31Executive Pardon, [7 March] 1809 (Madison Papers)
James Madison , President of the United States of America To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting — Whereas it has been made to appear to me that a certain Negro lad, named Nathan , was, at a Circuit Court of the United States , for the county of Washington in the District of Columbia, holden in December last, duly convicted of a burglary by him committed in the house of Francis...
32To James Madison from George Joy, 8 March 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 March 1809, London. He has written Lord Grenville regarding inconsistencies in the parliamentary debates over the naval blockade, the enforcement of which has exceeded “the rule of the War of 1756.” He attended the debates where Rose and Canning spoke, the latter saying with “the most consummate Impudence” that he would not discuss the state of American negotiations. Joy took “copious Notes”...
33To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 10 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Agreeably to your instructions, I have made arrangements to provide the most necessary articles of furniture required for the President’s house. The first and most expensive of these are Looking Glasses of large dimensions. I have already purchased conditionally 3 pair, the largest of which is 8 ft. 6 in in highth, and I have in view one other pair, of very considerable highth & width. The...
34To James Madison from Rebecca Blodget, [ca. 11 March] 1809 (Madison Papers)
It might be expected that a woman & a stranger shou’d apologize for the freedom of addressing The President Of The United States—but, my dear Sir, I never made an apology in my life, and it wou’d take me longer to frame one than to write the petition which will be the subject of this address. It is in behalf of Col Burr—to whom it is but just to declare, that I act without his authority, or...
35To James Madison from Tristram Dalton, 11 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Prevented by a severe cold from paying You my Congratulations, personally, on the 4th of March, I requested our mutual Friend Mr Deblois to present them, hoping, ere’ this day, to have had the pleasure of renewing them myself. As the weather & roads still keep me from that satisfaction, I cannot longer delay begging You to accept my sincere professions of Joy on Your being placed at the Head...
36To James Madison from George Joy, 11 March 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 March 1809, London. Reports that at least eight ships from America have recently arrived in a British port in violation of the Embargo. Seeks appointment for himself and Samuel Williams as commercial agents for U.S. in London. Williams is known as an honorable man on the exchange and would be a valuable representative, particularly if Joy’s business took him elsewhere. RC ( DNA : RG 59,...
37To James Madison from the Mother Superior of the Ursuline Convent, 11 March 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 March 1809, New Orleans. Congratulates JM upon his inauguration and asks for the same “Solicitude paternelle” for the convent’s work in educating the young as was enjoyed during the Jefferson administration. RC ( DLC ). 2 pp. Written in French and signed: “ Sr. de St. Xavier farjon / Superieure des Religieuses ursuline .” Docketed by JM. Enclosed in W. C. C. Claiborne to JM, 20 Mar. 1809 .
38To James Madison from Joshua Barney, 12 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Immediately after the affair of the Chesapeake (July 4th.) I went to Mr. Jefferson, making him a tender of my personal services. As our country seems yet to be menaced by foreign powers, I still hold it my duty to continue that offer, which I now do to you as President of the United States. I do it the more cheerfully because I am not unknown to you personally. I shall always feel a sincere...
39To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 12 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Previously to the establishment of arrangements for carrying on the work during the ensuing Season, I beg to lay before you a proposition of which I hope to receive your approbation, and which I beg specially to explain on account of the personal interest I appear to have in it. Independently of my Salary, the expenses of the direction of the public works have been, Salary of the Clerk of the...
40H. Lewis to Dolley Madison, 12 March 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 March 1809, Philadelphia. Asks that his stepson be appointed an official courier to carry diplomatic dispatches to England. Requests that Mrs. Madison “have the goodness, after mentioning the Matter to the President, to inform Mrs. Lewis or me, whether the appointment has been made or not, And if it has not; in what manner an application for it should be made.” RC ( DLC : Dolley Madison...
41From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 13 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ I have been very tardy in acknowledging your favors of Jany. 17 & 24th. and the very valuable present from Mrs. E. Livingston, I am not the less sensible of them. I pray you to tender her in my behalf, my sincerest thanks for such a token of her kindness. The cloth has been highly admired both for the manufacture, of which she has the merit, and for the material which affords a specimen...
42To James Madison from William Heath, 13 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Although I have not the honor of a personal acquaintance with you, duty and affection prompt me to address you, in sincere Congratulation, on the triumph of principal, in the recent Election of President, and Vice President, of the United States. Having been Contemporary, with Hancock, the Adams’s, Warrens and others, in the Councils of this now State, in those “times which tried mens souls,”...
43To James Madison from the Republican Meeting of Litchfield, Connecticut, [13 March] 1809 (Madison Papers)
At a numerous & very General Meeting, of the Republicans of the Town of Litchfield, convened at the Inn of Capt. John Phelps on the thirteenth day of March AD. 1809. Gen. Timothy Skinner was called to the Chair, John Welch Esq. was appointed Secretary And the following Resolutions were unanimously adopted. Whereas , At the present alarming & inauspicious crisis in the affairs of Nations & of...
44To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 13 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Retired as I live from the political World, and devoted as I am Obliged to be to the duties of my profession, I have not been an indifferent Spectator of the events Which have elevated you to the Chair of the United States. Permit me to express, not only the pleasure I feel in common with a great majority of your fellow Citizens, but to unite my Congratulations with those of your early and...
45From James Madison to James Leander Cathcart, 13 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 13 March 1809. Acknowledged in Cathcart to JM, 12 May 1809 . Orders wines.
46To James Madison from Pierpont Edwards, 13 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 13 March 1809. Mentioned in Edwards to JM, 18 May 1809 . Discusses complaints against Joseph Willcox, federal marshal for Connecticut, and recommends that John Brainard be appointed in his place.
47From James Madison to Elbridge Gerry, 14 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have been obliged as you will note to avail myself of your indulgence in answering your favor the 20th. Ult. I have looked over attentively your observations at the Cambridge Meeting, and tho’ I do not enter into the aptitude of all your observations, I perceive in them a very interesting view of our public affairs. On the question whether a publication of them would be useful, I am...
48To James Madison from George W. Erving, 14 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to write to you unofficially & very much at large on the 12t Jany; it will not be necessary, & may not be proper, for me to trouble you at present in the same manner; indeed I am not able to add anything of consequence to whatever information is contained in my official letter to the secretary of State of this date: As I think it however proper to explain particularly the...
49To James Madison from Gideon Granger, 14 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
G Granger presents his most respectfull compliments to the President and, at the request of the Citizens of the County of Muskingum in Ohio, incloses for his perusal some resolutions passed by the Citizens on the 25th. of Feb. A copy has been sent to the Intelligencer for publication. At a meeting of a respectable number of the Citezens of the County of Muskingum and State of Ohio agreeable to...
50To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 14 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
The plan on which the Presidents square is proposed to be planted having been approved by the late President U.S. I had given the necessary directions prior to the 4th. of March last. The principal work which will be done during my departure will be the planting of trees & shrubs near the outer Wall as far as the Ground is finished, the manuring such parts as were omitted on account of the...
51To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 14 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
I solicit your directions as to the adaptation of the rooms in the East end of the President’s house to the use of the President and the Secretaries in Cabinet Council. If the first room occupied by Mr Coles as a sitting room be considered as sufficiently large for this use, supposing that used as the bedchamber to contain the Books & papers not in constant use, it would save much delay,...
52To James Madison from the Republican Committee of Talbot County, Maryland, 14 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
At a Period, the most eventful ever witnessed by Man, when the whole civiliz’d World is engag’d in War —a War in which much of the Blood of Europe has fed the arid Lands of the South, or been congeald upon the frozen surface of the North; whilst the British Lion, and the Gallic Cock, emulous for the extent of outrages on the Law of Nations and the Rights of Neutrals, seem determind that the...
53To James Madison from Daniel Buck, 14 March 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 March 1809, Norwich, Vermont. Buck [a former Federalist representative who had served in the House of Representatives with JM] advises the president to prevent a British incursion into “the Spanish provinces at the south” by sending U.S. troops “and [by] energetic exertions to supplant the British, as well as the French, by the seizure of the Mexicoes.” Suggests that disaffection in “the...
54From James Madison to the Chairman of the Republican Meeting of Elbert County, Georgia, 15 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 10 of Feby. addressed to the President of the U. S. inclosing the proceedings of the Meeting of Citizens of Elbert County, having arrived after the expiration of the term of my predecessor, it devolves on me to acknowledge the receipt of it. And I can not do this without expressing the satisfaction afforded by resolutions breathing sentiments of so much patriotism, at a...
55From James Madison to the Chairman of the Republican Society of Hancock County, Massachusetts, 15 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have recd the resolutions of the 23d. of Feby. conveyed thro’ you, by the meeting of inhabitants from the Towns of Eden, Trenton, & Mount Desert, in the County of Hancock in the State of Massachts. The determination expressed by the Meeting to maintain the authority of the laws and the national rights, becomes Citizens who know their duty & love their Country. In referring the embarrassments...
56From James Madison to Napoleon, [15 March] 1809 (Madison Papers)
To our Great and Good Friend His Imperial and Royal Majesty the Emperor of the French, King of Italy and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine. I have received your Imperial and Royal Majesty’s Letter of the 7th February 1806 announcing the marriage of your much loved son the Prince Eugêne Napolêon with the Princess Augustê Amêlie of Bavaria which was celebrated at Munich on the 14th of...
57From James Madison to the Chairman and Secretary of the Republican Meeting of Washington County, Maryland, 17 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have duly received your Letter of the 6th Inst: conveying the resolutions of a portion of my fellow Citizens of Washington County in the State of Maryland. Whilst I return my thanks for their kind expressions of confidence and regard; I feel much satisfaction in observing the patriotic spirit breathed by their resolutions unanimously adopted. The situation of our Country justly awakens the...
58From James Madison to Napoleon, [17 March] 1809 (Madison Papers)
To our Great and Good Friend His Imperial and Royal Majesty the Emperor of the French, King of Italy and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine. I have just received your Imperial Majesty’s letter of the 29th of March 1807, communicating the intelligence that the Princess Eugêne Napoleon Vice Queen of Italy, was happily delivered on the 14th of that Month of a Princess who had received...
59From James Madison to William Pinkney, 17 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
You will learn by the communications from the Dept. of State, that the discussions of Congs. on our foreign relations had an issue less operative than was at one time looked for. The aversion to war, the inconveniences produced by or charged on the embargo, the hope of favorable changes in Europe, the dread of civil convulsions in the East, and the policy of permitting the discontented to be...
60To James Madison from William Jarvis, 17 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to address you the 25th. Ulto. by the Brig Vestal of Hull, Lennant Jones, Master, acquainting you that in consequence of your instructions, I shipped on board the Brig Hetty Captn Morehouse in Octr. 1807 a pipe of port Wine say Lisbon Wine a pipe of Bucellos & a quarter Cask of port, which vessel being captured carried into England & herself with the rest of the Cargo...