To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 16 June 1801
From Elbridge Gerry
NewYork 16th June 1801
Dear Sir
I have received a letter from Mrs Corran, formerly Mrs Bland,1 at Paris, expressing “a wish to acquire for Mr Corran an appointment of Consul.” I do not know the Gentleman, or his character; you are probably acquainted with both, & can judge of the expediency & policy of the measure. Havre de Grace, or Antwerp she prefers, & states, that “tho her husband was a subject to England, his opinions are perfectly republican”; that “he is at present in Denmark, has a considerable landed property there, & is a burgher of Copenhagen & Hamburg & citizen of Denmark.[”]
Give me leave, Sir, to congratulate you on the happy prospects of our country. The administration of Mr Jefferson, thus far, has done him great honor, & will equal in popularity, I think, if not rival that of General Washington. The prostration of the dignity of the last executive, by an oligarchical faction, will serve as a becon to succeeding governments to guard against the baleful influence of such unconstitutional & dangerous combinations. The “good friends” of the President have urged, that he will be deficient in firmness. We well know, that he will not be precipitated into rashness, between which & the former they make no distinction. But the specimens already given of his system, are pledges, that in his future conduct, the suaviter & fortiter will be united. Permit me to assure you Sir of my highest esteem & respect, & that I remain your very huml Sert
E Gerry
RC (DLC: Henry A. Willard Autograph Collection).
1. Martha Daingerfield Bland Blodget Corran had been married to JM’s congressional colleague Theodorick Bland. After the death of her second husband, Nathan Blodget, she married a sea captain and moved to France (WMQ, 1st ser., 9 [1900–1901]: 189).