Title: To James Madison from James Monroe, 17 September 1803
From: Monroe, James
To: Madison, James

Dear Sir
London Sepr. 17th. 1803.
I have been anxious for a moment of leasure when I might enter somewhat in detail on subjects of a personal nature. I am not yet in that situation tho’ in a greater degree than I have been since my arrival at Havre. I have forwarded the last letters by the Iris Captn. Skinner for N. Yk. & by Liverpool, that there is any hope of yr. receiving before the meeting of Congress. This gives me a short interval, since nothing presses at present but our affrs. with this country, which are interesting in respect to the impressment of our seamen. A reserve however on that subject all circumstances considered may probably have been useful. I shall soon take it up in a conciliatory manner, taking care to avoid any compromitment, to our govt. or myself, & even endeavor to make it the means of convincing this govt. of our moderation, and pacific disposition in pursuit of our just rights.
I have informed you in several letters but more especially my last of the great expence attending a residence in this country. It is indeed great in France but much greater here. I do not think it possible to subsist here on the salary with an œconomy wh. is not degrading to the office. The house rent, servants wages & suppt., the carriage, and the ordinary daily expence of subsistence alone consume the salary. The present is a season when the expence is less than in the winter. The house in wh. I live costs me for 4. months ending in Novr. at the rate of 8. guineas a week, after that 12. for a month or two, & then 15. for a like term, making pr. year 500. guineas. It has three rooms on a floor, two good, the 3d. a small cabinet, three stories high, & is only decently furnished. The carriage costs me a guinea pr. day; tho’ having bot. one, & hiring horses it will hereafter be less. The hire of horses alone is from 110. to 120. guineas pr. year. The ordinary daily expence of the table exclusive of wine, & groceries is from a guinea to 30/. pr. day; the price of wine excessively high as is fruit, all of wh. that is fit to eat is raised in hot houses. The price of good peaches is 2/6. cash—1/6. is an ordinary one. You may have a good dinner in the UStates for what the desert costs here consisting only of fruit. A peach at 6d. is really hardly fit to eat. The charge of servants is another heavy article. It is an usual thing for merchants who take houses in the west end of the town, who live in some little stile to expend as I am told four & five thousand pounds pr. anm. It is said that every thing has doubled since the commencmt. of the last war. I am persuaded the cause is easily trac’d, the vast accumulation of the debt & circulation of paper money. This is certainly felt on every article in the country & is in my opinion bringing on a crisis, the nature of which you can readily conceive. By the above statment you will see that subsistence alone consumes the salary; that our other necessary expences, independant of those wh. are incident to the office, must be defrayed from private funds, or create a debt wh. is to harrass me hereafter. Before I left France I recd. a letter from Mr. Gore informing me that you had plac’d three thousand dolrs. to my order here. It was my wish on recieving my appointment for this place to command the amount at Paris: Indeed it was indispensable. I offer’d a bill to the bankers Delessert & co: for it on London, but they told me the exchge was unfavorable, that I had better take it of the bankers in Holland, which I accordingly did, knowing that it made no difference with our govt. Part of that sum was necessary to clear me of Paris & the balance, about 1000. dolrs., to bring us here. It cost me abt. 60. guineas for a vessel to cross the channel, wh. was abt. 20. cheaper than has been since given, by Mr. Barlow Mr. Maclure & others. The war having taken place, the vessels wh. offer make a job of the business & extort what they can. Being forc’d to purchase many articles for housekeeping here, as also a carriage, puts me to great expence, which you will perceive can never be replac’d by my salary, and if sold on my returning home, will command not more than half their cost. Under such circumstances you must not complain if I draw somewhat in advance on my salary & actually return in debt to the publick to be reimbursd in the best manner my circumstances will permit. I look therefore, as I mentioned to you in my last, to an early return. If there was a profit instead of a loss I shod. not wish to stay long. My earnest wish is to be at home, as is that of my family. The mission was grateful to me, on acct. of the object, those under whom I acted, and, in consideration of what had passed, an attention from the govt. of the UStates: but the great business on wh. I came is in a great measure accomplished. In respect to France it will I hope be completely so in a few months, & settled definitively in the UStates without any act to be performed in Paris. It appears to me that the exchge of ratifications at Washington, the treaty being approved, will do this. It remains to adjust the business with Spain, & for the Presidt. to decide when that shall be done, and whether I shall have any agency in it. If it were not for the claims of our citizens on the Sph. govt., perhaps it might be easy to protract the business. The possession of Louisiana, especially if it comprizes W. Florida, as I think it does, places us at ease on the great & urgent topic. The other will follow of course, & perhaps a few years hence with as great ease as at present. Some extry. effort is perhaps due to the claims of our citizens, but of that you will be much better able to judge. If it is thought proper to send me there, that business will of course wind up my mission. In that case I might leave this next spring, proceed to Spn., & sail thence in the fall for the UStates. If I am not sent there I wish to sail from this place in the course of next year. To me it is a matter of perfect indifference personally whether I go to Spain or not. It would it is true give me pleasure to conclude the affr., if it appeard to our govt. that this was the suitable time, & I might be employed to advantage in it: but on that alone it rests. I feel no anxiety for the trip wh. wod. be long, fatiguing, and attended with new ceremonies & difficulties. If that plan is decided on Mr. P. shod. be positively instructed not to touch the subject in the interim, since by so doing he may embarrass but cannot advance it. In wh. case indeed it may be proper for me to go sooner & in the interim retain my character and even leave my family here: of that you wod. judge. I am aware of the propriety of my holding my position here for at least a year, on many considerations: first on acct. of the effect to be produc’d by it. I am satisfied that this govt. has been taught to expect its partizans only here, and from them a conduct very different from what they would experience at the hands of their opponents. From the latter & perhaps me more especially much hostility has been apprehended. Of the means used to foster such prejudices I say nothing. It will take some time to wipe them away, & to shew this govt. that it is for its interest, to cultivate the friendship of the nation by a just & equal conduct, & stand well with it, than with a party, especially a decling [sic] one. By the former course we shall never have a motive to do them harm & may often render them service, independant of the great and continual advantage wh. they derive from our uninterrupted commerce. By the latter they are not likely ever to derive any advantage and may be exposed to much injury, since by intriguing with a party, they keep alive the publick ill will towards them, & inspire a disposition to do them ill offices instead of good ones. I am inclined to think they have already found me more moderate than they were taught to expect I shod. be; and do hope to convince them, without making any unbecoming advance on my part, that we are as much their friends, as the friends of the independance, character & interest of their country can be. The moderate & prudent conduct of our govt. has already produc’d no inconsiderable effect in that respect: the observance of the same conduct will doubtless ere long complete it. It will be fortunate for our country when this opinion of its policy to European powers is understood & respected on both sides the channel. From that moment we may conclude that we have gained much, in what contributes to the publick prosperity & happiness. As soon as each of them sees that we are not likely to be the satelite of the other, they will both leave us to ourselves. Our fellow citizens who have already profited much from the course wh. has of late been pursued, will I am persuaded not be disposed to expose themselves by a relapse to the misfortunes of former errors. They have gained of late more of France than the former admns. ever did or could do—as they have also of this power.
In retiring it will be hard for me to have left my profession, & return after so long an absence without deriving any advantage from it: that is as much in debt to the govt. or to individuals here as will be equivalent to that portion of my outfit wh. I was forc’d to apply to my debts in America before I sailed. This result wod. be a serious one to me, and is in truth that with which I am menac’d. On the presumption that my mission ends here & I sail hence home, would there be any impropriety in allowing me half an outfit for Paris & the outfit for this place? The actual expence in the first case wod. be less, that is in travelling from Virga. to N. Yk., the passage sea stores, (paying half a passage in a ship in wh. I did not sail), & from Havre to Paris. To me the difference is an interesting object. Our other ministers had outfits on extry. missions. This arrangment wod. save half that charge. The outfit to this place is I presume of course. I presume there will be no impropriety in my withdrawing late next year. If I go to Spain ought I not to be put on the footing of Mr. Pinckney & Mr. Short when they were employed on similar missions, by defraying my expences as well at Madrid as on the road? or some idea of part of an outfit be adopted? The keeping accts. by vouchers with taverns is difficult, tho’ not insurmountable. These remarks are for your consideration on the strict principles of justice. You will always keep in mind that the expence of living here especially, has doubled in the course of the last war, and that any calculation wh. was applicable to the former epoch is not so to the present one. I have no doubt that if these appointments are continued, that the salary must be, before long, raised. It is so much below what is given by the British, Sph. French & Imperial govts. to such appointments; the two first giving as I am told abt. £10.000 sterg each pr. anm. to their embassies at Paris & here, besides vast accomodations in other respects; and really so much below what is absolutely necessary to enable them to live at ease, give them that credit, & enable them to render that service to their country which is expected of them, that I think the appointments must be discontinued, or the compensation encreased. The former will I presume be the best course; tho perhaps the moment is not yet arrived. I shall however have nothing to do with these questions. My object is to get home as soon as I conveniently can, and that the existing regulations & usages be applied to my case, with this difference, that altho expences have encreased, I be made an example of an œconomy which was not practic’d in any other: not however of that rigid kind, that it must be abandoned in every future case.
It has occurr’d that in retiring hence it is possible that my labours might be disposed of by the admn. a few years in Louisiana, with some advantage to the publick & myself. I hint the idea in peculiar confidence to the President & yrself as you will readily infer. If the cession is accepted Congress will have to organize a temporary govt. at N. Orleans. It is important that sound principles be established there in the outset, to bind the new acquired territory & people to the union. The character and conduct of the govt., at that post, the entrance of the river, is likely to have great influence on the whole western territory, and on the first impression will much depend, of the future destiny of that country & perhaps of the whole UStates. The eyes of Europe, especially of that class who are about to emigrate, are turn’d with more solicitude to that quarter than to any other part of the union. They ought to be recd. as they enter & planted where they will be most useful to the society wh. may adopt them. If a man of loose principles is placed there, at the head of a population so mixed, with so many objects to allure an ambitious & rapacious mind, I shod. not be surprised at any event that might occur. I have thought that I might be of some service to my country there, while I derived some advantage to myself by the opportunity, I shod. have in common with others to acquire land & make cotton. If I shod. be sent to Spain, it merits consideration whether such an appointment wod. not give weight to my mission, from the contiguity of Louisiana to Mexico. You will observe that I am not sanguine in the object; am indeed rather doubtful that it wod. not suit me. If the idea is countenanc’d at all it ought to be understood that it is contemplated with a temporary view only, to assist in organizing, not for a residence: for no consideration whatever would induce me to be absent for any length of time from home.
I sugested to the President & yourself the desire of Mr. Skipwith to be appointed Collector of the port at N. Orleans and my earnest wish that he might be accomodated. He is strictly honest, very capable of the duties of the office, & deserves well for his past services. In the present trust his pay, Mr. Livingston & myself thought ought to be raised, on acct. of his encreased duties, of wh. we informed you in our joint letter just before I left Paris. Can nothing further be done for the unfortunate & most estimable genl. La Fayette. I think his services in our revolution give him a claim on the state assemblies to some provision for his future support. The grant of the last Congress did infinite honor to the UStates, in France and conciliated towards us & him even our & his greatest enemies. It laid the foundation of a credit of 150.000₶. which saved from immediate sale a small remaining estate of his wife of abt. 3000₶ pr. annm. the wreck of a great fortune, from wh. they now derive their very scanty but chief subsistence. A few thousand Dolrs. by each state or some of them would place him in a state of independence & I most earnestly wish they cod. be prevailed on to grant them.
Since writing the above I have seen Swans letter as published in the UStates, wh. forces me to add something on that subject. I am persuaded that the person who is the object of it, saw, approved, & most probably planned its principal features. I found this opinion on the following circumstances, It. on my arrival at Paris, that person held Mr. Swan in great contempt, & did not receive him at his house. He had thought well of him before, but had changed his opinion of him at that time, as I know from what I heard him say. But at the time that Swans letter bears date, they made up the difference & became intimate, to the surprise of many who saw it. 2. By the inclosed project of a letter to Mr. Pinckney written by Mr. Livingston, you will find that the date of the decision at St. Cloud to cede Louisiana to us, is fix’d on the same day, that is on the 8th. of april, that Mr. Swan gives it. Such a concurrence in an error could not well happen by accident. The circumstances attending this project of a letter to Mr. Pinckney tend further to illustrate the point. Being engaged in the examination of the question whether W Florida was comprized in the cession of Louisiana, I requested him to draw a short letter to Mr. Pinckney similar to that we wrote to Mr. King. He had been pressing me on the subject of a letter to Mr. Pinckney, (with wh. indeed I thought he had nothing to do), as he had also been relative to the above mention’d question. To get rid of him on the latter point I had desired him to put his ideas on paper, as I promised to do myself, after wh. I proposed that we shod. confer together & communicate to you the result. He had sent me his paper but as I was engaged in the examination myself and wished to pursue my own course, I had not read it when I recd. this project of a letter. On reading the project I was surprised to find that I was to give him credit for lights I had not seen, and was likewise to be drawn inadvertently, as I presume it was expected I might be, into the establishment of a fact false in itself and from which it seems that important consequences were to be drawn. I afterwards wrote the letter to Mr. P. of which the enclosed is a copy, & sent it to him for his signature, with which he complied; that is a letter brought by him to me, which I partly read in his presence, & understood was a literal transcript of mine, made by his secretary, was signed by me, & sent to the post office. I have really been uneasy since that I did not read every word, lest I may have been surprised in that mode to sanction some false fact which may be perverted to bad purposes.
I enclose you a copy of an extract of Col: Mercers journal which contains what passed in our interview, the eveng. of the day on wh. I arrived at Paris. It proves that Mr. L. thought the prospect then (the 12.) as gloomy as he had done on the 10th. Col: Mercer kept a journal from the time he left home and entered these remarks on the day they were made as he told me. He gave me this before I left Paris as a document, I did not know that I shod. have occasion to recur to. I send it in confidence merely to confirm what other evidence fully establishes. I also enclose a copy of a letter wh. he proposed that we shod. write to Mr. Marbois, on the subject of our joint letter to you of June 7th. I declined adopting that measure, prefering a course which I thought better suited to the occasion. I kept the paper merely from a habit I had adopted, after our first interview, a precaution which every succeeding day proved the propriety of pursuing. I send this copy to shew that at the time I made the offer of a guaranty to Mr. Talleyrand & Mr. Marbois, Mr. L. was as fully impressed with the importance of the occasion, as myself. I have not heard from him in reply to my last on that subject, nor do I know how he acted in it. Where attacks are expected, it wod. be folly not to be attentive to the fair & obvious means of repelling them.
I mentiond to you in my official letter of april 15 that Mr. Livingston held communications with Mr. Marbois, of which it may be proper to give some explanation. The day after I got to town Col: Mercer Mr. Skipwith & myself dined with Mr. L., that is on the 13. In the early part of the day I had read over his correspondence with Mr. Talleyrand, & also conversed with him, by wh. I found in what state the business was. I believe he had recd. a hint in the morning of Mr. Parker, who gave the same to me immediately afterwards, of the decision at St. Cloud on the 10th., the preceding Sunday, to cede to the UStates Louisiana. He appeared to discredit the suggestion, or at least to have formed no plan in consequence of it, owing perhaps in case he credited it, to the recency of the communication or to his compromitment in the conversation of the preceding evening. Mr. Parker told me that he had given him that hint, & that he was satisfied he knew nothing of it before. It was on his authority, that I dated the decision on the 10th. in my letters of that period to you, wh. was confirmed to me by Mr. Livingston after his conversation with Mr. Marbois, wh. I shall hereafter state. By the callendar you will find that the 10th. of april was on Sunday, and it is certain that at that time the meetings at St. Cloud were on that day only. While we were at dinner Mr. Marbois arrived, but finding us at the table withdrew & returned an hour afterwards. Mr. Livingston took him aside, sometime after which Mr. Marbois retired; the former appearing much agitated as did those about him. Mr. Livingston then took Mr. Skipwith out & told him what Mr. Marbois had communicated to him, wh. was that the consul, of his own motion, had at St. Cloud on sunday informed him of his decision to cede to the UStates Louisiana, and that being an affr. of finance, he had thoughts of committing the negotiation to him. On giving this information to Mr. Skipwith, Mr. Livingston complained of his misfortune in my arrival &ca, which the former mentioned to Col: Mercer & myself as we returned to our lodgings, with other circumstances wh. had occurr’d before my arrival, wh. shewed the light in wh. he viewed that measure of our government. He told Mr. Skipwith that he was to go to Mr. Marbois’s as soon as the compy. left him to talk further on the subject. Soon afterwards he took me out and communicated what he had recd. of Mr. Marbois and his intention to call on him at 10. or 11. that night, for the purpose of further conversation. I hesitated on the idea of his going alone, before I was presented; we had read our instructions together, or adopted any plan: Intimated delicately that too much zeal might do harm, that a little reserve might have a better effect. He could not see the weight of these objections, suggested the idea of a courier being sent to Petersburg, & the necessity of dispatch; declared it was altogether impossible for me to go with him, as I was not presented; of the rigorous etiquette observd by the govt. on that point, intimating that Mr. Marbois dared not to speak with me before &ca. I observed that I had no idea of going myself & ceased to oppose his going, tho I most earnestly pressed on him the propriety of his being reserved in the conference—to tell him that we had not conferr’d—that he had not read his instructions; in short to hear & not to speak. The next day he calld on me & told me in substance what Mr. Marbois afterwards told me himself, as was communicated in my letter of the 19th. april. From this time I observed an equivocal stile of talking on his part, & was apprized by others of pretentions that were avowed by him & his family, of the kind you have seen in the UStates. In the conversations wh. I had with him on my arrival, & after the prospect of success was seen, he was careful to avoid attributing it in any degree to the true cause. While he thought there was no hope, he regretted that Ross’s resolutions had not passed. When the prospect changed it was the effect of the danger of war with Engld., wh. event would give us alone security. It was at length concluded before the commencement of the war, and of course without either of the means on wh. he relied for success. To have acknowledged that it was produc’d by the measures of our govt., would have diminished the credit which he was disposed to claim in favor of his memoires. You will not however infer that I ever discussed these questions with him. I invariably avoided, such topics, considering it the worst & most shameful of all possible evils to have any discussion with him, on such points, especially there, in the then state of affairs. Besides I flattered myself that the indications wh. appeared were only the effect of childish vanity, which wod. terminate in nothing beyond it. I always hoped and still hope, it may be possible to preserve a degree of friendly intercourse with him & his connections, with whom I have long been on that footing. I have sincerely wished & still do it may be possible for the govt., respecting its own dignity & character, to treat him with that indulgence, which while it commands the esteem of his friends, suffers him to retire with as much credit as can be attached to him. A great portion perhaps the whole of his errors have originated in vanity, and were often so light and superficial as to excite after awhile no great degree of resentment. I have however thought it my duty to communicate to you facts and documents, to enable you to protect the government & the cause it espouses from injury.
I have just seen an american paper which states that the British govt. has remonstrated with ours agnst the creation of the stock in complyance with our treaty with France. I consider it an idle story, or if true that it is a bugbear on which they are sent by their friends there & here. Any collision or rather war with us at this time would overset this admn., or I believe any other that can be formed. This country was perhaps never in a situation, when we had less to fear from it—tho’ I extend the remark to the whole of the last war after retaking of Toulon by the French. If it makes any opposition, wh. however I do not expect, it is merely because it has been in the habit of seeing us yield to them in past times and at the instance of their friends, or rather partizans who may have told them that there is no other hope of safety left for themselves. I think this admn. sees too clearly its interest, to embark again its fortunes under the auspices of a party, in any enterprise wh. may shake our friendship. We shall have occasion to be guarded rather against new schemes of cooperation in the W Indias, than any menacing attitude. On this head a hint has been given me of our having a common interest in reference to St. Domingo, wh. it is expected will soon be agn in the hands of the negroes, wh. I am inclined to suspect the author was prompted to make by persons in power here. The moment the subject was touched I felt that impression, and was on my guard, to leave it where I found it. We are not called on to prevent propositions being made, since it may be advantageous to hear them; we owe to the party making them a respectful & patient hearing. We are responsible for our conduct only, by which we may prove our resolution to seperate our politicks from European concerns altogether. I cannot see a single advantage wh. a cooperation with this power can gain us, that we might not obtain without it, while it wod. involve us in all the embarrassment wh. the former one did—and in consideration of the late treaty not yet executed, under circumstances more hazardous & disgraceful. I think it probable that Mr. Merry who will sail in a few days will have power to treat with you on this subject. The person from whom the remark came is an american, who professed to speak his own sentiments on the subject; I suggest it to you in the confidence I do whatever I write you, that is, always submitted to the view of the President & to yours & his descretion: observing that I have entire confidence in the members of the admn. It will be easily understood that I have no power, if revived by authority & directly by those in power; so that I shall have no difficulty in getting rid of it. A circumstance not unworthy notice is, that the publication of a passage in Mr. L’s. memoires wh. inculcates the idea of union with France to check the tyranny of Britain on the sea, has produc’d a strong sensation here, or rather uneasiness. I mention this that you may be apprized they have a just sense of the injury wh. a rupture with us wod. do them. It is an incident which may do harm or good: the person above referr’d to spake on this subject also, as did one or two others who sometimes see the ministry. I thought it best to state concisely the truth, that it was a paper written more than a year since, and merely the speculative ideas of an individual: that it was not the act of the govt., nor any evidence of its present views & policy, which wished peace & friendship with this country, & that I doubted not if a similar disposition existed here that it would be preserved. I am satisfied that it is distinctly seen here & in Europe generally that if the UStates are disposed to intermeddle in such concerns that the destiny of the whole western world is in their hands. I do not think that any of them who have possessions there will venture for a light cause to quarrel with us, and I am persuaded that the more we let it be seen by them that we are not insensible of the importance of our situation the better the effect will be. In reference to St. Domingo, & the progress of its seperation or that of other Islands from the parent country, a decisive policy shod. be formed for our future conduct. If France cannot keep them Engld. can not. As the power of France diminishes her disposition to admit us to priviledges in commerce will encrease, especially as the inhabitants will desire it. Will it not be proper to watch this progress & profit by it? Tho’ indeed I do not know how, for during the war while Engld. & France, tho’ both may be driven out, have each pretentions, it may perhaps be best to look on as spectators, profit of the trade wh. is allowed, but treat with neither; especially in a way to compromit us with the other. I have imposed on yr. patience a greater task than I intended when I began; if it gives you any fact that may be in any degree useful, it will abundantly compensate me for writing it. Very sincerely I am yr. friend & servt
Jas. Monroe
I shall I expect have occasion to recur to my private letters to you to make out a journal of every thing appertaining to the transactions at Paris: you will therefore be so good as retain them.

   RC (DLC: Rives Collection, Madison Papers); FC (DLC: Monroe Papers). RC docketed by JM. Enclosures not found, but see nn. 7–10.

   Monroe to JM, 31 Aug. and 6 and 7 Sept. 1803.

   Monroe to JM, 7 Sept. 1803.

   Thomas Pinckney’s mission to Spain in 1795 resulted in the Treaty of San Lorenzo. William Short was commissioned jointly with William Carmichael to negotiate a treaty with Spain in 1793.

   Livingston and Monroe to JM, 12 July 1803.

   For a discussion of Lafayette’s American lands, see Madison and Lafayette’s Louisiana Lands, 26 Oct. 1809 (PJM-PSRobert A. Rutland et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Presidential Series (4 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1984–)., 2:35–38). For the congressional land grant itself, see PJM-SSRobert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (5 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986–)., 4:362 n. 5.

   For James Swan’s letter, see JM to Monroe, 30 July 1803, and n. 3.

   The enclosure was doubtless a copy of Livingston to Charles Pinckney, 28 May 1803 (NHi: Livingston Papers).

   The enclosure was probably a copy of Livingston and Monroe to Pinckney, 7 June 1803 (see Monroe to JM, 20 July 1803, and n. 9).

   Enclosure not found, but the extracts, dated 8 Mar. to 12 Apr. 1803 (3 pp.), are filed at 23 June 1803 in the Monroe Papers (DLC).

   Enclosure not found, but Livingston’s drafts of two letters to Marbois, 2 and 3 June 1803, are filed at those dates in the Monroe Papers (DLC).

   PJM-SSRobert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (5 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986–)., 4:520–22.

   Ibid., 4:538–39.

   A report in the Washington Federalist, 29 July 1803, stated that Great Britain had notified the U.S. that it intended to take possession of Louisiana and further warned the U.S. not to pay the $15 million purchase price.

   For the British reaction to Livingston’s essay, see JM to Monroe, 30 July 1803, and n. 5.


Title: To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 18 September 1803
From: Livingston, Robert R.
To: Madison, James

No 84
Dear Sir
Paris 18th Septr 1803
It is now near four months Since the date of the last letters I have been honoured with from you, So that I am totally ignorant of what is passing in my own country, or how far what I have done is agreable to them, & yet we have had Several arrivals that left it near the last of july. I am asked every day when I expect the ratifications, when the Senate are to meet &c and to these inquiries I can give no answer—there is no particular national object here that claims my attention at present of which I have not given you an account, but Passports & claims of citizenship give me much trouble to investigate. The Minister has promised me that Mr Pichon Shall have orders relative to Caps Davidson & Rodgers—But I do not expect it. They do not wish to recall any act of Le Clerc that may hurt the feelings of his connections—you have Seen how often I have brought it forward by notes as I also frequently have verbally. Preparations for the descent in England or Ireland Still continue with vigour—while on the other hand the British are throwing bombs into all the Sea Ports upon the channel with little or no effect. The exertions they make & the expence they incur must be ruinous if the war continues, & I See no reason to believe that it will Soon end. Spain will not I think be permitted longer to retain her neutrality. The subsidies are not only demanded, but the first consul insists on the removal of the prince of peace as a partisan of England. Portugal hopes to remain unmolested. There is Some uneasiness here about the northern powers—but it is not Supposed that they will Stir Soon. The marquis Lychesini told me last night they were too far to operate effectually. It is highly probable that the Jealousy of the power of this immense nation, & the concurrence of other circumstances will ultimately drag them into the war, but not Soon. In the mean time our flag is respected, & I have heard of but one complaint & that they have promised to redress & punish. The laws of trade however being mere arretés they will be perpetually changing & their fluctuations will occasion inconveniences to which all nations that trade here must Submit. If Spain goes into the war as She undoubtedly will it would be a favourable moment to press for East Florida. That She has had Some disposition to part with it I infer from this circumstance—after we had concluded our treaty for Louisiana availing myself of my intimacy with the Spanish ambassador ready [to] sound him I asked him between jest and earnest whether Spain would not be inclined to imitate France and give us a proof of her good will by presenting us with her useless territory in East Florida. He told me to make a proposition for it and it was probable the king would sell it to us on good terms. I replied that it would be absurd in us to offer money to the Prince who held the mines of Mexico & Perou but that we would accept it & by that means keep dangerous intruders out of the gulph for him or possibly give him territory joining his out of what we had acquired. Make your proposition says he and I will transmit. Knowing however how Slowly every thing moved in Spain and believing that means might be found to accelerate them here I told him that if he got full powers to Settle the business, I hoped that Some arrangement might be made. A few days after Mr Monroe having determined to go to Spain a determination that he changed for reasons that he has probably given you called on the Spanish Ambassador for his commands—he told him that it was unnecessary to go, that he had written for full powers that he expected them in a few days, & that the business would probably be arranged in Paris. Mr Monroe came to me very much displeased with what had passed, Said (what was very true) that I had nothing to do in the business, that it was entrusted to him & Mr Pinkney & not to me, I told him that I was Sensible that I had no powers & that if the Ambassador received them he must treat with Mr Monroe & not with me but that I Saw Some advantages in knowing the temper of the Court and enabling him to treat in Paris rather than Madrid but Since he Saw my interference as an improper intrusion I would Set it right immediately. We accordingly went to the Ambassador together, & as what I had Said was in the Stile of half jest half earnest which permitted me to disavow it, I told him that nothing was intended by what I had Said that I had no powers they being vested in Mr Monroe & Mr Pinkney that I hoped he had not Seen what I Said as a Serious proposition & I begged if he had taken any measures in relation to it to revoke them. He had discernment enough to See where the Shoe pinched & told me that he had done nothing in it that would interfere in the arrangement our Government had made. Since which, I have carefully avoided a renewal of any conversation on the Subject with him tho’ he has given me Several openings. I have the honor to be Sir With the highest consideration Your most obt hum: Servt
Robt R Livingston

   RC (DNA: RG 59, DD, France, vol. 8A); RC and duplicate (DLC); draft (NHi: Livingston Papers). First RC in a clerk’s hand, signed by Livingston; marked “Triplicate”; docketed by JM. Italicized words are those encoded by Livingston’s clerk and decoded here by the editors (for the code, see PJM-SSRobert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (5 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986–)., 2:304–5 n.). Both RCs decoded interlinearly.

   Livingston probably referred to JM’s 25 May 1803 letter to him. JM had written also on 28 May to Livingston and Monroe. JM’s most recent letter to Livingston was that of 29 July, which the latter had not yet received.

   Miscoded “subsideiest”; draft has “subsidies.”

   Miscoded “part indeed an”; draft has “partisan.”

   Girolamo, marchese de Lucchesini (1752–1825), was Prussian ambassador to France under the Consulate and the early Empire (Tulard, Dictionnaire NapoléonJean Tulard et al., Dictionnaire Napoléon (Paris, 1987)., p. 1096).

   Miscoded “join is”; draft has “joining.”

   Miscoded “write un d”; draft has “found.”


Title: To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 September 1803
From: Monroe, James
To: Madison, James

Dear Sir
London Sepr. 18. 1803
The enclosed is an extract of a private letter of great length, which I have committed to Mr. Law, who sails in the monticello to morrow. Not having time to write a publick one, & wishing the information it contains to reach you, I have had that much copied to be forwarded by Mr. Merry, who sails also to morrow. A few weeks since Mr. Erving stated to me the conduct of the press gangs towards our seamen, wh. altho’ I think more moderate than at any former period, yet of a nature to merit attention; I requested him to make a report on the subject, wh. he did, & to wh. I shall call the attention of this govt. shortly. Being however persuaded that a communication with Mr. Merry might have a good effect, I spoke to him on the subject, with a view that he might apprize the ministry of the substance of our conversation, wh. has also been done. On the subject of the seamen, he stated many difficulties, such as many of theirs being employed in our navigation, & the certainty of their running there in every war if our merchants’ ships protected them: that their safety depended on their navy; that sailors seldom naturalised themselves any where &ca. I told him that there must be some rule adopted since without one, the discretion of the press gangs wod. be the only one, on wh. little reliance could be put, as some documents I shewed him sufficiently proved, one especially in wh. a Mr. ⟨Duess?⟩ of Baltimore, a respectable merchant had well nigh been murder’d. He assured me that he wod. confer with Ld. Hawkesbury on the subject, who he doubted not wod. be disposed to yield every accomodation in his power. He calld on me yesterday to apprize me of his early departure, and to communicate the result of his conference with Ld. H. on the above subject. It is proper however to observe that in our former conversation I had assured him of the sincere wish of our govt., to preserve the most friendly understanding with his; & of the regret I felt in commencing my mission here with complain⟨ts⟩. On this occasion he informed me, that he had dined with Ld. H. after seeing me and conferr’d with him as he had promised on the subject of our seamen; that he was instructed by Ld. H. to assure me (as I understood by order of the King) that his majesty was happy to see me here, that his Ld.ship in obedience to his orders, wod. pay the utmost attention to what ever I submitted to his consideration, & in the case of the seamen yield every accomodation in his power. We entered into a conversation of some length and of a more general nature, in which I told him that it was the policy & wod. be the object of the measures of our govt. to seperate our political relations as much as possible from those of Europe. That we had happily adjusted our affrs. with France but in so doing we did not mean to embroil ourselves with Engld., nor had we given cause as wod. be seen: that we wished not only to be on a friendly footing with both powers, but to merit their friendship & confidence, by an impartial just & friendly conduct towards each: that we wanted nothing in our intercourse or in reference to our claims, (alluding to the seamen) that was unjust or unreasonable: that it was in our power occasionally to do both powers harm, but that we wod. be much happier to do them service where it cod. be done to either without injuring the other. He told me that Mr. Livingston’s memorial had produc’d an ill effect, to wh. I gave the reply mentiond in the enclosed that it was written a year ago &ca. I thought it better to take that ground being the true one, than leave them under a contrary impression; since if it was understood to be a recent measure, the act of the govt., it might produce harm, while I do not perceive that we cod. well derive any advantage from it. The UStates could injure this country much at this moment in the way alluded to, but not without injuring themselves. And in reference to a permanent system of abstraction from European concerns, it might become the means of involving ourselves in them, & establishing a system of the opposit character. He then mentioned the situation of St. Domingo, as statd in the inclosed, and observed that it was a case wh. interested us; that we ought to have a common policy &ca. I told him that it was a delicate subject: he admitted that it was; said he shod. talk to you about it &ca. Be assured you cannot be too careful of yr. conduct on this head. The slightest circumstance wh. wd. be construed into an unfriendly act towards France would open a wound not yet perhaps completely healed. Mr. Merry appears to me to be a man of candour & good views, and I think the more full & frank you are with him on the subject the better the effect will be. Very sincerely yours
Jas. Monroe

   RC (DLC: Rives Collection, Madison Papers). Docketed by JM.

   Enclosure not found, but this was no doubt an extract of Monroe’s letter to JM of 17 Sept. 1803.


Title: To James Madison from James Leander Cathcart, 18 September 1803 (Abstract)
From: Cathcart, James Leander
To: Madison, James

18 September 1803, “US Frigate Adams off Almeria bay.” No. 13. “The enclosed detail will inform you of our actual position at Tunis.” Informs JM that “the Bashaws political reason” for not receiving Cathcart at Tunis was “in consequence of a request from the Dey of Algiers to that purport, in compliance with the will of the Sanhedrim & their most righteous Secretary.” Is “consequently consider’d by them as no longer encharged with the affairs” of the U.S. in either regency. Notes that his “functions will cease” once he has offered Tripoli “the terms of peace prescribed” by his instructions “& deliver’d the jewels & property” of the U.S. in his possession to the “person appointed to receive them, who … will either be the Commander of the Station or whoever is appointed Consul general at Algiers.” Should U.S. interests require an agent to supersede him at Tunis, requests “that it may be done in as delicate a manner as possible, that my reputation may not suffer in the estimation of my fellow Citizens.” “I request Sir that this may be consider’d by government as my resignation.”
“I am now in quest of the Comodore whom I expect to find either at Gibraltar or Malaga & shall proceed to the execution of my instructions at Tripoli as soon as he may find it convenient to take me there.” Will inform JM of the results at “the earliest opportunity” and then proceed to Leghorn to ready himself to return to the U.S. “on receiving the Presidents orders.” “I should have dispatch’d a courier from Tunis but in consequence of the Bashaws refusing our offer of an annuity at that place I was apprehensive that the Bashaw of Tripoli would be very exorbitant in his demands unless our offers are accompanied with force, making propositions in any other way would look as if we were tired of the war.” Hopes that the manner in which he “open’d the negotiation at Tunis will meet the Presidents approbation.” Offered “a premium to be allow’d a commercial priviledge which we do not enjoy,” but it was denied; “consequently we are exonorated from the promise of the premium.”
Congratulates the president “and all those particularly concern’d in the negotiation for the cession of Louisiana.” Calls this event “an epoch in our national history second to none but the declaration of Independence.” It “opens an ample field for commercial enterprize, it consolidates the Union so far as the western territories are concern’d & prevents our being subject to the devices of an intrigueing ambitious & restless neighbor.” Believes he would be remiss to his family if he did not apply for one of the positions to be created for governing Louisiana, “more especially as contrary to the example of some Barbary Consuls I shall return home five thousand dollars at least poorer than I was the day I was appointed Consul for Tripoli.” “I therefore request you to mention me to the President & Senate in such a manner as you may think I merit, & should I … succeed both the President & yourself Sir may depend upon my gratitude for the preference shewn me & my country may depend upon my faithful services according to the best of my abilities …: my knowledge of the languages used in that country probably would render me as useful and I hope my character at this period of my life is not doubtful.” Begs to be informed of his “fate as soon as possible.” Refers JM to Captain Campbell “for any additional information he being perfectly acquainted with all my operations for some time past.”

   RC (DNA: RG 59, CD, Tripoli, vol. 2). 4 pp.; docketed by Wagner. Printed in Knox, Naval Documents, Barbary WarsDudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers (6 vols.; Washington, 1939–44)., 3:54–55.

   Enclosure not found, but it was probably a copy of Cathcart to JM, 9 Sept. 1803.

   A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.


Title: To James Madison from Swinton C. Holland, 18 September 1803
From: Holland, Swinton C.
To: Madison, James

Letter not found. 18 September 1803, Trieste. Mentioned in Holland to JM, 25 Jan. 1804, as a letter informing the State Department “that Vessels direct from the United States were not subject to any quarantine in this district” (DNA: RG 59, CD, Trieste, vol. 1).


Title: To James Madison from Albert Gallatin, 19 September 1803
From: Gallatin, Albert
To: Madison, James

Sir
Treasury Department 19th Septer. 1803
In compliance with your letter of the 9th instt., I have taken measures to remit Drs. 13,616 to Amsterdam for the service of the six ensuing months. But as it is expected that a considerable sum has been repaid in July last by the parties concerned on account of the advances heretofore made by the United States for the prosecution of claims, it is presumed that it will not be necessary to make any remittance to London. I will thank you to communicate any information you may receive respecting that repayment, and beg leave on that subject to refer you to my letter of the 12th. of April last. I have the honour to be with great respect Sir Your most obedt. Servt.
Albert Gallatin

   RC (DNA: RG 59, ML).

   PJM-SSRobert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (5 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986–)., 4:509.


Title: To James Madison from William Jarvis, 19 September 1803 (Abstract)
From: Jarvis, William
To: Madison, James

19 September 1803, Lisbon. “The inclosed No 123 will inform you of the arrival of the 30 Gun ship which Mr. Simpson mentioned in a copy of an extract that I forwarded some time since and of the communications I have made respecting her. My object … was to have ordered her out of Port but finding she was admitted to prattic the 16th. and dropped up the next day but that nothing had yet been done to her, I wrote the Note of the 17th but do not expect a compliance.” Portugal appears “to be more apprehensive of offending the Barbary States than they are the most powerful Nation in Europe.” “The Morroquin Cruisers are always repaired in this Port and supplied with what Stores they want free of expence whether this is an appeasment or not and in lieu of a tribute I cannot learn. I should think that the Perfidy of that Power toward us ought to be severely punished: this I imagine could be easily effected either at Mogadore or Saffia, as a vessel may lay in 6 or 7 fathom water within a half a Mile of either of the Towns, and the fortifications of the latter were in such a damaged State and the platforms and Gun carriages so much decayed that if not repaired, I have no hesitance to think that one 40 Gun Ship would batter the Town about their ears without sustaining any injury herself: but at Mogadore the Walls were good and they have a great number of pieces of fine brass ordinance.” Noticed during his 1799 visit, however, that the gun carriages were rotten and that there was no one who knew how to use the guns. At Mogador “there is an Island about a quarter of a Mile from the Town of about 300 Yards long and 80 or 100 broad, upon which there is a fort of ten or twelve Guns, carelessly guarded by 20 or 30 Men that might with the greatest ease be surprized by 50 Men, as a landing could easily be effected on any part of the Island, and the Guns turned on the Town.” Nor would there be much danger of the fort’s being retaken. “These People are good for nothing except on horseback and as Cavalry are totally without the little discipline of the regular forces, being a Kind of Malitia, and from the time they have been in Peace are conceived the worst in Barbary.” Believes that one or two “of our Frigates of the heaviest Metal with a strong built Ship that would carry 8 or 10 pieces of heavy Cannon” and three to four hundred “resolute Marines, would without much difficulty or loss, either make themselves Masters of the Town or batter it down.” The loss of Mogador, the commercial center of Morocco and the favorite town of the emperor, “would be more severely felt” than that of “any other Sea Port in his Dominions.” “Without some such Act of Severity I am afraid our Commerce will be perpetually harassed by these People.”
Mentioned in his letter of 19 Aug. [not found] a Portuguese merchant who was authorized to open negotiations with Algiers; this merchant has not been able “to effect any thing” because the dey demanded $800,000 “for the ransom of the Prisoners only, a Sum they were not authorised to give.” “The Frigate has also come back and the 74 that was to be sent has droped down to Bellem to assist in protecting the neutrality of the Port: but it is still said she is to go to the Streights.” Rodrigo has been dismissed. “Some affairs of importance seem to be transacting with the Courts of Madrid and London: a British Packet was the last week dispatched with a Courier who arrived the preceding Night from Madrid, altho’ another packet had sailed only three days before; another Courier arrived two Days after, and the Keeper of the Packet office was the next day sent by the British Minister here to Madrid with dispatches, and two days following the French Minister sent the Secretary of Legation to that Court. We are utterly in the dark as to what all this forebodes.” There is no evidence yet “that the Government expected to be involved in the War.” The warships lately repaired are moored on the opposite side of the river with “Top gallant Masts launched.” A frigate and a sloop of war are under repair, but many ships, including “three line of battle Ships, four frigates and two Sloops of War,” remain “considerably out of repair.” Nothing is being done to “a frigate and 84 in dock”; “the Army also is filling up very slowly.” The rioting among the soldiers “has terminated in the trial, release and reinstatement of Gomez Frire and the Count de Novion, and the condemnation to Death of two or three of the Soldiery: it is likely they will be pardoned.”
Encloses his letter and the reply relative to the seamen impressed in this port. Also encloses a letter from Pinckney and Kirkpatrick, two from Simpson and Willis, a copy of two letters from Gavino, and a copy of his of 7 Sept., along with a copy of the protest therein enclosed, which he forwarded to Erving. Adds in a postscript: “Several letters from Oporto by post just in, say that a Vessel from the Channel brings news of sixteen line of battle ships & fourteen frigates having got out from Brest, with 15,000 Troops; but being discovered by the British fleet they took a line of battle ship & five frigates & were in pursuit of the rest. Letters from Coruna state the same number captured but add that they were sent out with this expectation, in hopes to draw the English fleet from before the port, while the rest of the fleet got out, & are silent as to the pursuit: no dates accompany the information. The general opinion is that their destination is Ireland.” Does not enclose Pinckney’s letter as it “would have made the package too large.” In a 21 Sept. postscript informs JM of the packet’s arrival in eleven days without any news “concerning the captures mentioned in the P. S.” “This leads me to suppose it is without foundation.” The French secretary of legation “returned last night, it is said he went no farther than Badajos; some insinuate that this sudden departure & return is to frighten this Court into a compliance with the Ministers demands.” In a 22 Sept. postscript informs JM of a report circulating that General Lannes has forced the departure of the duc de Coni and two other French émigrés who held commissions in the Portuguese army. “Yesterday the Moor took in two large boat loads Cordage & to day has began to strip his foremast: if the putting in a new mast is all he has got to do, he will be ready for sea about a fortnight.” Encloses a letter from Leonard.

   RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, CD, Lisbon, vol. 2). RC 7 pp.; docketed by Wagner as received 21 Nov. Enclosed is a copy of Robert Montgomery to Jarvis, 9 Sept. 1803 (1 p.; docketed by Wagner), informing the latter of the capture of one Tripolitan frigate and the destruction of another by the John Adams. For other surviving enclosures, see nn.

   For Simpson’s extract, see Jarvis to JM, 26 Aug. 1803, and n. 1. Jarvis enclosed a copy of his circular to consuls, 15 Sept. 1803 (2 pp.; printed in Knox, Naval Documents, Barbary WarsDudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers (6 vols.; Washington, 1939–44)., 3:46), describing in detail the Moroccan cruiser that had arrived on 13 Sept.

   Jarvis wrote a note to the Portuguese foreign minister, visconde de Balsemão, on 15 Sept. 1803 (3 pp.) requesting that Portugal not provide war supplies to the Moroccan cruiser currently in port. He followed that with another note on 19 Sept. (2 pp.) informing the foreign minister that hostilities had begun between the U.S. and Morocco and implicitly threatening the withdrawal of the considerable U.S. commerce from Portugal should that nation continue to offer a haven for Moroccan cruisers.

   Jarvis enclosed his letter to Balsemão, 9 Sept. 1803 (3 pp.), protesting the British impressment of two American sailors from the Hector. Balsemão answered on 11 Sept., and Jarvis enclosed both a copy of the letter in Portuguese (1 p.) and an English translation (1 p.), in which the foreign minister assured him that “the most efficatious and prompt measures will be taken to prevent similar Proceedings.” One of the impressed seamen was Thomas Doyle of Philadelphia (Daniel Brent to Peter Muhlenberg, 16 Feb. 1804 [DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14]).

   Jarvis enclosed a copy of Gavino’s letter of 29 Aug. 1803 (1 p.), informing him of the presence of Tripolitan galleys off the ports of Cartagena and Alicante. In another letter of 1 Sept. (1 p.), Gavino described Bainbridge’s capture of the Mirboka and the recapture of the Celia and gave the locations of several Moroccan cruisers.

   A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.


Title: To James Madison from James Monroe, 20 September 1803
From: Monroe, James
To: Madison, James

Dear Sir
London Sepr. 20. 1803.
Since writing the within letter I have seen Mr. Merry on [sic] had an interesting conversation with him on our affrs. especially the impressment of our seamen. I have given you an acct. of it in a letter committed to his care, but it may be well to add it here also; He told me that he had confer’d with Ld. H. on that subject as he had promised me, and that he was instructed by Ld. H. to inform me that the King had recd. me with pleasure; that he was glad I was here; that Ld. H. wod. recieve any memorials I might present respecting our seamen or other subjects, and examine them with attention, and was disposed to yield any accomodation in his power, tho’ I ought to recollect that the question of the seamen was all important to them; that a great portion of our navigation especially from the south was carried on by Bh. sea men; that sea men seldom naturalised any where; that in time of war if our merchant ships protected them, they wod. many of them take shelter there. I reciprocated the desire which he expressed of peace and friendship between the two nations: assured him that we wished no thing unreasonable; that however some rule ought to be adopted, other wise the discretion of the press gangs wod. be the only one, which as he knew wod. be arbitrary & oppressive in the extreme. He intimated that Mr. Livingstons memorial had produc’d an ill effect: I told him that it had been written a year ago, and as I believd without the knowledge of our govt.; that it was no proof of the present disposition of the govt. wh. I knew to be friendly, and in wh. it wod. persist in case his govt. had a similar disposition: that we meant to seperate our political concerns from those of Europe as much as possible, to be friendly with all its powers and shod. be happy to do any of them especially France and Engld. friendly offices, where we had it in our power, and it cod. be done to either without injury to the other. He then adverted to the situation of St. domingo, wh. he said it seemed the French wod. be forc’d to abandon, intimating however that he had no explicit instruction to speak with me on that point, but shod. with you; that we had a common interest in that object & ought to harmonize in measures; I told him that was a delicate subject, wh. he admitted; I said as little on it as I cod., endeavouring in what I did say to inspire as little expectation as possible, or rather as much distrust, of any cooperation respecting it. I am satisfied that the hint I had before recd. on it was from a similar quarter, and that his caution proceeded from my reserve afterwards. However this suspicion had better not be mentioned as it has reference to an american of good character & I think intentions. I repeat what I have said within, that you can not be too much on yr. guard in what concerns the French Islands whatever their situation may be. I wod. claim nothing under this govt. there, or do any thing to compromit us with France, during the war. If the French are driven out the negroes will possess it. We may of course go on & trade with it. I wod. make no agreement or have any arrangement between the govts, since no advantage in trade can result from it, and it is sure to do mischief in other views. I am satisfied that a revolution is hurrying on fast in that region, with which we have nothing to do; that we are to gain credit to our govt., strength to our institutions, and profit to our people, by abstaining equally from the movments there & here.
The decln. made me by Mr. Merry of the satisfaction with wh. the King recd. me was unexpected because nothing had invited it, or any sentiment on that subject. I expressed however my acknowledgmt. in suitable terms. I am persuaded that my reception here will produce a good effect in the UStates, which cannot but be encreased by the manner of it. It proves that this govt. has too much wisdom to attach itself to a party there in all its concerns; that the present admn. of our country, does not require the aid of those who are opposed to its just views, to command respect here, & protect the rights and interests of our people. I shod. not be surprised if this govt. shod. clearly discern that by lending its name & character to a party with us, it hasards much without a prospect of advantage; that the great affection professed for this country by that party, is nothing but an affection for itself; that it wishes to avail itself of their aid for its purposes, which a wise policy dictates to them to withhold. In coming here I was aware of the delicacy of the mission, & have done every thing in my power to make it subserve the honest, pacific & just views of our govt. I was resolved to rest on my own ground & let simple causes produce their just effects. What I had been was known to the govt. & there I left it. I announc’d myself, because it did not appear that Mr. Gore was chargé des affrs. On the delay asked by Ld. H. on acct. of the death of his wife father [sic], I gave no expln. of the cause to those who asked, a few excepted & in confidence. I have never sought opportunities of making professions of friendship &ca, tho none have offered that I have not taken advantage of, in a manner that I thought became the character of the govt. I represented as well as myself. Thus what ground I have gained is solid; it is equal & independant. I have and shall continue to endeavor to convince them that what I say is entitled to their belief; that my professions on the part of our govt. to preserve peace & friendship with this are sincere; not the mouthing of a partizan of this country or sycophant, but of an independant American who is mindful of what is due to the character and interests of those he represents. I have no doubt that this line of conduct will produce a good effect here, and contribute more to a good understanding between the two countries, than a sycophantic one. These people have been always taught to consider the republicans of america as their enemies; in consequence they look’d to the election of a republican President as an event very unfavorable to them, as the commencment of hostility &ca; to the mission of a republican minister here, somewhat in the same light. Events have so far disappointed them, and it was important that they shod. be undeceived in that respect: seing there is no harm in it will take from them the motive of interfering in our concerns.
My last publick letter of augt. 31. wh. announc’d my reception by the King & was sent by Duplicate I hope you recd. I have been so much engaged in writing you private letters that I have fall’n behind a little in publick. The period of my return ought not to be known, I think here or in america, till just as it takes place, that the impression of my service here may have its natural character & effect. We beg you to present us affecy. to yr. lady & family. Sincerely I am yr. friend & servt.
Jas. Monroe
Tell Col: Taylor and Major Butler that I rejoice to see them in the senate: that I wod. write them, but that I have written to one on publick business, for reasons that you can explain. The letter wh. was address’d to Genl. Mason, W. Nicholas & J. Breckinridge is of course to Col: Taylor as his successor, in office & confidence: it will likewise be so to Major Butler—that is in case it became necessary to deliver it.
Mr. Randolph (John) had a nephew affected in some organ of hearing or seing, for wh. he wished to send him to Europe. Will you be so kind as request him to send him to my care. Genl. Jackson expressed a desire to put a son of his under my care, while abroad. Will you be so good as assure him I will pay the greatest attention to him if he will send him, put him to College in either country or do what he directs. You know I cannot invite him into my family as secry, expecting daily in consequence of my letters to you Mr Purviance or Gelston, & having been applied to by so many others.
I have not recd. a line from you since my arrival here. As soon as I hear the state of things after the meeting of Congress I shall feel myself more at liberty, & have more leasure to write my friends in the UStates.
I send you two letters one to Mr. Jones—another to Mr. Dawson. If you see any impropriety in the first part you will not present it—or in presenting it caution him not to say any thing in case the letter is on publick subjects. Perhaps all this is an useless delicacy. I fear however any reverberation in Europe since all that shod. be under yr. care.

   RC (DLC: Rives Collection, Madison Papers). Docketed by JM.

   Letter not identified, but it was very likely Monroe to JM, 18 Sept. 1803 (first letter).

   Monroe to JM, 18 Sept. 1803 (second letter).

   For the letter to Mason, Nicholas, and Breckinridge, see Monroe’s private letter to JM, 8 June 1803, and n. 1.

   John St. George Randolph (1792–1856) was the first son of Richard Randolph (1770–96), brother of John Randolph of Roanoke. Upon Richard’s death, John Randolph provided for the boy, who, born deaf and mute, was eventually institutionalized for insanity (William Ewart Stokes, Jr., “Randolph of Roanoke: A Virginia Portrait” [Ph.D. diss., University of Virginia, 1955], p. 293; Woodward and Craven, Princetonians, 1784–1790, p. 284; Looney and Woodward, Princetonians, 1791–1794, p. 96).

   Monroe no doubt referred to one of the sons of Sen. James Jackson of Georgia.


Title: Indenture Transferring Land between James and Dolley P. Madison and Nelly Conway Madison, 21 September 1803 (Abstract)
From: Madison, James,Madison, Dolley Payne Todd
To:

21 September 1803. “This Indenture made this twenty first day of September one thousand eight hundred and three between James Madison and Dolly P. his wife of the one part and Nelly Conway Madison of the other part. Whereas James Madison now deceased in his life time was seized & possessed of sundry lands which in his Will he had devised to his son Ambrose and which by his death in the life time of the said James his father became lapsed and of consequence descended to his heirs of whom the said James Madison the party hereto & the said Nelly Conway Madison only daughter of her father the said Ambrose Madison deceased are a part and whereas the parties hereto have agreed to exchange their titles claims and interest in & to certain lands of the aforesaid description he the said James all his right title interest & claim in and to a tract or parcel of land purchased by his father the said James Madison deceased of Samuel & James Chew which was conveyed to them by their father Thomas Chew by deed bearing date the twenty third day of May one thousand seven hundred and fifty one as containing four hundred & fifty acres but which contains only about three hundred & three acres the more particular description & boundary of which may be seen by reference to the said recited deed of record in Orange court also all his right title claim & interest in and to  acres of land at the north west end of the one hundred acres purchased by the said James Madison deceased of the said Thomas Chew commonly known by the name of Eve’s lease & adjoining the late Robert Martin’s nineteen & an half acres purchased by him of the said Thomas Chew and also to the land he had formerly given to his said son Ambrose Madison & to Johnny Scott, for the right title claim and interest of the said Nelly Conway Madison in and to the Mill seat commonly called the old Mill seat and fifty acres of land adjoining thereto Now this Indenture witnesseth that the said James Madison and Dolly P. his wife for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings to him in hand paid by the said Nelly Conway Madison the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and of the land herein after to be conveyed by her to the said James Madison in exchange have and each of them hath granted bargained sold & exchanged and by these presents do grant bargain sell and exchange to the said Nelly Conway Madison & her heirs all their right title claim & interest in and to the lands before expressed to be intended to be conveyed by them to her except their interest in & to the old Mill seat & fifty acres of land adjoining thereto To have and to hold the lands hereby intended to be conveyed to her, to the said Nelly Conway Madison and her heirs forever. And this Indenture further witnesseth that the said Nelly Conway Madison for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings to her in hand paid by the said James Madison the receipt whereof she doth hereby acknowledge and of the lands as aforesaid granted & exchanged by the said James Madison hath granted bargained sold and exchanged and by these presents doth grant bargain sell and exchange to the said James Madison and his heirs all her right title claim & interest in and to the old Mill seat and fifty acres of land adjoining thereto To have & to hold the same to the said James Madison and his heirs forever. In testimony whereof the parties have hereto set their hands and seals the day & year first above written.”

   Ms (CSmH); FC (Vi: Orange County Courthouse Records). Ms signed by JM and Dolley Payne Madison, witnessed by Robert Taylor, Frances Taylor, and Milley Taylor, and with a statement of attestation dated 27 Feb. 1804 and signed by Reynolds Chapman.

   The copyist left a blank here.


Title: To James Madison from Daniel Clark, 22 September 1803 (Abstract)
From: Clark, Daniel
To: Madison, James

22 September 1803, New Orleans. Encloses a copy of a letter from Governor Claiborne of the Mississippi Territory “on the subject of Locations in the district of Concord opposite to Natchez” and his answer, which he forwards so that JM “may be apprised of the attempts making to obtain possession of Lands in that Quarter.”

   RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, CD, New Orleans, vol. 1). RC 1 p. For enclosures (3 pp.; docketed by Wagner), see nn.

   The enclosure is a copy of Claiborne to Clark, 7 Sept. 1803, requesting information about fraudulent land claims in areas west of the Mississippi River and asking specifically whether the Spanish had opened a land office at New Orleans for such claims, whether the grants were limited to persons resident in Spanish America, and whether army commandants had been given powers to make land grants (printed in Carter, Territorial Papers, Orleans, 9:27; see also Claiborne to JM, 7 Sept. 1803).

   Clark enclosed a copy of his answer to Claiborne, 20 Sept. 1803, which stated that no person had been authorized to make land grants in areas west of the Mississippi River, that a land office had been opened in New Orleans but was limited to selling land in West Florida, that no land grants to Americans could be made under current Spanish law, and that army commandants had no authority to make land grants in districts over which they presided (printed in Carter, Territorial Papers, Orleans, 9:56).

   A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.


Title: To James Madison from William Kirkpatrick, 23 September 1803 (Abstract)
From: Kirkpatrick, William
To: Madison, James

23 September 1803, Málaga. Encloses a duplicate of his last letter, dated 31 Aug., as well as copies of the charges paid on American and Spanish vessels and a list of ship arrivals from 1 Jan. to 30 June 1803. The schooner Frederic, Capt. Charles H. Seymour, arrived in Málaga on 6 Sept. The ship’s papers indicate that it was captured by a French privateer and condemned at La Coruña by the French consul in 1801 and that it was purchased in July 1801 by Nathaniel Amory of Boston, who sent the ship to Great Britain “with a passavant from Mr Jos Becerra,” U.S. vice-consul. Amory sold the ship in London in September 1801 to Benjamin Hoyt of Albany, who appointed Henry Delano as master. Delano was replaced by Seymour in October 1802. On 23 June 1803 “it appears she was sold, to the aforesaid Seymour.” The ship “has been navigating with no other Papers, for these two years past than Mr. Becerras Certificate,” the appointment by Williams and Erving in London of “the different Captains on the Back of the Bill of Sale,” and a “list of Seamen furnished him in August last by Mr. Jarvis in Lisbon.” Intended to stop these papers and send Seymour to the U.S. for “proper ones,” but after reading JM’s instructions of 1 Aug. 1801, does not find he has the power to do so. Requests JM’s advice on how “to act in Similar Cases.” Captain Bainbridge in the Philadelphia left for Tripoli with one of the schooners. “Commodore Preble remains at Gibraltar, but I do not hear He has yet arranged any thing with the Emperor of Morocco.”

   RC (DNA: RG 59, CD, Málaga, vol. 1). 2 pp.; marked “(Duplicate)” and misdated 1801; docketed by Wagner “23 Septr. 1803.” Enclosures not found.

   PJM-SSRobert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (5 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986–)., 2:1–4.

   A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.


Title: To James Madison from Joseph Nourse, 23 September 1803 (Abstract)
From: Nourse, Joseph
To: Madison, James

23 September 1803, Register’s Office, Treasury Department. Requests that JM furnish the Treasury Department “with the usual Estimates for the Salaries of foreign Agents and all other Expenditures within the Department of State.” Makes this request at the behest of the secretary of the treasury, “who wishes to be prepared early in the approaching Session to lay before Congress the general Estimates of monies required for the services of the United States for the ensuing year.”

   RC (DNA: RG 59, ML). 1 p.

   See “Estimate for the service of the year 1804,” 6 Sept. 1803 (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14; 3 pp.).


Title: To James Madison from James Taylor, 25 September 1803
From: Taylor, James
To: Madison, James

Dear Sir
Belle Vue Campbell Kentucky 25th. of Sept 1803.
Permit me to introduce to your acquaintance Colo. Thos. Sandford a member of Congress from the district in which I live. Colo. S. has lived a near neighbour to me for several years, I know him to be a firm republican warmly attached to the present administration and the measures pursued by it. He has been for several years a public man and is esteemed for his good sense great decision and firmness. He is tho’t by good judges to be equal to any member we send to the H. of Representatives.
I refer you to Colo. S. for an account of the state of the public buildings at this place confided to my care. I have the brick made for two of buildings, the stone nearly up for the whole of them, & also plank scantling &c. that will be requisite. I cannot fix on any one but your self who could have been so good as to name me to the Secretary of War to superintend the erection of those buildings. I trust Sir your confidence will not be misplaced and I assure you nothing on my part shall be wanting to have the establishment completed in the best manner. Colo. Sandford can give you information as to my capacity & willingness to attend to public business generally. I pray you Sir to accept my sincere thanks for your friendship on this & other occations, and at the same time to assure you that it would afford me infinite pleasure to have it in my power to serve you in any way in which I may have it in my power.
The people in this state feel extremely interested in the fate of the late Cession to the United States of Louisaana; as there are some rumours in this quarter that the aristocratic party have a scheme in agitation hostile to that cession; If so, I cincerely hope they may be foiled in it.
Be so obliging as to make my respectful Compliments to Mrs. Madison And ever Dr. Sir with great esteem Yr. friend & Obliged Servt.
James Taylor

   RC (DLC).

   Taylor was charged with the construction of an arsenal at Newport, Kentucky, at the mouth of the Licking River, expenditures for which in 1803 and 1804 totaled $11,512 (ASPAmerican State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States … (38 vols.; Washington, 1832–61)., Military Affairs, 1:181, 182, 184).


Title: To James Madison from James Leander Cathcart, 25 September 1803 (Abstract)
From: Cathcart, James Leander
To: Madison, James

25 September 1803, Gibraltar. No. 14. “On the 23rd. inst. I arrived in this bay & immediately went onboard the Constitution to pay my respects to Comodore Prebble & Coll. Lear. In obedience to your instructions of the 16th. of July I presented them with a copy of my communication of the 9th. inst. & since has given the latter every information in my power, the bustle naturally attending so many changes has prevented me from commiting my observations to writing but you may rest assured that he shall receive every assistance in my power & such as I hope will at least facilitate the objects of his mission.
“The articles composing the Consular present for Algiers of difficult workmanship are ready to embark at Leghorn as well as some articles which will serve for the Consular present at Tunis & Tripoli; I believe Colonel Lear wishes that I should proceed to Leghorn in one of the brigs that are expected daily, & from thence dispatch her with the presents to Algiers, where he intends to proceed first in the Constitution; I shall obey his orders implicitly according to the tenour of your instructions to me of the above date.
“It will be impossible for me to return to the United States before the spring, in the mean time any orders you may think proper to communicate shall be punctually obey’d.
“Although I regret from the inmost recesses of my Soul that Mr. OBrien & the jews of Algiers have prevaild in their nefarious designs to the prejudice of the United States as well as to my personal injury, candor requires that I should declare that I am rejoiced the Presidents choice has fallen on a person who seems so adequate to the task & who from his general character promises so fair to maintain our national dignity; the delicacy with which he treated my disappointment indicates in the most direct manner that he is a man of the strictest sense of honor & feels the blows of invidious fortune aim’d at a strangers breast; I feel happy that he has power to explore the whole coast of eastern Barbary as those Regencys has long been the Theatre on which I have acted, it would add to my satisfaction could every hour of my administration be investigated provided it was done by a man of honor.
“I return home Sir in a situation not the most enviable for provided government does not employ me I shall be reduced to the necessity of soliciting the command of a merchant vessel, probably from some person who would view the division of our union with indifference provided he could dispose of his cargo to advantage, & whom consequently I should look upon with the most sovereign contempt; these reflections are not the most pleasing, but I have a family; a family generally esteemd amiable (and I believe deservingly so) to provide for & must bend to imperious necessity. In whatever situation I may be in it shall be my ambition to endeavor to merit the good opinion of all honest disinterested men.”
Adds in a postscript: “According to the prediction contain’d in my communication of the 22nd. of June (No 7) the Emperor of Morocco has declared War against the United States, the captures made since by Captn. Bainbridge has render’d the commencement propitious, I hope the Catastrophe may be happy.”

   RC (DNA: RG 59, CD, Tripoli, vol. 2). 3 pp.; docketed by Wagner.

   Cathcart to JM, 9 Sept. 1803.


Title: To James Madison from John Gavino, 26 September 1803 (Abstract)
From: Gavino, John
To: Madison, James

26 September 1803, Gibraltar. No. 132. Confirms his last letter, no. 131, dated 9 Sept. Since then Commodores Morris and Preble have arrived, and Colonel Lear with the latter. Leaves said gentlemen to inform JM and the navy secretary “of every Occurrence.” Encloses a copy of a letter from Anthony Terry, U.S. vice-consul at Cádiz, dated 23 Sept., “which is truely displeasing.” Hopes Captain Rodgers “may fall in with the Vessels in question.” Simpson “Continues arrested in his house with Sentrys over him.”

   RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, CD, Gibraltar, vol. 2). RC 1 p. For enclosure, see n. 1.

   For the enclosed copy of Terry to Gavino, 23 Sept. 1803 (1 p.; docketed by Wagner), see Lear to JM, 13–26 Sept. 1803, and n. 6.

   A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.


Title: To James Madison from William E. Hũlings, 26 September 1803 (Abstract)
From: Hũlings, William E.
To: Madison, James

26 September 1803, New Orleans. Offers his services as naval officer at New Orleans. “I hope that five years of faithful attention to the duties of the Office I now hold, and a knowledge of the French, and Spanish Language, and of this Country; will justify my application.” Sent the original of this letter to the secretary of the treasury; solicits JM’s “good Offices with the President in this business.”

   RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1801–9, filed under “Hũlings”). 2 pp.; marked duplicate.


Title: To James Madison from Robert Montgomery, 26 September 1803 (Abstract)
From: Montgomery, Robert
To: Madison, James

26 September 1803, Alicante. Refers JM to his last letter, dated 26 Aug. Has had no letters or instructions from JM since. Encloses a copy of a letter from the governor of Alicante “which seems to be Circular to the Consuls in his District.” Has also sent a copy to Pinckney in Madrid. “I shall wait for your or his Instructions regarding this business and conduct myself agreeable thereto.” Believes the order will not be enforced rigorously, since “it is Known in Spain that the Officers of our Navy never have been guilty of Smuggling.” If it is, “it may very much prejudice our System of Convoying in the Meditteranean.” “It is believed there are not any Tripolin Corsairs on this Coast at present.” Commerce from Alicante “to almost every Port” in the U.S. “continues on a very advantageous footing.” “Wheat, Flour, Fish, Staves &c are demanded in this Country and the return made in Wine & Brandy to a very considerable amount.” Duties charged on U.S. shipping are equal to those paid by other countries on “Simular occasions.”

   RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, CD, Alicante, vol. 1). RC 2 pp.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by Montgomery; docketed by Wagner. For enclosure, see n. 2.

   Letter not found. Montgomery’s last surviving letter is dated 22 Aug. 1803.

   The enclosure is a copy (4 pp.; in Spanish) of a royal order dated 19 Sept. 1803, stating that the royal order of 13 July 1771, which restricted entry of foreign warships to those in distress or in other situations covered by the law of nations, would be revived and enforced.

   A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.


Title: To James Madison from James Simpson, 26 September 1803 (Abstract)
From: Simpson, James
To: Madison, James

26 September 1803, Tangier. No. 64. Encloses four documents and requests that JM lay them before the president: (1) the “answer to the Letter I had the honour of advising by No. 62 to have written the Emperour”; (2) “translations of a Letter from the Secretary of State with its enclosures chiefly regarding the Meshouda”; (3) “the Ministers answer to my Letter on subject of violent measures attempted by Alcayde Hashash to get me to him at Tetuan”; and (4) a “translation of the Emperours answer to the complaint made by the Body of Consuls on the occasion of my being detained” by the governor on 1 Sept. The enclosures indicate that the emperor “had not or now pretends not to have had any Idea of going to War with the United States.” Believes it “was very fortunate Captain Bainbridge met his Cruizer with the captured Vessel in actual possession, as that put the question of their intention out of all doubt.” The emperor “is now most undoubtedly much disposed for Peace, as I foresaw that I recommended to Commodore Preble to meet him on that ground, which he has readily assented to inasmuch as it can be done on honourable terms.” Preble arrived in Tangier on 17 Sept. to begin negotiations, “but as there was not any person here sufficiently authorised to that effect by the Emperour he returned same Evening to Gibraltar.” Notified the minister the next day of “our having closed with the wishes expressed in His Majestys Letter of the 9h: Inst: whose return I expect tomorrow.” Preble called in at Tangier “yesterday” but “is now run to Leeward of Cape Spartel as the Wind blows hard at East.” Hopes his next letter will inform JM of progress “toward a reestablishment of Peace with this Country.”

   RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, CD, Tangier, vol. 2). RC 3 pp.; marked “Triplicate”; docketed by Wagner as received 15 Dec. Extract printed in Knox, Naval Documents, Barbary WarsDudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers (6 vols.; Washington, 1939–44)., 3:89. For enclosures, see nn. 2–5.

   Simpson to JM, 5 Sept. 1803.

   Enclosed is a translation of Mawlay Sulaiman to Simpson, 9 Sept. 1803 (three copies; 3 pp.; marked “No. 1.”; docketed by Wagner; printed ibid., 3:25), acknowledging receipt of Simpson’s letter concerning Rais Ibrahim Lubaris and the U.S. frigate and proposing a meeting between the concerned parties at Tangier, so that “What has happened at Sea” could be “considered and enquired into.” Sulaiman also declared: “you enjoy Our Friendship and are under Our protection, therefore nothing disagreeable shall happen to you.”

   The enclosed translation of a letter from Sidi Mohammed ben Absalom Selawy, 12 Sept. 1803 (printed ibid., 3:29), demanded the return of the Tripolitan ship Meshouda to Tangier in exchange for the U.S. ship detained by the Moroccans. Enclosed with that letter are two others, both dated 2 June 1803 (4 pp.; marked “No 2.”), describing the capture of the Meshouda by a U.S. ship and its detention at Malta.

   The enclosed translation of a letter to Simpson from Selawy, 20 Sept. 1803 (two copies; 2 pp.; printed ibid., 3:67–68), assured Simpson that he might remain in his house “quiet, respected and honoured as the other Consuls” and that “Peace remains as before untill the affair of these Vessels shall be determined.”

   The enclosed translation of a letter from Mawlay Sulaiman to the foreign consuls in Morocco, 11 Sept. 1803 (three copies; 2 pp.; marked “No. 4.”; docketed by Wagner; printed ibid., 3:26–27), repudiated the actions of Alcayde Hashash in arresting Simpson, noting that if war were declared between Morocco and the U.S., Simpson would “be sent to his Country in Security both with respect to his person and property.”

   A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.


Title: To James Madison from Anthony Terry, 26 September 1803 (Abstract)
From: Terry, Anthony
To: Madison, James

26 September 1803, Cádiz. Confirms the information in his letters of 4 July, 20 and 31 Aug., and 10 Sept. Provides an excerpt from the declaration given by John Appleton, master of the U.S. schooner Columbia, which arrived in Cádiz on 22 Sept. from Oporto: “That on the 21st. inst. at about 11. oClock he fell in with the United State Frigate the John Adams; the Commander informed him that he had spoke an English Vessel who advised him of having met a Moorish Frigate with four American Prizes, and that agreable to the course he gave him he was in Search of the Moor, and expected to be up with them on the Same Evening, ordering Capt Appleton to Steer for Cadiz, who requested of the Commander to Convoy him, but was answered he could not comply with his request, as what he was in search of, was more interesting. The Pilot that brought the Schooner in, told the Capt. that he had seen 2. Boats off Cape Trafalger, & was most certain they were Moors.” Encloses a petition of shipmasters to the commodore, requesting a convoy in light of the foregoing. Forwarded the petition to Gibraltar and will acquaint JM with the results “in due time.”

   RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, CD, Cadiz, vol. 1). RC 2 pp.; docketed by Wagner. Printed in Knox, Naval Documents, Barbary WarsDudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers (6 vols.; Washington, 1939–44)., 3:77–78. For enclosure, see n. 2.

   Of these letters only Terry to JM, 31 Aug. 1803, has been found.

   The enclosed petition for convoy protection was directed to Richard Morris by the masters of six ships, 26 Sept. 1803 (1 p.; printed ibid., 3:78).

   A full transcription of this document has been added to the digital edition.


Title: To James Madison from Joseph Tucker, 26 September 1803
From: Tucker, Joseph
To: Madison, James

Letter not found. 26 September 1803. Acknowledged in Daniel Brent to Tucker, 2 Nov. 1803 (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14). Requests that JM secure the discharge of Joseph Elingwood, who was impressed from the brig Narcissa on 3 Sept. 1803 and taken on board the British brig Drake. Brent asked Tucker to send a sworn affidavit testifying to the events in question and promised that the statement would be forwarded to the U.S. agent in Jamaica.


Title: From James Madison to Gabriel Wood, 27 September 1803
From: Madison, James
To: Wood, Gabriel

Sir.
Department of State Septr. 27th. 1803
I have received your letter of the 23d. inst., and cannot doubt that early provision will be made for the payment of the award of which you are the holder: but as besides this, it is stated that there has been exhibited to the Board of Commissioners thirty two other claims of a similar nature, and which will doubtless be decided upon in such a manner as to require equal provision to be made at the next session of Congress, for those which may be admitted the appropriation to be asked from them will be an aggregate, and not susceptible of being applied to the immeade [sic] full payment of any single case. I am &c.
James Madison

   Letterbook copy (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14).

   Letter not found, but for Wood’s claim under article 7 of the Jay treaty, see Wagner to JM, 7 Sept. 1803.


Title: To James Madison from Carlos Martínez de Yrujo, 27 September 1803
From: Yrujo, Carlos Martínez de
To: Madison, James

Sir.
Vicinity of Philadelphia 27 Septr. 1803
On the 4th. current I had the honor to intimate to you the extraordinary surprize with which the King My master had heard of the Sale of Luisiana made to the United States in contravention of the most solemn assurances given in writing to his Majesty by the Embassador of the French Republic near his person and with the consent and approbation of the First Consul. The King my master charges me again to remind the American government, that the said Fr. Ambassador entered in the name of his Republic into the positive engagement that France never would alienate Luisiana, and to observe to it that the sale of this Province to the United States is founded in the violation of a promise so absolute as that it ought to be respected a promise without which the King my master would in no manner have dispossessed himself of Luisiana. His C. Majesty entertains too good an opinion of the character of probity and good faith which the government of the United States has known how to obtain so justly for itself not to hope that it will suspend the ratification and effect of a treaty which rests on such a basis. There are other reasons no less powerful which come to the support of the decorum and respect which nations mutually owe each other. France acquired from the King my master the retrocession of Luisiana under obligations whose entire fulfilment was absolutely necessary to give her the complete right over the said Province; such was that of causing the King of Tuscany to be acknowledged by the powers of Europe but until now the French Government has not procured this acknowledgement, promised and stipulated, neither from the Court of London nor from that of St. Petersburg. Under such circumstances it is evident that the treaty of sale entered into between France and the United States does not give to the latter any right to acquire and claim Luisiana and that the principles of justice as well as a sound policy ought to recommend it to their government not to meddle with engagements as contrary in reality to her true interest as they would be to good faith and to their good correspondence with Spain.
Such are the sentiments which the King my master has ordered me to communicate to the President of the United States and having done it through you I conclude assuring you of my respect and consideration towards your person and of my wishes that our Lord may preserve your life &c. [B Mo. de V.S. su mas ato. y sego Sr.
El Marques de casa Yrujo]

   RC (DNA: RG 59, NFL, Spain, vol. 2); Tr, four copies (NHi: Livingston Papers). RC in Spanish; in a clerk’s hand, except for Yrujo’s complimentary close and signature; docketed by Wagner; copytext is Wagner’s interlinear translation.


Title: To James Madison from David Meade Randolph, 27 September 1803 (Abstract)
From: Randolph, David Meade
To: Madison, James

27 September 1803, Richmond. “Shall I hope to be excused for again using the liberty of committing to your care, a letter for France? The impossibility of an opportunity from this place, and the high respect for your character, it is hoped, will be accepted as the apology of your obliged friend and Hume. Sert.”

   RC (DLC).


Title: To James Madison from Frank Preston, 27 September 1803
From: Preston, Frank
To: Madison, James

Letter not found. 27 September 1803. Calendared as a one-page letter in the lists probably made by Peter Force (DLC, series 7, container 2).