61To James Madison from William Eustis, 10 September 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge your Letter of the 30th of August. Instructions are forwarded by this mail to Genl. Wilkinson to repair to the seat of Govt. By the last letters received from the General (dated Aug. 10th) it is expected he will have reached the vicinity of Fort Adams or Natches with the troops, or at least the greater part of them, by the time Genl. Hampton who will take the...
62To 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,...
63To James Madison from George Joy, 24 May 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
24 May 1809, London. Reports varied reactions from members of the American community in London to news of the Erskine agreement. In a postscript he adds: “the Committee of American Merchants have been apprised that Mr: Erskine had exceeded his instructions & the Govt: will not ratify his Agreemt:—since confirmed by two of the Committee whom I have seen.” RC , two copies ( DLC ). 4 pp. One copy...
64To James Madison from John Graham, 11 September 1809 (Madison Papers)
I was very much surprised this Morning when Mr Smith told me you had not received Genl. Turreau’s Letters—relating to a Vessel which is building at Baltimore, as he says “for the revolted Blacks of St Domingo”—for I was fully persuaded that I put them under Cover to you with the Laws of the last Session which you wrote for. I yet hope that this will turn out to be the case, for I cannot find...
65To James Madison from James Lovell, 5 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
As the fiercest Tyrant and the mildest philosopher possess equally the power of self-examination, so the whole human race may be allowed to search after the source of Life & of Morals. Such search, conducted by Reason, and proceeding downwards from the branching-ends of both those Trees, will assuredly find only the single common tap-root to be Self-Love. As no President of these United States...
66To James Madison from John Graham, 25 August 1809 (Madison Papers)
Mr Jones of the Treasury informed me yesterday that Mr Gallatin wished me to send to you or to himself, copies of the Letters written to Mr Pinkney in the beginning of Decr 1808, enclosing Mr Campbell Report on our foreign Relations, and also a copy of Mr Pinkneys Letter giving an account of his Interview with Canning between the 10th & 23d Jany 1809. In compliance with this wish, I have now...
67To James Madison from Philip Freneau, 8 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
I do myself the pleasure to enclose to You a copy of Proposals for the publication of a couple of Volumes of Poems shortly to be put to the Press in this city. Perhaps some of Your particular friends in Virginia may be induced, from a view of the Proposals in your hands to subscribe their names. If so, please to have them forwarded to this place by Post, addressed to the Publisher at No. 10....
68To James Madison from Willem Frederik Röell, 10 April 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 April 1809, Amsterdam. An official representative from the kingdom of Holland to the U.S. was sent in 1807 to procure goods for the several Dutch colonies, but the Embargo prevented his carrying out the mission. King Louis Bonaparte is concerned and has instructed Baron Röell as foreign minister to ask the president to permit the dispatch to the Dutch West Indies of three or four vessels...
69To James Madison from George Davis and Others, ca. 8 July 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
Ca. 8 July 1809. A petition submitted on behalf of ship captains and owners whose vessels brought refugees from Cuba to New Orleans. These French refugees and their slaves from Cuba have come to New Orleans, where their property has been seized or detained because the importation of slaves is prohibited by federal law. These hapless people were “exposed to the unrelenting fury of an incensed &...
70To James Madison from John G. Jackson, 24 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
I reached this place last Week after a fatigueing journey through the Mud almost impassible. My return was very opportune for never were there such exertions by the Federalists to elect their candidates in all the districts round me, & particularly in my own. I believe however the majority will not be diminished in this district, but I am sure that if I had not opposed the unfortunate...
71To James Madison from Augustus B. Woodward, 12 June 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit to the president of the united states the observations alluded to in a former letter; and to be, with the greatest respect, his obedient servant, Considerations addressed to the president of the united states, on the subject of opening an intercourse between the american and Chinese governments. Several features of similitude exist between china and the united...
72To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 26 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
I am honored, dear Sir, by your letter of the 14th. instant in answer to mine of the 20th of february, stating, that “tho you do not enter into the aptitude of all my observations, you perceive in them a very interesting veiw of our public affairs.” Since the adoption of those measures, the relaxation of Government, in regard to the embargo, has happily changed the phrenzy, excited by the last...
73To James Madison from David Goldsmith, 13 June 1809 (Madison Papers)
You will exus a Deutchmen his bath writing I never wont undertainin it both in the misre of been a Prisner in Captain Gill Party of Marien Corps. Inlister in the Greates distres werent the Imbargo, & desertent for witch I exspect to sower Serverly with out the Honerable President Medicen Grant a Poor Distrest Seeler: Pardon your Servent RC ( DNA : RG 45, Misc. Letters Received). Postmarked “...
74To James Madison from Jonathan Bull and Others, ca. 26 April 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
Ca. 26 April 1809. Urges JM to appoint Henry Seymour as federal marshal for Connecticut. His father has been a staunch Republican in the state Senate and was recently defeated by vindictive Federalists. Young Seymour, like his father, is “a firm supporter of the Administration.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, Letters of Application, 1809–17). 2 pp. Signed by Bull and thirteen other Hartford merchants....
75To James Madison from Albert Gallatin, 31 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have received your’s of the 28th. Your return here still appears to me necessary. On the effect of the refusal of the B. Govt. to ratify Mr E.’s agreement, on the revival of the non intercourse, you can alone decide, as there may be a difference of opinion on the Subject. Mr Erskine announces this day officially to the Secy. of State that refusal; & if according to law the non intercourse is...
76To James Madison from John Gardiner, 23 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
When you subscribed to the manufacturing Company, you were pleased to say “that when they wanted money, they might call upon you for the remainder of your Instalments.” I have just returned from Philadelphia, whither I went at the request of the Directors, to select Machinery. I have perform’d that duty, but the Funds are not quite adequate to pay for the Machines. Your aid will enable the...
77To 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...
78To James Madison from James Dinsmore, 26 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have received yours of the 23. and shall proceed with the alteration of the Chimneys, as it will enable us to go on regularly with our work. Mrs Madison informs Me that She has not got the key of the upper front room, and thinks it was Carried to washington, if So you will Please to send it by next Mail. The key of the Closet leading to the garrett will not be neccessary as the Door will...
79To James Madison from Robert Smith, 11 September 1809 (Madison Papers)
You will herewith receive copies of letters which I have received from Erskine & Jackson and my answers. I have deemed it proper to introduce into my Answer to Jackson some Civility. It may do good. It can’t do harm. Besides, the Comity of Nations, as well as good sense, requires, and especially in the beginning, a style of deportment which would not imply a latent hostility. I have informed...
80To James Madison from Meriwether Lewis, 27 August 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 August 1809, St. Louis. Discusses legal questions involved in trials of three Indians accused of murder. They were all found guilty, but the territorial court has held the trials invalid “because the Offence was committed without the jurisdiction of this court.” Relates the judge’s opinion that one of the crimes was committed by a Sac beyond the Indian boundary and hence “the court had not...
81To James Madison from Isaac Ball, 11 April 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 April 1809, New York. Thanks JM for his letter of 4 Apr. that authorized Ball to list JM “in the Catalogue of Respectable patrons” if a new edition of his book on “Animal Œconomy” is published. RC ( DLC ). 1 p. Docketed by JM.
82To James Madison from William Cooke, 10 July 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 July 1809, Riceboro, Georgia. Asks JM to inform his successor in State Department of his longstanding efforts at redress for spoliation claims. Expresses hope that JM’s tenure in presidency will mean “that our now depressed and unhappy Country Will be blessed, by the return of Peace.” Offers his services if a consular post in Brazil should be available. Tr ( DNA : RG 76, Spanish Treaty...
83To James Madison from Paul Verdier, 25 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
I am sorrey to give you the trouble of so Small a matter, Knowing you have much buisiness of importance to attend to. Having no acquaintance with any person in the City or Should not have given you the troble. I understand the Cross post from the City to orange Court house & Charlotsvill is to be Continued which is now Carried by Mr Samuel McIntire and that his Contract is nearly out. Should...
84To James Madison from Nathaniel Cutting, 13 June 1809 (Madison Papers)
As I wish that nothing relative to myself should intrude upon those moments when etiquette or public service induce you to receive the personal respects of your fellow citizens, I take the liberty by this method to request that when a leisure moment presents in the retirement of your closet you will have the goodness to peruse what I am now about to throw upon paper. You recollect, I presume,...
85To James Madison from Francis Kinloch, 27 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
I trust & believe, that the distance which your merit & your long services have placed between us will not render an address from me in so familiar a style improper, & that I may yet, though probably for the last time, avail myself of my having been once of your acquaintance. It seems right & proper, that I, who live almost exclusively with fœderalists, who feel in common with them a strong...
86To James Madison from James Hillhouse, 14 June 1809 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Hillhouse will have the honor of dining with the President of the United States on Monday Next agreeably to his invitation. RC (owned by Charles M. Storey, Boston, Mass., 1961). Hillhouse was a Connecticut Federalist serving in the U.S. Senate.
87To James Madison from the Republican Committee of Essex County, New Jersey, 4 March 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 March 1809, Newark. Congratulates JM on becoming president and anticipates “the same moderate, prudent, & pacific course” as that pursued by Jefferson. Expresses regret that the times are “fraught with great peril” brought on by “the folly and arrogance of one belligerent, & the commercial cupidity of the other.” If the choice comes to “honorable war or tame submission, we hesitate not, to...
88To James Madison from Henry Lee, 5 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Yr. speech which reached here last night is so far as my information reaches much approved, for its modesty & generality & reserve of promises. A few think you might have well avoided that positive decleration about impartiality of the late admn. to foreign nations, as the public mind is divided on that question & the published state documents authorize a great deal to be said in contradiction...
89To James Madison from Joel Barlow, 9 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I observed with pleasure in your inaugural speech that you still keep in view the immense importance of public improvements, the advancement of science, & the general diffusion of information, as essential to the happiness of our country. And I cannot but hope that the time is now approaching when some portion of the attention of Congress may be fixt on these objects. The ample scope of your...
90To James Madison from William Kilty, 28 July 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 July 1809, Annapolis. The chancellor of Maryland recommends Alexander Scott for the vacancy on the District of Columbia circuit court [on which Kilty himself had served as chief judge]. RC ( DNA : RG 59, Letters of Application, 1809–17). 2 pp.