1To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 7 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last which went by the mail in course, the papers of my deceased father have been opened. His will was made thirteen years ago, since which two of my brothers have died, one of them leaving a large number of children mostly minors, and both of them intestate. The will itself, besides the lapsed legacies, does not cover all the property held at the time; & valuable parcels of property...
2To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [22 April 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 17th. came to hand by the last mail. You will find us at home on saturday. It would have been expedient on some accounts to have set out before that day, but it has been rendered impossible by several circumstances, particularly by an attack on my health which kept me in bed 3 or 4 days, and which has not yet permitted me to leave the House. I hope to be able to begin the...
3To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [20 June 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
I suggested some time ago to Col. Habersham the objections to a Contract for 4 years for carrying the mail. His reply was that frequent contracts would not only be very troublesome, but by lessening the value of contracts, discourage good undertakers. He added that a clause in the contracts reserved to him a right at all times to make any of regulations he might chuse, making at the same time...
4To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [on or before 17 July 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
The following memoranda, & the inclosed letter from Mr. Dallas will present to the President the state of the information in the Office of State on the subject of the indictmt. under the sedition act agst. Duane , at the request of the Senate. The President will observe, that another prosecution agst. him, at Common law , is pending in this same Court. 16. May. 1800. Mr: Lee’s letter to Mr....
5To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [12 August 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
Doctr. Rose being about to call at Monticello I prefer a conveyance by him to the mail, for the papers herewith inclosed, as I shall thereby be saved the necessity of having a messenger at the Ct. House in time to catch the arrival of the post. I have recd. yours of the 7th. inst. Having been before applied to by a letter from Hembold, on the subject of printing the laws in his German...
6To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 16 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mrs. Tudor (the lady of Judge Tudor of Boston) with her son , intending to be at Monticello this evening or tomorrow, I entrust to them the inclosed papers, which will thus reach you a little earlier, than if detained for the mail, by which I shall again write to you. In the mean time I remain Yours most respectfully & affy. RC ( ViU ); endorsed by TJ as received 16 Aug. and so recorded in SJL...
7To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 18 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed herewith are several letters & papers for perusal. Among the former you are troubled with another from Thornton. You will observe that the Declaration of the Master of the British vessel carried into Boston, states only that the Prisoners were French Spanish Danish &c &c. without saying whether they were taken in the French service, or that of their respective countries. This...
8To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 26 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recd. yours of Aug. 22. with the papers sent with it. I have heard nothing from Dallas on the subject of another prosecution agst. Duane. It is to be presumed that he will either commence it, or let us know his reasons for not doing so. Should further silence take place, I will jog his attention. I know nothing of Clay personally. All I know thro’ others is in his favor, and speak...
9To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 27 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent you yesterday by Docr. Bache a packet recd. by the mail of last week, that it might the less interfere with what you receive directly. I avail myself of another private opportunity to forward the communications recd. by the mail of yesterday, by which means the further advantage will be obtained, of gaining a week in those cases which require your sanction, and which need not go back...
10To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 11 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The mail of wednesday brought the despatches from France which ought to have come in the preceding one. I enclose them with sundry other letters &c. They would have been sent yesterday but an express could not readily be procured. I have engaged the Bearer a free negro of good character to deliver them to you as early today as he can accomplish the ride. He is to receive a dollar & a half per...
11To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 16 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The Messenger delivered me about 9 OC. on saturday evening the packet with your letters of Sepr. 11 & 12. I join in your opinion that the suspicions of Murray in the letters inclosed in the former are too harsh to be probable. Still his situation may produce feelings & views not coincident with ours, and strengthens the policy of getting the Chancellor on the ground as soon as possible. I hear...
12To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 17 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I make use of the oppy. by Mr. Davis to forward you the contents of the weekly packet recd yesterday from the Office of State. Having had time scarcely to read some of the communications, I am unable, if there were occasion, to submit comments on them. Mr. Wagner writes that Mr. Graham left Washington on saturday last with the papers relating to the Mission of Mr. Livingston, and was to be...
13To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 23 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Having sent you by Mr. Davis the communications recd. by the mail of last week, I have none to make you at present. You will find me at home, on saturday or sunday, when I hope to be able to fix the day for following you to Washington. The despatches for Mr Livingston will be ready by the time I shall have the pleasure of seeing you. My conversation with Mr. Graham who staid a day or two with...
14To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 3 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Kemble followed you on tuesday afternoon, with the despatches for Mr. Livingston & Mr. Pinkney, & I hope arrived in time to get them to N. York before the frigate could sail. By detaining him no time was lost as he was employed in making fair copies, otherwise to be made in the office, & as by reposing himself & his horse he could return the more expeditiously. The distribution of the...
15To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [16 November 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to the President with a letter from Col. Burr & another from Col. Humphreys, the latter is a duplicate, with an exception of the postscript. J.M. has been so much indisposed since saturday evening that he could not call on the President, as he wished, in order to consult his intentions as to Mr. Thornton’s letter . If the President proposes to make it the...
16To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 8 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to transmit herewith two copies of the second census (except for the State of Tennessee, which is not yet received) and to notice the following deviations from the law under which it was taken, affecting the uniformity of some of the returns. The return for the counties of Dutchess, Ulster & Orange in the District of New York was not recd. at this office until the 21st. of...
17To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [10 December 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
J. M. havg received notice this afternoon of the oppy. by a packet, has hastily written to Mr. King. The President will please to read it & return it as soon as possible, that if approved, it may be got into the mail tonight, witht. which the opportunity will be lost. RC ( DLC ); partially dated; endorsed by TJ as received from the State Department on 10 Dec. and so recorded in SJL with...
18To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 24 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
J. Madison’s respectful compliments to the President It appears that the Secy. of State, the Secy. of the Treasury, & the Attorney General were appd. Commissrs. to settle with Georgia, by their names, but with their official titles annexed. On the resignation of Col. Pickering, Mr. Marshal was appd. in his room , No resignation of his Commission for the Georgia business being referred to or...
19To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [ca. 20 January 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
Wm. Foster jr. was named by Mr. Adams to the Senate who concurred ; but no commission ever issued. He was of the State of Massachussets. RC ( DNA : RG 59 , LAR , 1809–17); undated; endorsed by TJ: “Foster Wm junr. to be Commercl. Agent Morlaix.” President John Adams on 18 Feb. 1801 nominated William Foster , Jr., to be commercial agent at Morlaix and on 24 Feb. the Senate concurred . Foster’s...
20To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 2[5] February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to lay before the President of the United States, copies of the following documents, viz. A schedule containing a statement of the suits, in the Circuit Court for Maryland, ending with November term last. A similar statement of suits in the District Court for Kentucky, ending with March term last. A certificate of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for West...
21To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 29 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State, to whom has been referred by the President of the United States a Resolution of the House of Representatives of the 23d Inst., requesting the President to communicate to that House such information as he may have received relative to the Copper mines on the South side of Lake Superior, in pursuance of a Resolution of the 16th. April 1800, authorising the appointment of...
22James Madison’s Report on Claims under Article 7 of the Jay Treaty, 16 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State, to whom has been referred by the President of the United States a Resolution of the Senate passed on the 12th. day of this month, requesting the President to cause to be laid before the Senate the Amount of claims preferred under the seventh Article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce & Navigation with Great Britain, and of the sums awarded by the Commissioners and paid by...
23Enclosure: From James Madison, 18 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully reports to the President the information requested by the Resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 8th of January last relative to Spoliations committed on the Commerce of the United States, under Spanish authority; and also, relative to the imprisonment of the American Consul at Saint Jago de Cuba. This Report has been delayed longer than was...
24To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 7 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Lear arrived here the day before yesterday a few minutes after your departure. He confirms the information as to the imprisonment of Capt: Rodgers & Davidson . Inclosed is a copy of le Clerc’s explanation on the subject, of my letter to Pichon with his answer, and of a letter to Mr. Livingston which I shall forward to Philada. this evening, that it may overtake the despatches already in...
25To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 11 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I have nothing new since my last either from Europe or the W. Indies. The elections in N. York are not yet finally known. It is suggested that the efforts of the minority have prevailed beyond the apprehensions of the majority. Cabot accepts his mission on the terms proposed to him. I have just recd. letters from Erving shewing the turn which the affair took in London, to be such as was...
26James Madison’s Opinions on the Charges Against Arthur St. Clair, 19 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The President having called on the heads of Departments for their opinion in writing whether certain charges made by Col. Worthington against Governor St. Clair be or be not established; and whether such as are established, be sufficiently weighty to render the removal of the Governor proper? the Secretary of State respectfully submits his opinion as follows; Charge 1. Forming new Counties &...
27To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 22 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
On consultation with the Secretary of the Navy, it has been concluded that the public service will be favored by sending the ship the General Greene, with the provisions & gun-carriages destined for the Mediterranean, instead of chartering a private vessel for the occasion. It has occurred also that as the period at which an annual remittance to Algiers will become due, will arrive before the...
28To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 30 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose several letters for you put into my hands by Mr. Pichon, with some communications of his own, which are proper to be forwarded along with them. I inclose also a letter from Mr Jones at Gaudaloupe, and two others declining commissions of Bankruptcy . My departure from this place, suspended for a day by preparations for the Mediterranean business stated in my last, has since been...
29To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 11 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I reached home just before dark this evening, after the most fatiguing journey I ever encountered, having made the tour I proposed over the mountains, and met with every difficulty which bad roads & bad weather could inflict. As this must be at the Court House early in the morning, I have only time to inclose you some despatches from Mr. Livingston which I recd. the night before I left...
30To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 14 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I red. last evening your two favors of the 9 & 13th. Before I left Washington I wrote to Simpson approving his refusal of passports in the cases required by the Emperor, and understood that the instructions from the Navy Dept. to Comodore Morris were founded on the same principle. It is to be inferred therefore that we are no longer on a footing of amity with Morocco: and I had accordingly...
31To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 18 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 16th. came duly to hand with the papers to which it referred. I now forward others recd. by the last mail. I have signified to Mr. Sumpter that his resignation was acquiesced in, and have used a language calculated to satisfy him that he retains the good opinion of the Executive. What is to be said to Mr. Livingston on his requests that he may appt. a private Secretary, and...
32To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 20 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letters will shew the object of the Bearer Mr. Baker. From his conversation, I find that, placing Bourdeaux & Gibralter out of view, he wishes to be appd. as Consul, to Minorca , where he says a Consul will be admitted, now that it is again under the Spanish Government, and where he observes a consul may be of use to the U. States, particularly during our bickerings with the...
33To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 25 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 23d. has been duly recd. Mr. Brent had informed me that copies of the letters from the Mediterranean had been sent to you by Mr. Smith, and therefore I did not send the originals by express. The declaration of a rupture by the Empr. of Morocco, put me at a loss what to say to Simson on the subject of the Gun carriages, and how to decide as to the letter you left with me . As the...
34To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [on or before 29 August 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 27. came duly to hand. I had recd. the letter from W. Hampton & F. Maury. I had proposed to observe to them , that the case fell wholly within the State laws, & that it was probable the several Governors would be led to attend to it by the correspondence between the Mayor of N.Y. & the French consul & Admiral. It had occurred also that it might not be amiss for the President to...
35To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 1 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The mail not having returned from Milton when my messenger left the Court House on monday evening, & it having been inconvenient to send thither at any time since, I can not now acknowledge any favor which may have come from you since my last. Among the letters inclosed is one from Higginson seconding the application from Philada. for your patronage to a demand on the vice Govt of the La plata...
36To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 3 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recd. yours of the 30th. Ulto. with the several papers to which it refers. I have directed the commissions for Shore & Bloodgood to be made out, and have sent the extract from Clark’s letter as you required to Genl. Dearborn. He had however been made acquainted with it by Mr. Brent, before the letter was forwarded to me. May it not be as well to let the call for the Dockets be a...
37To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [on or before 9 September 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 6th. instant was duly brought by the last mail. I inclose under cover to Mr. Brent, the answers to the Merchts. of Boston & Philada; which if approved you will be so good as to seal & send on to him. I inclose also a letter from Mr. Brent to me, for the sake of the explanation it gives relative to the consulate at Nante. If Mr. Grant should not go, it is to be recollected that the...
38To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 11 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 10th. is duly recd. I answered by duplicates Mr. Sumter’s resignation as soon as it had been submitted to you. Mr. Livingston’s request that he may appt. a successor has not yet been answered. It is probable he will expect to know your determination in the first letter that may be written to him. The blanks of which Mr. Brent reminded you, came to me from you some time ago, and...
39To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 15 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recd. yours of the 13th. I had been apprised of the application by the Mayor of N.Y. for a guard. Considering as you do, that the federal Govt. have only an incidental connection with the case of the French Negroes, I have waited for more particular information concerning them, before writing to Pichon, who I learnt from Mr. Brent, and also from himself , was exerting himself to...
40To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 21 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State, to whom the Resolution of the House of Representatives of the United States of the 17th inst, was referred by the President, has the honor to inclose to him, the letters and communications annexed from the Governor of the Mississippi Territory, the Governor of Kentucky and from Wm E. Hulings formerly appointed Vice Consul of the United States at New Orleans. In addition...
41To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 21 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed report as altered is acquiesced in by Mr. L. In two instances recurred to Congs have already interposed; one of them the Paoli—at last Session. The judgmt. of the Court agst Capt. Maley was pd. by Congs —Several Dutch & British precedts. can also be cited. The 7 Art: of the British Treaty & 21 of the Span: go on the responsibility of those Govts. for irregular acts of Officers...
42Madison’s Report on the Hendrick, 22 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to report to the President of the United States, upon the note of the Minister of his Danish Majesty, Dated on the 9th. inst, as follows. That it appears that the Danish Brigantine Henrich, Capt. Peter Scheele, sailing from Hamburg, loaded with an assorted Cargo, and bound to Cape Francois, was captured on the 3d. of Octr. 1799 by a French Privateer, and on...
43To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 10 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The answers from the Govr. & Intendant at N. Orleans to the Spanish Ministers letter were recd. by him yesterday . The Intendant himself states that he had taken his measures, merely on his own judgment, without orders from his Govt. and in opposition to the judgment of the Govr: but it appears that his determination had not been changed by the first interposition of Yrujo. As his second...
44To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 14 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
You will find in the gazette of this morning the letter from d’Yrujo, which he wished to be printed, and which will I hope do good. Pichon has also written a strong letter to the Govr. of Louisiana, summoning him on his responsibility, to see that the cession of that province to France be not effected, nor the amicable relations of the Republic to the U. States, be endangered by a perseverance...
45To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 17 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
In the inclosed Intelligencer you will find the letter from Pichon to the Govr. of Louisiana. Having been written without reference to its publication, it is less carefully fitted than Yrujo’s for the contemplated impression; and in connection with that presents some points for sophistical comments, which are made rather more, than less salient by the reflections of the Editor . The letter...
46To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 21 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter from Hulings of Feby. 15. says that at that date the Intendant had not revoked the interruption of the deposit; but had from regard to the wants of the Colony, opened the market to flour & other provisions brought down the Mississippi; the articles being subject to a duty of 6 perCt. if consumed there, and to the usual export duty, (I believe 12 perCt) if sent as an indulgence in...
47I. From James Madison, before 13 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
(1.) Quer. if the laws give any authority at present beyond the limits of the U.S.? 2 “This Mission having reference to the Comerce”—may repell, more than the expression used, the criticism of illicit principal objects of the measure. 3 “ including the fish ” 4. if practicable he might note occasionally the variations of the Needle . RC ( DLC : TJ Papers, 181:22591); entirely in Madison’s...
48To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 26 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Having received some days ago, but not in time for the last mail, the enclosed petition, I have thought it proper to forward with it a pardon, that in case it should be extended to the party, delay might be avoided. I know nothing more of the convict or of the merits of the petition than are to be gathered from the petition itself and the letter from W. Jones . It is signed, I observe by...
49To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 13 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
My arrival here was delayed till monday evening last; first by the completion of the business depending at Washington, and then by the breaking down of my carriage just after I had set out which detained me three days. I found at the post office your letter covering the pardon for miller, which was forwarded by the ensuing mail, with the intimation to Wagner which you wished. Yesterday I had...
50To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 18 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recd yours of the 13. covering the papers from Govr. Mercer. The act of Maryland is I believe in the Office of State, having been sent thither by the Govr. after his return to Annapolis. The object of it in requiring the sanction of the President to the measures of the Ex. of the State, was I believe, to prevent an interference with national measures, as well as to be a check in...