31To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 16 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
By Colo. Smith secretary to the London Legation I wrote you in April last very fully upon our transactions previous to that date. I also inclos’d you the Journals that were then printed with the copy of a report upon the first paragraph of the 9th. of the articles of Confideration proposing a change in it and the absolute investment of the U.S. with the controul of commerce. I now inclose you...
32To James Madison from James Monroe, 12 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
I enclose a copy of the journals so far as they are printed. They contain nothing you will find respecting the requisition nor the commercial interests of the Union. The former upon the report of a committee hath been frequently before Congress of late and as often recommitted, in which state it now lies. As the principal part of the debt which in other States forms a part of the present...
33To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 15 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
By Mr. and Mrs. Macauly Graham I have the pleasure to transmit this. They intend immediately for the south of France and as from yours in March I had reason to suspect you intended thither I have suggested to them the probability of their meeting you in that quarter. This lady is the author of the history under her name. She hath been on a visit to Mount Vernon, hath been well receiv’d by...
34To James Madison from James Monroe, 26 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
Since my last a report proposing a change in the first paragraph of the 9th. of the articles of confideration hath been taken up & acted on two days in a committee of the whole. It proposes to invest Congress with power to regulate trade externally & internally. Those in favor of it were of opinion that the exercise of this power in the hands of each State, wod. be less advantageous to its...
35To James Madison from James Monroe, 14 August 1785 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 28th. of July I receiv’d by the last post. The rout from hence to Boston may be effected by stage in 5 days; to Lake George in the same time, thence to St. Johns in three perhaps less, to Montreal one, & thence to Quebec in two, but in the latter instance it must be posted. In either rout you will have no difficulty for the boats and stages are under good regulation. I have been...
36To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 15 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive yours by Mr. Adams with the cypher accompanying it and am happy to hear of the recovery of your health. I have only fail’d writing you by two of the packets the first of which sail’d before I had been advis’d she would, and the 2d. while I was ill of a pleurisy which I caught by walking in the rain to Congress and had like to have given me my final repose....
37To Thomas Jefferson from Elbridge Gerry and Others, 23 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
We have the honor of addressing this by our worthy friend, the honorable Mr. Sayre, who was formerly Sheriff of London. The active part, which at the commencement of the revolution, he took in favor of America, is, we presume, too well known to you, to require a relation: and the loss he sustained, in consequence of his opposition to the british ministry, is not less a matter of general...
38To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 25 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last nothing very material hath taken place here. I leave this meerly to inform you of my departure hence for the Indian treaty on the Ohio which will be in about two hours. The two commercial propositions are as they were. Although congress will I believe not adjourn yet , I apprehend the business of consequence will be postpon’d for the present, perhaps till the winter. There is but...
39To James Madison from James Monroe, 19 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
I arriv’d last night & found only six States present. Mr. Hancock we hear is on the road & will be with us in a few days. He accepts the chair. The conduct of the legislature, in complying with the requisition of Congress, in the opinion of all here, does the highest honor to the State, and at the same time that it evinces a regard for publick justice & a mind superior to little resentments,...
40To James Madison from James Monroe, 26 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. reach’d me a few days since. Mine by the last post advis’d you of my arrival here; still I am with out a colleague and the representation of the States, the same. I am perfectly satisfied that the more fully the subject is investigated, and the better the interests of the States severally are understood, the more obvious will appear the necessity of commiting to the U S....
41To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 19 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My last advis’d you of my departure hence on the 24th of August last for the westward, with intention to take a view of the indian treaty to be held at the mouth of the big Miamis, and of the country lying between lake Erie, and the head waters of James or Potowk. river, with those which empty from either side into the Ohio, thence to attend the federal court on the 15. of Novr. at Wmsburg....
42To James Madison from James Monroe, 9 February 1786 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the day subsequent to the adjournment of the assembly. Since my last the subject of the impost has been taken up; a report made on it some time last year was recommitted & a report being brought in to the following effect viz: that it be earnestly recommended to the States of New York & Georgia, the only States who have fail’d in some degree or other to comply with the...
43To James Madison from James Monroe, 11 February 1786 (Madison Papers)
In my last I mention’d to you, the subject of the impost was reviv’d & that a report of a Committee had given place to a motion of Mr. Pinckney, the latter being still before the house. The report, and motion with a report from the Bd. of treasury to the same effect have since been committed, in which State the business now lies. I inclose you a paper containing the report. It is doubted...
44To James Madison from James Monroe, 16 February 1786 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 16 February 1786. In this letter, mentioned in JM’s letter of 19 March 1786 to Monroe , Monroe proposed a joint purchase of land in the Mohawk Valley from one Taylor. In the letter he also discussed the possibilities of reforming the Confederation and the inadequate powers of the Virginia commissioners if a convention were to undertake such a reform.
45To James Madison from James Monroe, 19 March 1786 (Madison Papers)
I enclose you a copy of Mr. Jay’s publication of the correspondence between him & Mr. Littlepage revis’d and corrected. It may furnish some matter of entertainment. Jersey having taken into consideration the late requisition, the house of delegates resolv’d that having enter’d into the confederation upon terms highly disadvantageous to that State from the necessity of publick affrs. at the...
46To James Madison from James Monroe, 28 April 1786 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 28 April 1786. Mentioned in JM’s letter to Monroe, 13 May 1786 , and Monroe’s letter to JM, 18 May 1786 . Related to the speculation in which Monroe purchased land in the Mohawk Valley for JM and himself. Monroe expressed an interest in taking a journey with JM to see the lands, and discussed odd appearance of two conventions sitting simultaneously with similar powers to...
47To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 11 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last I have received yours of Decr. 11th. and Jany. 27th last. Untill lately we have had so thin a Congress that few acts of consequence have pass’d, a very pointed recommendation to those States who have hitherto declined, to accede to the recommendation of respecting a revenue system only excepted. Since which R. Island and Georgia have acceded to the impost fully, so that it now...
48To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 May 1786 (Madison Papers)
I have not heard from you lately but hope it hath not arisen from ill-health. Two days since we recd. dispatches from Mr. Adams in which he informs us of his demand of the surrender of the posts, & remonstrance agnst the violation of the treaty also in the instance of the negroes, with the answer of the minister to his memorial. In this answer it is stated that the King admits a violation in...
49To James Madison from James Monroe, 31 May 1786 (Madison Papers)
Since my last a letter has been recd. from Mr. Jay to the following effect “that difficulties had taken place in his negotiation with Gardoqui & requesting that a Committee be appointed with power to direct & controul the sd. negotiation .” It was immediately perciev’d that the object was to relieve him from the instruction respecting Missisipi & to get a committee to cover the measure. That...
50To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 16 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last but little hath been done in Congress. We have had generally no more than 7. States present. The only time that 9. were their time was employd upon the subject of the Connecticut cession, which ultimately was accepted; whereby she cedes all the land lying westward of a line to be drawn westward of the Pena. line parallel with the same. Our State voted against it but were in...
51To James Madison from James Monroe, 15 July 1786 (Madison Papers)
I had the pleasure to receive yours from Phila. yesterday but so late that I cod. not answer it sooner. I hope you have before this recover’d from yr. fatigue, indeed I advise your prosecution of yr. journey here as soon as possible as the preferable place for that purpose. I shod. be happy you cod. give us as much of yr. time as possible here for reasons more self-interested. Of these we...
52To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 16 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not heard from you for several months past, the last being dated sometime previous to your removal to London. Not knowing you would have staid so long I have wrote you by every packet to France. We have now present 12. States and hope this will be the case for some time. Soon after my arrival here in the winter I suggested to you my apprehensions that the condition of the act of cession...
53To James Madison from James Monroe, 10 [11] August 1786 (Madison Papers)
We went into a Committee of the Whole yesterday. The subject was discuss’d fully, by Pinckny & others & the house ultimately came to the resolution & reporting that we sit agn. Today being the order for the report of the Committee— in part upon subject of the impost in its relation to Pena. & New York, the order above alluded of going into Committee was postpon’d to take up the sd. report. I...
54To James Madison from James Monroe, 14 August 1786 (Madison Papers)
It has occur’d to G. & myself to propose to Congress that negotiations be carried on with Spn. upon the following principles 1. that exports be admitted thro’ the Missisippi to some free port perhaps N. Orleans, to pay there a toll to Spn. of abt. 3. pr. centm. ad valorem & to be carried thence under the regulations of Congress 2. that imports shall pass into the western country thro the ports...
55To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 19 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My last advis’d you of the progress of Spanish negotiation. Until that time the reference of Jay’s letter to a committee was , I believe, the point at which it rested ; but to enable you to form a satisfactory opinion of the object of that letter I transcribe you only operative paragraph in it. “ I take the liberty therefore of submitting to the consideration of Congress whether it might not...
56To George Washington from James Monroe, 20 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
[In the letterpress edition this letter was erroneously identified as being from James Monroe to George Washington.] May I take the liberty of our former acquaintance to confer with you freely upon the following propositions—You seem’d satisfied with those presented to the view of Congress on friday by Colo. Grayson viz. that exports be admitted down the Missisippi to N. Orleans as an entrepot...
57To James Madison from James Monroe, 30 August 1786 (Madison Papers)
Since my last we have been from day to day upon the business wh. engag’d us when you were here. They carried the repeal by 7. States in the Committee of the Whole & afterwards in the house. We mov’d to postpone to take into consideration the plan in conformity with the Idea I suggested to you, in which we enter’d into long reasoning upon the Secrys. project, proving if we were well founded,...
58To James Madison from James Monroe, 1 September 1786 (Madison Papers)
Sometime since I was appointed of the Committee to attend the Pena. Assembly, contrary to my wishes, & not being able to extricate myself (having apologiz’d in the first instance upon Mrs. Monroe’s indisposition which was not admitted in expectation of her better health) am now under the necessity of attending. The question was not as I suppos’d taken upon the whole report of the Committee of...
59To James Madison from James Monroe, 3 September 1786 (Madison Papers)
In my last I advis’d you of the point to wh. seven States had brought the business. After repealing the instruction in part, entering the repeal affirmatively, setting aside a motion requiring the sense of Congress whether the repeal was valid so as to give a new instruction by 7. States, by the previous question, & passing an order to prevent our moving it again untill they shod. have the...
60To James Madison from James Monroe, 12 September 1786 (Madison Papers)
I arriv’d here a few days since to press on the legislature of this State a seperation of the impost from the supplel: funds. I have the most satisfactory evidence they will reject the proposition. We proceed therefore further merely to discharge our duty. Both parties are united in opposition to it. To morrow we shall be recd. by the legislature. I am sorry I came on the business. Before this...