James Madison Papers

From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 1 May 1802

To Robert R. Livingston

private

Washington May 1. 1802

Dear Sir

You will receive by Mr. Dupont herewith a public letter on th⟨ose⟩ subjects most important in your hands. You will receive at the same time a private letter from the President1 in which he refers for fuller communications than he gives on the subject of Louisiana & the Floridas. I have thought it best however not to go as far into certain views of the subject as he has done, because they are in fact more proper for a private than public letter & because also it is impossible to strengthen what he has said. I might add, if these reasons were less satisfactory, that my short notice of the time of Mr. Dupont’s departure, and the necessity of writing some important letters to others in the same hurry, would have obliged me to be somewhat concise. I drop this line merely to explain the variance between the Presidt’s. private & my public letter, availing myself also of the occasion to assure you of the great regard & esteem with which I am Dear Sir Yours

James Madison

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