To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 December 1806
From Thomas Jefferson
Dec. 19. 06.
I send you the draught of a proclamation dated for tomorrow.1 I think all the letters & orders, to the effect already agreed on, should be instantaneously got ready; and I ask the heads of departments to meet here tomorrow at 11. oclock to consider what additional measures can be taken for forcing the Cambrian off, and for preventing her entering any other port of the US. Would it not be proper to ask mr. Erskine to see you immediately, to shew him the letter of Newton & report of the officer,2 & to let him know the measures we will take tomorrow. He may by to night’s post reinforce his advice to those officers.
FC (DLC: Jefferson Papers). In Jefferson’s hand.
1. Jefferson referenced his draft “Proclamation concerning Cambrian, Etc.,” dated 20 December 1806, endorsed in his hand: “this was not issued, the Cambrian having gone off” (DLC: Jefferson Papers; printed in Ford, Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 8:499–501 and 499 n. 1). For the cabinet decision to draft this proclamation, see Erskine to JM, 17 Dec. 1806, n. 1. For Erskine’s notice of the Cambrian’s departure, see Erskine to JM, 19 Dec. 1806.
2. Thomas Newton to JM, 11 Dec. 1806, and n. 1.