1808 Letters

Washington, MD -

We have our war-days and our peace-days at the seat of Government.

Washington, MD - 2 January 1808

Mr. A. [Adams] was vehemently zealous for the embargo. The President had recommended the measure to the " consideration " of Congress.

Washington, MD - 2 January 1808

I have come to this deliberate conclusion That Mr. Jefferson has determined not to enter into any treaty of amity and commerce with Great Britain.

unknown - 7 January 1808

There is not a particle of doubt that full Reparation will be made for the affair of the Chesapeake ; nor will any honest man be persuaded that the business of impressment is now more than heretofore cause of War.

Washington, MD - 9 January 1808

I have renewed my enquiry concerning the declaration of Mr. Jefferson last Spring, when he was sending back the British treaty.

Washington, MD - 11 January 1808

I have recd, your letter of the 9th. In one of mine to you, I think I stated Mr. Adams's extraordinary zeal to pass the embargo bill

Treasury Department, MD - 13 January 1808

You have not returned any answer in the case of Colonel Worthington's resignation. He recommends Jesse Spencer, of Chillicothe, as a proper successor for the place of register of the land office.

unknown - 14 January 1808

The idea of our having a power to give special permits getting abroad will overwhelm us with applications.

Washington, MD - 15 January 1808

The Negociation in London was broken off because the President had tied up Mr. Monroe's hands, by forbidding him to treat on the affair of the Chesapeake but in connection with the other points in dispute.

Washington, MD - 17 January 1808

Dining abroad yesterday, I met, unexpectedly, Mr. Rose. From a short conversation, I have formed a good opinion as well of his abilities as of his disposition.

unknown - 19 January 1808

Mr. Rose has it in his power to separate the Case of the Chesapeake from all other matters, and without doubt will do so.

Washington, MD - 19 January 1808

If Mr. J. can prevent the clamours of the farmers and soothe the manufacturers by giving them monopolies, will he be persuaded to continue the embargo to the destruction of the navigation of the Northern States?

unknown - 24 January 1808

With regard to our affairs with England, if Mr. R. [Rose] be a man of talents and temper, he will prevent a rupture between the two Countries

New York, NY - 24 January 1808

Mr. Pendleton supposes that the administration will relinquish their Claim to all naturalized seamen provided G. Br. will discontinue the Practice of impressing on the Ocean.

Washington, MD - 26 January 1808

John Quincy Adams! His apostasy is no longer a matter of doubt, with any body. Would you suppose it possible the scoundrel could summon impudence enough to go to their caucus?

Washington, MD - 28 January 1808

You know that the direct object of Mr. Rose's Mission was to make reparation for the attack on the Chesapeake : but he will not treat on it, until the President's proclamation is rescinded, which laid the interdict on all British Ships of War.

New York, NY - 0 February 1808

Mr. Rose's Mission had special reference to the affair of the Chesapeake and perhaps this is his sole business.

unknown - 5 February 1808

Republican Members of Congress to nominate candidates for the offices of President & Vice President. Messrs. Madison and Clinton being the nominees.

Natchez, MS - 8 February 1808

I am resolved to continue afloat, that I may, at a moment's warning, start with my light keel-boat, and be, in about four hours, beyond the line, about sixty miles below Natchez, whither you can follow with your family and effects by my flat-boat

Washington, MD - 9 February 1808

The number of federalists in the Senate is so small (only 5), and some of these of tender nerves, it is more than ever difficult to take a strong step.

Treasury Department, MD - 12 February 1808

The President was authorized to cause to be opened a road or roads through the territory lately ceded by the Indians to the United States from the river Mississippi to the Ohio

unknown - 13 February 1808

I send you Mr. Brown's papers respecting the public property in New Orleans. I see nothing in them which is proper to lay before Congress until the commissioners shall have decided in whom the property is.

unknown - 16 February 1808

My opinion has been that Jefferson would, if he could avoid it, go to war with neither France nor England : but if France imposed upon him the alternative of fighting her or England, that he would make a choice of the latter for his enemy.

unknown - 18 February 1808

I think the number of men proposed sufficient /or the presenty it being understood that before Congress adjourns the propriety of a greater increase may be considered.

unknown - 18 February 1808

General Dearborn's plan for raising 6000 regulars and 24,000 minute-men or volunteers is submitted to the heads of Departments

Washington, MD - 19 February 1808

Yesterday we were confidently told that the Negociation with Mr. Rose was broken off. To-day the President nominated William Pinkney to be minister of the United States to the Court of London!

Washington, MD - 24 February 1808

The President talks freely of having Congress pass an act to enable him to remove the Embargo, when the French & British Governments annul their blockading decrees

Washington, MD - 26 February 1808

I wish you were nearer - within the reach of conversation. I give you the best information in my power ; and should be extremely happy to learn your opinions on all important occurrences.

Portsmouth, NH - 27 February 1808

Since I have seen you and written you, I have changed my residence from Boscawen to this place. Some brief narration of my life since June, 1806, seems necessary to bring up the view of the present

Treasury Department, MD - 27 February 1808

It seems that fourteen American vessels, which had entered last summer in Amsterdam as coming from America, and with cargoes not of British growth, have been detained

Treasury Department, MD - 29 February 1808

I have given the directions to Mr. Gelston on the subject of the fraudulent papers used at Amsterdam.

Treasury Department, MD - 2 March 1808

I think that Congress might now decide whether they will give to the corporation the right of the United States, 1st, to the Batture; 2d, to the fortifications and ground contained between them and the houses

Portsmouth, NH - 3 March 1808

Money I have none ; I shall certainly be hanged before three weeks, if I cannot get some. What can be done ?

New York, NY - 4 March 1808

Peace can no longer be maintained with both France and England, and in the choice of an enemy England will be preferred.

Washington, MD - 4 March 1808

I have long entertained apprehensions ... that Mr. Jefferson had determined to evade a settlement of the Chesapeake affair ; and with the proclamation & embargo, effectually shut our ports against all British vessels

Albany, NY - 7 March 1808

I am very sorry to see that the cloud over our foreign relations, instead of dispersing, grows thicker and thicker.

Portsmouth, NH - 9 March 1808

Tell Nat. that I do not thank him for his love. It is like the priest's blessing ; if it were worth any thing he would not bestow it.

Treasury Department, MD - 10 March 1808

On reading Baldwin's letter respecting the supposed movements of Burr, it strikes me that the first step should be to inquire at Amboy respecting Arnauts generally

New York, NY - 10 March 1808

your talents as a public man especially in these hard and portentous times have appeared to me of great value.

Boston, MA - 10 March 1808

J. Q. Adams wrote him last Saturday that, according to Mr. Pinkney's Dispatches, G. Britain had given unequivocal proofs of her Intention to make war on the U. States.

unknown - 11 March 1808

The Act concerning revenue bonds was presented to me the night before last, signed yesterday, and will be deposited to-day.

unknown - 11 March 1808

I have this moment received the embargo law

unknown - 13 March 1808

There have been several appointments of marshal to North Carolina, all of whom have refused to accept.

Washington, MD - 13 March 1808

At this moment recurs to me the remark made to me by the late excellent Mr. Hamilton in 1796, when he expressed to me his desire that Mr. King might be sent to London.

Treasury Department, MD - 16 March 1808

The 7th Section of the Embargo Act seems to require the adoption of some general rule for its execution.

unknown - 30 March 1808

A bill supplementary to the several Acts for laying an embargo on vessels, &c.

Washington, MD - 30 March 1808

To-day we had confidential communications from Mr. Pinkney

Treasury Department, MD - 1 April 1808

I do not believe that any principle short of that proposed in the bill I have sketched will cut off the evasions at Passamaquoddy.

unknown - 2 April 1808

On the amendments to the embargo law I am perfectly satisfied with whatever you have concluded on after consideration of the subject.

New York, NY - 2 April 1808

On my return from Long Island where I have been attending to my garden, I recd. your kind letter of the 25th. ulto. with a copy of the correspondence with England respecting the Chesapeake.

Washington, MD - 2 April 1808

For 3 days the opposition members have been engaged to draw forth Champagny's letter.

Boston, MA - 8 April 1808

J. Q. A. has conspired to produce much of the evil we now experience in this State of our Affairs : and a letter of his is to be published in this Town on Monday next, in answer to Col. Pickering's.

New York, NY - 12 April 1808

It may be apprehended that the issue of the Massachusetts Election will encourage our Rulers to persevere in measures, that must prove ruinous to the Trade & Navigation of the Northern States.

Hopkinton - 5 May 1808

Horace Hall, our friend, told me in March that some of your friends intended to nominate you for a county office, which he named. I imagine your happiness depends very little on any thing of that sort

Treasury Department, MD - 5 May 1808

I do not perceive any alteration necessary in the letter except that the governors do not generally know who are the importers of flour

unknown - 6 May 1808

In the outset of the business of detentions, I think it impossible to form precise rules.

Treasury Department, MD - 10 May 1808

I enclose printed copies of the two last circulars respecting the embargo.

Washington, MD - 16 May 1808

Those gentlemen have, with much perseverance and enterprise, discovered a large quantity of sandal-wood on one of the Friendly Islands, in the Pacific Ocean. One cargo they took to China

Monticello, VA - 16 May 1808

This draft I enclose for your perusal. I salute you affectionately.

Washington, MD - 23 May 1808

The mail travels so slowly from Passamaquoddy that my last official accounts reach only to the 28th of last month, when the opposition appeared still stronger; the revenue boats having been fired at in the night and open violations continuing to take

Boston, MA - 24 May 1808

Since Congress adjourned, the people almost despair of any thing being done for them as promptly as they had reason to expect

Washington, MD - 28 May 1808

Unless an absolute and general rule be given to the collectors, they never act with uniformity, which was the case in this respect.

Boston, MA - 28 May 1808

We shall choose a Senator this Session ; but who it will be I cannot say. To take one that cannot be objected to by the friends of Mr. Adams seems the great Difficulty.

London, ENG - 3 June 1808

I trust that my son's performance has reached you.

Boston, MA - 8 June 1808

Mr. Adams last night sent a letter to the Legislature, resigning his office of Senator. We have elected Lloyd.

Treasury Department, MD - 15 June 1808

Governor Sullivan's certificates received at the Treasury to this day amount to 49,800 barrels of flour, 99,400 bushels of corn, 560 tierces of rice, and 2000 bushels of rye

Boston, MA - 16 June 1808

Old Mr. Adams says the present President is void of all capacity to preside over the affairs of a Nation, & the country is now ruled by an abominable Faction, which is second to none in the World, in Wickedness and Folly

New York, NY - 27 June 1808

I find, however, that it has not been done, and I seriously fear the consequences at this time.

New York, NY - 29 June 1808

I sent yesterday to the Secretary of the Navy, and he will transmit to you, a letter from General Dearborn, and another from General Lincoln, showing the violations of the embargo.

Jamaica, NY - 28 July 1808

Tho' the poor child's wound was extremely hazardous, and the danger is not yet passed, he has, thanks to God, suffered very little pain

New York, NY - 5 August 1808

I have not heard whether the Navy Department had, after receiving General Dearborn's and my letter, made any arrangements to send cruising vessels and gunboats to the northward.

New York, NY - 6 August 1808

I will only observe that I would have thought an order to the collectors to limit the cargoes of provisions to one-eighth of the bond illegal

New York, NY - 9 August 1808

Governor Tompkins transmits to you a letter from Oswego, announcing an insurrection there. The particulars I know not, as, if the collector has written, his letter has gone to Washington.

New York, NY - 17 August 1808

I return Lowry's papers. I do not exactly recollect what had passed on the subject, and only remember that there was a statement of facts obtained from the district attorney

Montpelier, VA - 19 August 1808

The law of nations leaves neutrals free to allow or refuse the sale of prizes, provided the same rule be applied to all the belligerents.

New Haven - 23 August 1808

There is one application which I had referred to you, and to which you have given no answer. It is that of one Coquerel, to go to Isle of France; the vessel's name is either Calypso or Mentor.

Montpelier, VA - 28 August 1808

Dolly Madison letter to first_last...With heartfelt joy, my beloved sister, did I receive the short letter of my brother, giving the good tidings of your third son...

Montpelier, VA - 31 August 1808

What does Canning mean by declaring that no communication whatever had been received from this government subsequent to the return of Mr. R. ?

New Orleans, LA - 1 September 1808

Before I had the pleasure of your last very agreeable letter, the news of the death of our venerable friend [Colonel Hart] had reached us.

New York, NY - 2 September 1808

My circular of 1st August, precluding the departure of vessels after the 16th, did not reach Charleston till the 17th.

Monticello, VA - 2 September 1808

I appoint Eugene Sullivan at West Point. Rose turns out to be a great sot.

New York, NY - 8 September 1808

I enclose the following papers :

London, ENG - 9 September 1808

What trials, what misfortunes, have you not undergone, and your dear and worthy Mrs. Blennerhassett too !

Treasury Department, MD - 14 September 1808

Official documents, already published by order of Congress, sufficiently show that not a single cent of that money has ever been expended.

New York, NY - 14 September 1808

With the assistance of Governor Tompkins and of General Wilkinson, militia and regulars have arrived, or are now on their march to the Lakes

New York, NY - 16 September 1808

I am again compelled to address you on the subject of Governor Sullivan's certificates, which he continues, as I am informed from several quarters, pertinaciously to issue.

Jamaica, NY - 27 September 1808

Perhaps the Democrats in no State are more generally and efficiently united in favour of Madison than in this State.

Jamaica, NY - 10 October 1808

If the alternative be war or Embargo, as Mr. Jefferson alleges to be the case, I conclude that the Embargo will be continued.

Treasury Department, MD - 24 October 1808

On the subject of the embargo, and particularly of what you should communicate to the Legislature, I must refer you to the President, who can alone judge of the propriety and extent of communications

unknown - 25 October 1808

In the case of the schooner Anne, carried off forcibly by a British crew, I think the removal of the inspector should be permitted to take place.

unknown - 30 October 1808

I am puzzled about the Martinique paupers.

Treasury Department, MD - 2 November 1808

The climax as the message stands does not seem quite right, nor the statement of the pretensions of Great Britain, as contained in Canning's answer

Treasury Department, MD - 2 November 1808

REMARKS ON PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

Treasury Department, MD - 3 November 1808

No deed has ever been made to Indians of lands reserved to them in this manner, for two reasons :

Treasury Department, MD - 8 November 1808

The collector of Barnstable and his son, who acts as deputy, have faithfully used their best endeavors to carry the laws into effect, and, according to what appears to be a part of the system adopted in Massachusetts, are harassed by private suits.

Treasury Department, MD - 15 November 1808

Both Mr. Madison and myself concur in opinion that, considering the temper of the Legislature, or rather of its members, it would be eligible to point out to them some precise and distinct course.

Washington, MD - 19 November 1808

It is manifestly the intention of Mr. Jefferson & party to continue the embargo, if they think it possible that the people will bear it.

Treasury Department, MD - 24 November 1808

For better preventing coasting vessels, regularly cleared, from violating the embargo, two measures appear necessary :

Jamaica, NY - 1 December 1808

Mr. Madison to avoid the charge of acquiescence, has contended that the Berlin Decree did not infringe our Neutral Rights in any case antecedent to the case of the Horizon.

Boston, MA - 8 December 1808

Mr. Coleman does not state that Information of the case of the Victory was communicated to Mr. Madison : Such a Fact would have added to the weight of the Charge

New York, NY - 12 December 1808

Not being of the political faith that is here at present in favour, I pass my time in the bosom of my family, thinking and saying as little as I can upon the subject of politicks.

unknown - 14 December 1808

Th. Jefferson returns the enclosed report to Mr. Gallatin with his entire approbation and affectionate salutations.

Boston, MA - 26 December 1808

With respect to our political relations, we are still plunging deeper in distress. Our Citizens are suffering under great poverty, & will, I am satisfied, break out into open violence against the existing laws, unless they can violate them with Impun

Treasury Department, MD - 28 December 1808

There could be no hesitation in the case, as she is a vessel owned by citizens of the United States, and the President had no authority to grant a permission unless by virtue of the power vested by the first Embargo Act

Washington, MD - 29 December 1808

William Nicholson is well, and very obedient, both to Mrs. G. and myself. But the poor little fellow is very backward. I will do with him as well as I can.