Title: To James Madison from Isaac Robertson, 17 March 1804 (Abstract)
From: Robertson, Isaac
To: Madison, James

17 March 1804, Jefferson County, Kentucky. “Having it in contemplation to become a resident of Orleans and knowing that a law has or will soon pass establishing a Territorial government,” desires to enlist JM’s influence with the president to obtain an appointment there. “Being personally acquainted with no one I deemed influential with the Executive I am obliged to have recourse to those who from an acquaintance with my Father might (if I came properly recommended) feel inclined to assist me.”
“I have been informed that some part of your education you received from Mr Donald Robertson of King & Queen County Virginia who for you had formed the warmest attachment; that Person sir was the Father of the one who now addresses you, wishing, however to stand or fall by my own merits I have mentioned this by way of apology only and with a hope that if you can agreable to the duty you owe your Country you will befriend me. The death of my Father at an early period of my life prevented me from receiving the advantage of parental lectures yet Sir I was not nexlected [sic] but in fact had every oportunity I could have wished for, after advancing considerably in literature in the best schools in Virginia I was sent to Princeton some few years ago to compleat my education where the honors I received and the improvements I was supposed to make are best attested by the records of College of the Whig society of which I was a Member and allso by Doctor Smith, who has since corresponded with me after my return from College I read Law with judge Roan of Virginia and did about two years ago commence Practicioner of law in this state with what success can easily be certified by the judge who rides through the Circuits I attend.” Desires an appointment as either judge or district attorney for Orleans; “or if neither of those could be obtained for me I should be happy in receiving any other appointment which might put me in the way of preferment and not interfere too much with my practice as an Attorny such for instance as Member of the Legislative Council &c.” Should JM be able to obtain an office for him, he can be addressed at Middletown, Jefferson County, Kentucky. “And if you think a recommendation necessary I would refer you to John Hoomes of the Bowlingreen. Colonel John Taylor of Caroline, Robert G Robb Senator for said County Doctor John Taliaferro of Fredericksburg. Francis W. Taliaferro of Orange and allmost every other respectable person in the vicinity of Caroline for my youthful improvements and standing in that state either as a firm determined republican or as a youth of letters. Colonel Anthony New altho but slightly acquainted with me has certainly heard of my progress in science and my principles, there are here acquaintances of yourse from Orange who will with pleasure recommend me, [(]to wit the Taylors) but as they are connected with me by marriage (for I married a daughter of Commodore Richard Taylors) I will if others would have more wait get others. In this letter Sir I have been forced into particulars which I hope you will excuse and attribute to a wish to have my conduct or capacity canvassed so that you in assisting me may act with that uprightness your duty to your Country demands.”
Is going to Orleans because “a southern climate suits my constitution which has been injured by leading too sedentary a life, but as my pecuniary circumstances are confined without some appointment I can not leave my practice in this state.”

   RC (DLC). 3 pp.; docketed by JM: “Robertson Isaac. (son of Donald Robertson the learned Teacher in King & Queen County, Virginia[)].”

   Isaac Robertson (1776–1811) was seven when his father died. He received his degree from the College of New Jersey in 1795 and after studying law in Virginia moved to Kentucky, where he married Matilda Taylor, daughter of Commodore Richard Taylor of the Virginia Revolutionary navy. Robertson received no appointment to Orleans and in 1810 moved to Frankfort, Kentucky, where he was stabbed to death the following year by portrait painter Samuel H. Dearborn (William Kyle Anderson, Donald Robertson and His Wife Rachel Rogers … [Detroit, 1900], pp. 38–40).

   For JM’s education at Donald Robertson’s school, see Ketcham, James Madison, pp. 19–21.

   For John Taylor of Caroline, see PJMWilliam T. Hutchinson et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (1st ser., vols. 1–10, Chicago, 1962–77, vols. 11–17, Charlottesville, Va., 1977–91)., 14:393 n. 2.

   Robert Gilchrist Robb represented Caroline and Hanover Counties in the senate of the Virginia General Assembly during the 1803–4 session (Leonard, General Assembly of Virginia, 1619–1978, p. 234).

   Robertson may have referred to John Wishart Taliaferro, who had been a surgeon on the Bon Homme Richard during the American Revolution (Louise Pecquet du Bellet, Some Prominent Virginia Families [4 vols., 1907; reprint, 4 vols. in 2, Baltimore, 1976], 2:734).

   Francis Whitaker Taliaferro, the son of Francis Taliaferro of the plantation Epsom in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, was a member of the Taliaferro family of Orange County, Virginia (PJMWilliam T. Hutchinson et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (1st ser., vols. 1–10, Chicago, 1962–77, vols. 11–17, Charlottesville, Va., 1977–91)., 3:51 n. 4; WMQWilliam and Mary Quarterly., 2d ser., 7 [1927]: 272–74).


Title: To James Madison from Joseph Sands, 17 March 1804 (Abstract)
From: Sands, Joseph
To: Madison, James

17 March 1804, New York. Wrote on 9 Nov. 1803 [not found] enclosing six deeds to be recorded according to the law of 3 Mar. 1803. “Circumstances have rendered it impossible to attend at Washington as I then expected.” Requests that the deeds be delivered to Samuel Latham Mitchill, who “will call for them … and pay the expence of Enregistering.”

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

   Sands presumably referred to Section 8 of the “Act regulating the grants of land, and providing for the disposal of the lands of the United States, south of the state of Tennessee,” which dealt with the settlement of Yazoo land claims and required that deeds supporting such claims be recorded in the office of the secretary of state (U.S. Statutes at LargeThe Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America … (17 vols.; Boston, 1848–73)., 2:229–35).


Title: To James Madison from Frederick Jacob Wichelhausen, 17 March 1804 (Abstract)
From: Wichelhausen, Frederick Jacob
To: Madison, James

17 March 1804, Bremen. Refers JM to his 7 Feb. 1804 report on the conduct of the Bremen Senate toward foreign consuls. “Having since more maturely reflected on this subject with myself, I find, that perhaps you might not view this affair in the same light, the European courts and especially those of Germany have done. In your Eyes probably the whole event might appear too insignificant as to attract your attention, and I might be censured as a man, who looks upon trifles, which are not worth mentioning and much less worth to trouble you with them.” Transmits a translation of the Prussian court’s reply to its consuls, “whereby you will be able to judge, in what light this Government regards said occurrence.” “Should you therefore not be inclined to take a particular step in this bussiness, I need only to join the others, and demand that satisfaction and those priviledges which the foreign Ministers in Hamburg will resolve together to concert, when a few lines instructions will govern my conduct.” The American consulate at Bremen “has undoubtedly the more a claim to a distinguished treatment, as the recent increase of the commerce of Bremen, and its presen⟨t⟩ flourishing situation is chiefly attributed to its commercial intercourse with the United States.” Hopes to receive an answer soon. Adds in a postscript that the duke of Oldenburg, whose territories surround the mouth of the Jade, “has consented to have buoys laid on its entrance, which in consequence have been sent down to day, by the chamber of commerce at this city.” “Pilots are directed to cruise near Wangerode [Wangerooge] a small Island in the Nordsea, in order to watch every vessel bound to the Jahde.” Suggests that “the commercial public” in the U.S. be informed.

   RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, CD, Bremen, vol. 1). RC 3 pp.; docketed by Brent as received 8 Aug. For enclosure, see n. 1.

   The enclosure (2 pp.; in German and English) is a copy and translation of Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia to the Prussian consuls at Bremen, 2 Mar. 1804, disapproving of the actions of the Bremen Senate and stating that the Prussian minister at Hamburg had been instructed to join in a protest there with other ministers whose countries were concerned in the affair.


Title: To James Madison from Carlos Martínez de Yrujo, 17 March 1804 (Abstract)
From: Yrujo, Carlos Martínez de
To: Madison, James

17 March 1804, Washington. Complained on 7 Mar. of the violation of the sovereignty of Charles IV by Section 11 of the Mobile Act and asked not only for satisfaction for the insult but also for the revocation of the cited section as injurious to the rights of Spain. As the time is now approaching when Congress, which alone can annul the cited section, will depart, and sufficient time has passed for him to have obtained JM’s response to those two points without his having yet received it, renews his demand that the section be revoked and the king be given the satisfaction due him for the insult.

   RC (DNA: RG 59, NFL, Spain, vol. 2); Tr (NHi: Livingston Papers); Tr (DLC: Monroe Papers). RC 1 p.; in Spanish; in a clerk’s hand, except for Yrujo’s complimentary close and signature. Second Tr is a letterpress copy of first Tr.


Title: To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 March 1804
From: Monroe, James
To: Madison, James

No. 21.
Sir
London March 18. 1804.
I have lately rece[i]ved by Mr. Baring your letters of the 5th. & 16. of Jany: that of Octr. 24th. with the documents mentioned in it had reached me at an earlier period.
I rejoice to hear that our government has obtaind complete & quiet possession of Louisiana. Independant of the vast importance of the acquisition, which surely cannot be held in too high estimation, it is very satisfactory to see the affair concluded in a manner so amicable and at the same time so honorable to the nations who are parties to it. Both governments have performed every thing which they had respectively stipulated, & each has therefore much reason to approve the conduct of the other. The transaction has I trust established their peace and friendship on a basis which will never be shaken.
I shall pay all the attention to the instructions contained in your letter of the 5th. Jany. which is due to their great importance. As soon as I am sufficiently possessed of the subject I shall ask a conference with Ld. Hawkesbury, to propose to his govt., a convention between the two nations for the adjustment of the points & on the principles of the project you have sent me. I hope to be able to commence the business in a week or ten days, and flatter myself that the negotiation will be productive of real advanta⟨ge⟩ to the UStates. Should it even not succeed in all its objec⟨ts⟩ the attempt must nevertheless be considered as a ver⟨y⟩ satisfactory proof of a strong desire in our governm⟨ent⟩ to preserve, on just ground, the friendship of this country, and is likely by the explanations to whic⟨h⟩ it may lead alone, to have that tendency. I am however far from thinking it improbable that a sui⟨ta⟩ble convention may be formed, especially on som⟨e⟩ of the points that are deemed interesting.
The indisposition of the King still continues, th⟨o⟩ it has so much abated as to permit occasionally his ⟨at⟩tention to certain inferior objects of business. His life ⟨is⟩ no longer considered in danger. His disorder, a spec⟨ies⟩ of mental derangment with which he was former⟨ly⟩ attacked, has been less violent on this occasion, an⟨d⟩ having proceeded in great measure, as is believed from other infirmities, will probably cease when they are removed which is said to be nearly the case at present. In the interim the admn. must be cons⟨i⟩dered as having lost much of its strength. The sickness of the King & his probable decline have put in m⟨o⟩tion all the interests that are connected with the monarchy. Those who had little hope of employm⟨ent⟩ in his life seem to have left the ministry, or rath⟨er⟩ to have become active against them. The old oppos⟨i⟩tion has acquired greater energy & become more formidable. Mr. Fox attacks it on all occasions in a manner the most direct & unqualified; and the support which Mr. Pitt sometimes gives it, is yielded in a mode to do it more injury than service. It is obvious that he does not mean to connect his fortune with theirs, & I think I have observed on some occasions, such a degree of attention and spirit of accomodation from him to Mr. Fox as to justify a presumption that he is not averse to a coalition with him, in case the terms are made acceptable. No change has taken place in our concerns since my last, and as I am now authorised to negotiate a treaty, I shall not call the attention of the govt. to them otherwise than in the latter mode. It is probable that the omission to answer my communications & redress our injuries, with which it is justly chargeable, may furnish a motive for acceding to a more permanent arrangment.
There is no change in the state of the war. The menace of invasion is continued with the same effect here. Of the object and parties to the late conspiracy at Paris you will get more correct information from that quarter than I can give you. I am sir with great respect & esteem yr. very obt. servant
Jas. Monroe

   RC (DNA: RG 59, DD, Great Britain, vol. 12); letterbook copy (DLC: Monroe Papers); Tr (DNA: RG 46, President’s Messages, 10B-B1); extract (DNA: RG 233, President’s Messages, 10A-D1). RC docketed by Wagner as received 14 May.

   PJM-SSRobert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (6 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986–)., 5:570–72.

   Letterbook copy has “to urgent objects.”

   From this point to the complimentary close, the RC and letterbook copy differ significantly. The letterbook copy reads: “By Mr. Fox and most of the Old Opposition, it is assailed, in a manner the most direct; while by Mr. Pitt it is occasionally defended, in a mode, which seems likely to prove more injurious, to its credit, and perhaps to its interest, than a direct attack would be. It is manifest that the last mentioned member, does not mean to connect himself, with the fortune of the present administration, and I think that I have observed more attention and a greater spirit of accomodation from him to Mr. Fox, than was expected. It seems probable that he would not reject a coalition if it could be formed on his own terms.”


Title: To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 March 1804
From: Monroe, James
To: Madison, James

Dear Sir
London March 18. 1804
My publick letter and the papers will give you every thing wh. is not communicated in my letter to the President. What has become of the convention formed by Mr. King just before he sailed from this country? You have not mentioned it in any communication of late. Mr. Baring tells me it was rejected, wh. is the only intelligence I have on the subject. In commencing a negotiation it is probable I shall be asked what has been done in that business & feel somewhat at a loss what to say. I hope however I shall soon hear from you on it. I sent you lately a copy of the note of the silver smith at Paris of the prices of the articles left you. I had sent in novr. (by mistake) the original wh. you probably recd. unless unfortunately the vessel was lost as is feared. Our best regards to yrself & Lady yr. friend & servt
Jas. Monroe

   RC (DLC: Rives Collection, Madison Papers).

   For Monroe to Jefferson, 15 Mar. 1804, see Hamilton, Writings of MonroeStanislaus Murray Hamilton, ed., The Writings of James Monroe … (7 vols.; New York and London, 1898–1903)., 4:153–63.

   For the boundary convention Rufus King negotiated with Great Britain, see King to JM, 13 May 1803 (PJM-SSRobert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (6 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986–)., 4:607 and nn. 1, 3), and JM to Monroe, 14 Feb. 1804.

   See Monroe to JM, 25 Nov. 1803.


Title: To James Madison from James Leander Cathcart, 18 March 1804 (Abstract)
From: Cathcart, James Leander
To: Madison, James

18 March 1804, Leghorn. No. 4. “By the arrival of the Imperial Polacca La Benevolenza Captn: Luca Lucovich in eight days from Tripoli I am enabled to give you the intelligence contain’d in the enclosed extract of a letter from Monsr: Antoine Zuchette Batavian chargé des affaires at Tripoli to Diederick Kerfsbyll Esqr: Batavian Consul at Leghorn, the latter gave me the extract in confidence & requested that neither his name nor that of his colleague should be made public; I have receiv’d no letters myself from Tripoli but the Captain has two packets for Mr: Ulrich the Danish Consul here, which he has orders to deliver himself when he has perform’d his quarantine, which gives me reason to suppose that I may have letters enclosed therein, the fact is corroborated by the intelligence which I receiv’d from Comodore Preble informing me of his having sent the Brig Siren & his prize on a secret expedition, & the Jews & others here have receiv’d direct intelligence which leaves no manner of doubt, that the fact has taken place exactly as reported.
“The Censure implied by the observation on the weakness of the defense made by the Philadelphia, unfortunately has gain’d credit sufficient to injure our nautical reputation in those seas, but the source of intelligence, being entirely ignorant of maratime transactions has never compared the difference between defending a ship a float & an inanimate mass, on shore on an enemy’s coast, surrounded with arm’d vessels placed in positions which prevented the Ship from bringing her guns to bear on them.” Wrote to Bainbridge for details of the capture so that he might “contradict any reports … tending to injure our national character” or Bainbridge’s “reputation as a Commander in the Service of the United States.”
“The event itself has been attended with the most perfect success & will serve to prove what I have so often asserted, that had energetic measures been adopted on the commencement of the War with Tripoli, before that Regency had been awaken’d from the lethargy they had so long slumber’d in, that the boats of the Squadron was sufficient to have destroy’d the Cruisers of that Regency under the walls of their Fortifications, but at present they have ten gunboats & it is absolutely necessary that we should have an equal number to oppose them; I have already inform’d you of the steps which I have taken to procure them in compliance with the request of Comodore Preble, if I am furnish’d with funds by him or government, I have reason to believe that every difficulty in procuring them may be surmounted.
“In my next I hope to be enabled to give you an acct: of the effects produced by the success of the enterprize.”

   RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, CD, Tripoli, vol. 2); FC (NN: Cathcart Papers). RC 2 pp. For enclosure, see n. 1.

   The enclosure is a copy of a 27 Feb. 1804 description (2 pp.; in Italian; unsigned; addressee not indicated) of the burning of the Philadelphia and the resulting strictures laid on the American officers by the pasha. For the destruction of the Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor by Lt. Stephen Decatur and his men in the Intrepid on 16 Feb. 1804, see McKee, Edward Preble, pp. 189–91, 194–99.

   Cathcart referred to the burning of the Philadelphia.


Title: To James Madison from John Gavino, 19 March 1804 (Abstract)
From: Gavino, John
To: Madison, James

19 March 1804, Gibraltar. No. 146. “No Vessel here bound to the U. S. & our Post just going out, I send this Via Cadiz, as no doubt the Account of the Distroying of the Philada. at Tripoly by Lieut. DeCature will be agreeable as ⅌ anexd Copy of a Paragraph from Consul Pulis Letter to me 25: Ulto. and Mr. Higgins of said date. I am afraid to loose the Post as such Conclude.”

   RC, two copies, and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, CD, Gibraltar, vol. 2). First RC 1 p.; docketed by Wagner as received 19 May. Second RC 2 pp.; marked duplicate; docketed by Wagner as received 28 May. For enclosures, see n. 2.

   See Cathcart to JM, 18 Mar. 1804, n. 1.

   The enclosures (1 p.) are an extract from Joseph Pulis to Gavino, 25 Feb. 1804, transmitting a rumor of the burning of the Philadelphia at Tripoli, and a copy of William Higgins to Gavino, 25 Feb. 1804, stating that Higgins had learned on the arrival the previous night of the Vixen “that by a ‘Ruse d’Guerre’ the Philadelphia frigate has been burnt in the Road of Tripoly by Cap. DeCature, and other American officers who Volunteerd that Perilouse Service, the attempt was a Dangerouse one, and its success cannot fail of recommending them at home.”

   The second RC, which was enclosed in Gavino to JM, 22 Mar. 1804, contains the following postscript, dated 28 Mar. 1804: “This being detain⟨e⟩d untill now, I beg leave to anex Copy of a Paragraph from Consul Simpsons Letter to me dated 22d. Inst. as expect will be Satisfactory—Vizt.

   “‘The Express I sent to Morrocco with advice of the arrival of the Citizen has not yet returnd. The Horseman sent by Hashash out run him and has been back some days; he assures me the Emperour was greatly pleased at hearing the Gun Carriages were arrivd and if he said half respecting the Americans that this Man pretends he did, it was more than all the Compliments he has paid the Christian Nations for years back. His Majy. has been ill, but is recoverd and I fancy will soon return to Fez.’”