one or two Conversations that I have had with Colo. Barclay, who has returned to Town, I perceive that his opinion, whatever influence it may have, will be favourable to such a Settlement of the Eastern Boundary, as would be satisfactory to us. The chief difficulty … respects the...
6To James Madison from Rufus King, 7 February 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 February 1803, London. No. 80. “Last Evening (Sunday) I received a Note from Mr. Bird informing me that his House would be obliged to stop payment this morning, and that the United States are Creditors for a considerable Sum. The former Consul, Mr. Williams, having casually informed me that he had lately accepted Bills for several thousand pounds payable to Bird Savage and Bird for the...
7To James Madison from Rufus King, 9 February 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 February 1803, London. No. 81. “As I apprehended might be the case, Bird Savage & Bird have answered my demand for the surrender of the Bills of Exchange lately remitted to them, by saying they were unable to deliver them up, as they had been discounted before their failure.” Has requested the firm to prepare and send him “their Accounts including all receipts and Payments up to the day on...
8To James Madison from Rufus King, 28 February 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 February 1803, London. No. 82. Acknowledges JM’s letters of 16 and 23 Dec. 1802 . “By Lord Hawkesbury’s desire, I have conferred with Colo. Barclay respecting the continuation of the Boundary through the Bay of Passamaquoddy who has made no objection to the line we have proposed, tho’ he appears to think that it would be improper to cede to us the Island of Campo Bello unless the cession...
9To James Madison from Rufus King, 9 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
I lose no Time in sending you the important Message from the King that was last Evening delivered to the two houses of Parliament. Peace has not had the happy Effect of restoring harmony and confidence between England and France, and the Exposition of the Affairs of the latter which the first Consul lately delivered to the Legislature has not failed to produce its natural Effect upon this...
10To James Madison from Rufus King, 16 March 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
16 March 1803, London. No. 84. “Couriers last evening arrived at the french Ambassadors from Paris, and at the same Time a Messenger from Lord Whitworth: they left Paris after the communication of the Kings Message to Parliament of the 8th. instant had been received there. General Andreossi and the Dutch Ambassador both told me to day that for the purpose of taking away the pretext for War (as...
11To James Madison from Rufus King, 17 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
War seems more and more probable, indeed it appears to me inevitable: Holland will be involved, and Spain and Portugal must obey the commands of France. The day after the Kings Message to Parliament was communicated to the French Government, Bonaparte delivered to Lord Whitworth a paper (a copy of which I have seen) stating: 1. That the Expedition preparing in the Dutch Ports, was, as all the...
12To James Madison from Rufus King, 19 March 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
19 March 1803, London. No. 86. “Orders were some Time past given to evacuate Egypt, and the English forces have at this Time probably left that Country. The independence of Malta, by the Treaty of Amiens, is placed under the Protection and guarantee of Great Britain, France, Spain, Austria, Russia and Prussia. Austria has acceded, Russia consents to accede, provided the Maltese langue be...
13To James Madison from Rufus King, 25 March 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
25 March 1803, London. No. 87. “Baron Silverhjelm, the Swedish Envoy, after mentioning once or twice that he had received orders to explain to me for the information of the President, the motives which had influenced Sweden to make peace with Tripoli, some days since called upon me, and for this purpose read me the Instructions which he had received from his Government. I suggested to him that...
14To James Madison from Rufus King, 28 March 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 March 1803, London. No. 88. “My No. 86. [19 Mar. 1803] communicated the tenour of Lord Hawkesbury’s Note of the 15. to the French Ambassador: the conclusion of the Note refers to the demand of France for the evacuation of Malta and declares ‘that the King cannot consent to its evacuation unless substantial security be provided for those objects which in present circumstances would be...
15To James Madison from Rufus King, 2 April 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 April 1803, London. No. 89. Reports that no answer has yet been given to Andréossy’s note, which declined all discussion of Malta. “Lord Hawkesbury’s Answer will probably be delivered to day; it will without doubt persist in the Determination communicated in his first Note, and may disclose new and additional reasons in its support.” The issue of an overture Napoleon reportedly made to...
16To James Madison from Rufus King, 9 April 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 April 1803, London. No. 90. “The question of peace or War may at this moment be decided. Lord Hawkesburys Note in reply to the refusal of France to admit of any discussion respecting Malta is dated the 3rd. and was dispatched on the 4th. instant.” The note expresses the king’s regret that the French government had declined giving the satisfaction and explanation he demanded and had...
17To James Madison from Rufus King, 19 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
Since the removal of the Negotiation to Paris, I am less able to send you early and exact information of its progress. It is understood that according to the Instructions sent to Lord Whitworth on the 3rd. instant, his Lordship concluded his Conferences, as well with Mr. Talleyrand as with the First Consul, by declaring that a refusal of the satisfaction he was ordered to demand would be...
18To James Madison from Rufus King, 23 April 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
23 April 1803, London. No. 92. Refers to his dispatch no. 87 [25 Mar. 1803] , which mentioned the difficulty that had arisen regarding the proceedings of the commissioners under article 7 of the Jay treaty. “Several Conferences have since taken place between me and Lord Hawkesbury, but the Impediment is not yet removed. At my first meeting with Lord Hawkesbury, after the communication he had...
19To James Madison from Rufus King, 28 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
In a Conference with Lord Hawkesbury on the 6th. instant, I explained to him the object of the extraordinary mission of Mr Monroe pursuant to the tenour of your Letter of the 29. of January; and I have the pleasure to inform you that his Lordship received the Communication in good part, suggested no doubt of our right to pursue separately and alone the objects we aim at, and appeared to be...
20To James Madison from Rufus King, 30 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
The question of Peace or War is still undecided; and as France plays for Time, and England (in which there is a public opinion) for a good Case to lay before the Nation, the negotiation may be spun out still longer; tho’ it continues to be said, as has been said for the last fortnight, that the next Messenger would enable the Ministry to bring it to a close. The objection of the British...
21To James Madison from Rufus King, 1 May 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 May 1803, London. No. 95. Reports that according to the certificate of the accountant general of the Court of Chancery, the fund claimed by the state of Maryland consists of bank stock, 5 percent stock, and cash amounting to £187,567 12 d . sterling. Suits in chancery were instituted “many years back” against Russell and other fund trustees by Chase as agent for Maryland, by Barclay and...
22To James Madison from Rufus King, 9 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
Lord Whitworth was ordered to leave Paris on the Evening of the 3d. instant, unless the French Government should have signed a Minute by which it should be agreed that the English should continue the Military possession of Malta for ten years; that the Island of Lampidusa should be ceded to them for ever; and that the French Forces should be withdrawn from Holland. On the morning of the 3rd....
23To James Madison from Rufus King, 10 May 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 May 1803, London. No. 97. “Upon farther search several Trunks of Papers respecting West Florida have been discovered, and upon my application orders were immediately given to deliver them to me. I have annexed Copies of the application, and Answer, in order that the manner may appear in which these Documents came into our possession. “I am told by the Clerk who found them that there are...
24To James Madison from Rufus King, 13 May 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 May 1803, London. No. 98. “I have the honour to transmit herewith the Convention which I yesterday signed in Triplicate with Lord Hawkesbury relative to our Boundaries. The Convention does not vary in any thing material from the tenour of my Instructions. The line thro’ the Bay of Passamaquoddy secures our Interest in that quarter. The provision for running, instead of describing, the Line...
25To James Madison from Rufus King, 14 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
A Government Messenger arrived at Twelve o’Clock to-day in forty hours from Paris, with a dispatch from Lord Whitworth, saying that he had received his Passports, and should leave Paris immediately after the Messenger on Thursday Evening. General Andreossy will therefore leave London to night, and the two Ambassadors will probably pass each other on Monday between Dover and Calais. Thus the...