From James Madison to John Henry Purviance, 24 December 1804
To John Henry Purviance
Department of State December 24th. 1804.
Sir,
I request the favor of you to purchase, for the use of this Department, the following books and to transmit them hither, viz Sir Leoline Jenkins’ works,1 Lee on captures2 and Wickeforts’ Ambassador;3 and, if they can be obtained in England, Azuni, Galliani, Lampredi, and Hubner’s treatises on public law.4 Copies in the Italian or German languages are not wished. Should you not be able to procure any of the books in London, you will be pleased to have them obtained from the Continent. A History of Canada by George Heriot5 is advertised by Longman and Rees, No 39 Paternoster Row, which I am also desirous of obtaining. If you cannot conveniently refer the payment for these books to Washington or other place in the United States, it may be made out of the Diplomatic fund in the hands of Sir Francis Baring & Co. I have the honor to be &c
James Madison
Letterbook copy (DNA: RG 59, IM, vol. 6).
1. Sir Leoline Jenkins (ca. 1623–1685) was a professor of civil law at Oxford University, a British diplomat who had also served as a member of Parliament and Admiralty Court judge, and secretary of state under Charles II. JM may have had in mind William Wynne’s The Life of Sir Leoline Jenkins … (2 vols.; London, 1724), which included letters and “Many valuable Papers … relating … to … the Resolution of many … Points in the Common and Civil Law, Laws of Merchants and of Nations, that arose within the Time of his Ministry” (ibid., 1:i, xl, lxxii).
2. JM requested Richard Lee’s A Treatise of Captures in War … (London, 1759), which he had earlier recommended for the congressional library (, 6:67).
4. JM probably had in mind Domenico Alberto Azuni’s Sistema universale dei principi del diritto marittimo dell’Europa (Trieste, 1796–97), Ferdinando Galiani’s writings on trade, Giovanni Maria Lampredi’s several works on maritime law and neutral commerce, and Johann Hübner’s The Historical Companion: Being a New Introduction to the Political History of All Nations … (London, 1742).
5. JM referred to George Heriot’s The History of Canada: From Its First Discovery Comprehending an Account of the Original Establishment of the Colony of Louisiana, which was published by T. N. Longman and O. Rees in 1804.