1To James Madison from the Right Reverend James Madison, [1803] (Madison Papers)
I have undertaken a Map of Virginia and anxious to give it all the Correctness, which the best observations can afford, find myself almost obliged to request your Aid. There is a Map by Col. Francis Deakens, in the Possession of Mr Geo. Fenwick, of Washington, with a Number of Notes describing the Potowmac River, & the Line between Maryland & Virginia, with the Roads, Water Courses Etc, which,...
2To James Madison from Eli Whitney, 1 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
I am desirous of obtaining an Exemplified Copy of my Patent for an Improvment in the Mode of Ginning Cotton; with the principal Specification References & Drawings included in the copy. Being now on my way to the Southern Country, I expect to be at Washington on the 6th. and it would be a particular accommodation to me if the proper Officer can make it convenient to have the copy made out so...
3To James Madison from Sylvanus Bourne, 1 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 November 1803, Amsterdam. Addressed JM lately about some American ships that had difficulty unloading cargo in Rotterdam “for want of due vouchers as to the neutrality of the property.” Visited Rotterdam to obtain more information. Regretted finding that the captains did not have proper certificates of property, which are necessary in time of war in order to prevent “those embarrasments to...
4To James Madison from Ferdinando Fairfax, 1 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 November 1803, Charlestown. Recommends Lewis Ellzey, who intends to move to “the Mississippi Country” and wishes government employment there, “which he will himself best explain.” Believes the executive “will greatly prefer entrusting important responsible offices in the hands of those whose Characters and deportments are intimately known, rather than to applicants from a distance whom they...
5To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 2 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
I told you in my last that a coolness Subsisted between the First Consul & Count Marcoff the Minister of Russia, But that it was rather a personal dislike than any thing that led immediately to a rupture between the two Courts. [Mar]cof has never much liked the present order of things and has sometimes too freely spoken his opinion of them in this country it is difficult to say anything which...
6To James Madison from Louis-André Pichon, 2 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Pichon hopes there is no impropriety on his part in requesting that Mr. Madison may inform him of the resolutions of the President of the U.S. on the Subject contained in the memorial of Mr. P. of the 27th ult, so that Mr. P. may by the vessel Sailing for france, write with Some degree of accuracy, on a topic which has been peculiarly pressed on the Govmt. of the U.S. by the ministers of...
7To 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...
8To James Madison from William Jarvis, 2 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 November 1803, Lisbon. “It would seem that the British Gov⟨ern⟩ment are apprehensive for the safety of British Property in this Country and Spain, from the Notice put up at Lloyd’s Coffee house that all vessels intended for Spain & Portugal were not to be cleared out until further orders. This if a fact implies danger from a quarter altogether unexpected; however, it may only be a measure of...
9To James Madison from Daniel Clark, 3 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
3 November 1803, New Orleans. “I had the Honor of addressing you on the 8th. September respecting a Privateer then fitting out in this Port, and forwarded Copy of a Letter I had written to the Secretary of the Government on the occasion. I had since then made repeated applications to know what measures would be pursued with her, and was always assured that she would not be permitted to sail...
10To James Madison from Unite Dodge, 3 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
3 November 1803, Cap Français. “As probably there will be Many erroneous reports and publications in the American Papers, respecting a forced Loan of money, made a few days ago upon the american Citizens in this city,” hastens to send JM, for the president’s information, copies of his letters to General Rochambeau on the subject and Rochambeau’s reply. Will return to the U.S. “as soon as I can...
11To James Madison from John Goddard, 3 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
3 November 1803, Portsmouth. “From a concurrence of unforeseen events it has become very inconvenient for me to attend to the duties of a Commissioner of Bankruptcy.” “Esteeming it an honor to fill any office under the present Administration,” resigns regretfully. Asks JM to notify the president and to inform Goddard whether he should return his commission. RC ( DNA : RG 59, LRD ). 1 p.;...
12To James Madison from Josef Yznardy, 3 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 3 November 1803. Described in Yznardy to JM, 15 July 1804 (DNA: RG 59, CD, Cádiz, vol. 1), as reporting the steps taken by Yznardy to obtain justice for Thomas Wood, who was imprisoned at Sanlúcar.
13To James Madison from Louis-André Pichon, 4 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Pichon presents his respectfull thanks to Mr. Madison for the information contained in his billet of thursday. Mr. Pichon takes the liberty to beg of Mr. Madison to be so kind as to take the trouble to see that the copies of Treaties which are to be delivered to M. P. from the State office be in readiness to be forwarded. Mr Pichon will also take it as a particular favor if he is enabled...
14To James Madison from Vincent Gray, 4 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 November 1803, Havana. Since his 29 Oct. dispatch, “another French Privateer has entered this Port with her Prize, a small Jamaica Schr.,” supposedly bound for Saint-Domingue with provisions and arms. “They were refused admittance on their appearance off the Port” but were given leave the following day to enter and reprovision. “I presume they will act with her as they have and intend to act...
15To James Madison from Anthony Merry, 4 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 November 1803, Norfolk, Virginia. “Having arrived here this Evening from England I lose no Time in having the Honor to transmit to you inclosed Two Packets with which I was charged by Mr Munroe, the Minister from the United States to His Majesty. “Anxious to fulfil the Commands of the King my Master, who has been graciously pleased to appoint me His Minister to the United States of America,...
16To James Madison from James Simpson, 4 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 November 1803, Tangier. No. 70. Forwarded his dispatches nos. 68 and 69 by the New York , which departed on 19 Oct. The schooner Nautilus returned from Mogador on 30 Oct. with news from [Peter] Gwyn that on receipt of the emperor’s order on 19 Oct., “the Governour there immediately set the Crew of the Hannah at liberty and put Captain Williams in possession of his Vessel with every article...
17To James Madison from Elias Boudinot, 5 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 6th. Ultimo came to hand before the Mint was opened, which has occasioned the delay of this answer. The Charge against the Chief-Coiner greatly surprised me, as I thought such a thing almost impossible without my knowledge. I was aware, that he had a small Shop in the neighborhood of the Mint, where he kept a Journeyman for the purpose of cleaning and mending Clocks and...
18To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 6 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
The great importance of the Florida and Louisiana Business has occasioned me to trouble you with some extracts from a considerable french Geographical work of 1741, which was reprinted in 10 or 12 Volumes 1767, after the French Cession of Louisiana. I believe the Spaniards in office here are very uneasy at the expressions in the report of the Comme. of the Reps. lately made public with respect...
19To James Madison from Josiah Blakeley, 7 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 November 1803. Transmits (1) his letter to General Lavalette, (2) Lavalette’s answer, and (3) General Noailles’s letter to him. “To the last I returned no written answer but, told the bearer … ‘ My power & nation being in a state of strict neutra⟨li⟩ty I neither could or should afford him the least assistance .’” RC and enclosures ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Santiago de Cuba, vol. 1). RC 1 p.;...
20To James Madison from Daniel Clark, 8 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 November 1803, New Orleans. “In consequence of the representations made to the Governor on the 3rd. Inst., the Schooner Coquette was detained in spite of the opposition of the Prefect until yesterday, when she was permitted to sail before a Communication made to me, on his responsability that she should make no attempts on the Vessels of any neutral Nation during her Voyage. Whilst detained,...
21To James Madison from Robert W. Fox, 8 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 November 1803, Falmouth. Sent a list of port charges at Falmouth and elsewhere on U.S. and other shipping, as well as a list of U.S. ships arriving in this district, in his last. “A great many Ships have arrived here from the United States and other parts and proceeded on their Voyage, the Seamen having been very rarely molested and many that have been impressed have on my claiming them been...
22To James Madison from William Willis, 8 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 November 1803, Barcelona. Not having heard from JM on the subject of JM’s letter of 28 May and not having been arrested “gives me hopes that the president is sattisfied since that date of my innocence.” “My accusers appear to have formd a complot and agreed on a mode of ruining me, the most cruel and Vilanous that could be imagined, first to robb and destroy me with M[e]dicine in my food &...
23To 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...
24To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 9 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
I inclose you Clarke’s memoranda. The following articles seem proper for Executive attention. An instrument vesting in the Collector of Natchez the powers of the Administrator, Treasurer & Contador. Instructions to Claiborne to suppress useless offices to remove any existing officers. to appoint others. It would be well these could go by next post. Would it not be well to send in what...
25To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 10 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
My last letters will have informed You of every thing to the present time—they contained duplicates of m: Cevallos’s last letter & reply on the subject of our claims which shew you how tenaciously this Court retain the opinion that they are not liable in the remotest degree to make compensation for the french condemnations in their ports, nor ought to be expected to arbitrate the same on which...
26To James Madison from Daniel Clark, 10 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 November 1803, New Orleans. “Inclosed you have Copies of three Letters of the 7th. 9th. & 10th. Inst. which I have written to Governor Claiborne and supposing he would give you advice respecting them by Land I have for the sake of having another opportunity forwarded these by the Ship Patty via New York. The Marquis de Casa Calvo set out yesterday Evening on a shooting Party to the Parish...
27To 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...
28To James Madison from Vincent Gray, 10 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 November 1803, Havana. Reports the capture since his last [4 Nov.] of the schooner Harriot of Charleston, Joseph Hunt, master and owner, by the French privateer Eugénie , Jacques Hermand, commander. The Harriot was sent into Havana. Gray has satisfied the French commissary and the Spanish government “that she was realy and truly an American vessel, got her released; and given her such...
29To James Madison from John Robertson, 11 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 November 1803, Antwerp. Encloses (1) a “Triplicate of Mr. Barnet’s Accompt of Disbursments against the Ship Mac of Charleston and 9 Vouchers accompanying the same”; (2) a copy of Barnet’s account against the U.S. for $771.87 with three vouchers [not found]; (3) copies of Robertson’s letters to the minister of foreign relations and to the president of the tribunal of commerce of Antwerp; (4)...
30To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 12 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 12 November 1803. Enclosed copies of (1) Pinckney to Cevallos, 31 Oct. 1802 (DNA: RG 59, DD, Spain, vol. 6A; 3 pp.), requesting the release of the Mercury and other American vessels held at the Río de la Plata (another copy of this letter, dated 29 Oct. 1802, was enclosed in Pinckney to JM, 4 Nov. 1802 [ PJM-SS Robert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison:...