1815 Letters

New Orleans, LA -

In pursuing your classical studies, I would recommend an attentive perusal of Livy, and even a translation of some of those passages whose beauty strikes you most.

Morrisania, NY - 7 January 1815

I learnt yesterday that your Bank Bubble has burst

Washington, MD - 8 January 1815

...a Bill, which required of the Militia of the several States, to furnish recruits for the regular army, under the penalty of being themselves drafted to serve in the prosecution of the war.

Bedford, NY - 9 January 1815

My health continues to wear away, but I seldom suffer severe pain. Conversation, books, and recollections still enable me, with the blessing of Providence, to amuse confinement, and to glide on placidly towards that ocean to which the stream of time

Washington, MD - 9 January 1815

The bank bill has passed our House in a form very much amended ; it will now be harmless, as we think. We had a hard task to prevent its passing in its worst shape.

Ghent, BEL - 17 January 1815

A letter from Mr. Hughes of which I subjoin a copy, was received by me this morning.

New Orleans, LA - 19 January 1815

THOMAS B. JOHNSON letter to Dolly Madison...the American army in Louisiana has gained immortal glory.

Belmont, PA - 19 January 1815

The enjoyment of liberty is fugacious ; but despotism, under a variety of shapes, is permanent. There is a tendency to it in all human political institutions ; and the people of every country have, from time immemorial, forged their own chains.

Washington, MD - 22 January 1815

We had yesterday a letter from Secretary Dallas, giving a bad account of the treasury ; five millions more of new taxes must be collected within this year, in order to get money enough out of all our ways and means to pay the interest of the debt

Washington, MD - 30 January 1815

The President has negatived the bank bill. So all our labor is lost. I hope this will satisfy our friends, that it was not a bank likely to favor the administration.

Morrisania, NY - 2 February 1815

It may be expected therefore that you and those who think and feel like you, will go on, piling up one oppressive tax on the top of another to support the Measures of Mr. Madison.

Georgetown, MD - 7 February 1815

Mr. Gallatin's Plan of Finance for the war, was to raise by Taxes within the year sufficient to support the Peace Establishment, taken at 7. mills., and to pay the interest upon the old & new Debt

Georgetown, MD - 11 February 1815

General Jackson who had charge of the Tennessee troops in the Creek war, had been ordered to proceed from Mobile to N. Orleans, and his militia, as well as that of Kentucky and Louisiana...

Washington, MD - 12 February 1815

The People must feel the inconvenience, & suffer the punishment, of their own folly, before they will consent to renounce it.

Washington, MD - 15 February 1815

We have received the Treaty of Peace: it will be considered by the Senate tomorrow.

Morrisania, NY - 16 February 1815

As matters now stand, whatever has been done is done and the Consequences will follow in their own Course without Impediment or Deviation from what we may do or attempt.

Washington, MD - 26 February 1815

As to your future course; my advice would be not to continue in the army during peace, but I would not resign. The probability is that the military establishment will be much reduced

Bedford, NY - 11 March 1815

Unless discontents should arise between France and Britain, French influence will not soon be very active in America ; and, consequently, will not administer much fuel to renew and feed a flame against England.

Monticello, VA - 19 March 1815

This letter will be presented to you by Mr. George Ticknor, a young gentleman of Boston. He favored me with a visit here, and brought high recommendations from Mr. Adams and others

Jamaica, NY - 21 March 1815

Having had a quiet, and uninterrupted day or two here, I have endeavored to revise, and pass over again, the occupations in which during the three last sessions we have been engaged

Waltham, MA - 11 April 1815

The Democrats affect to consider the Peace as the fruit of Madison's wisdom

Waltham, MA - 24 April 1815

Many think if the war had continued, we should have been cured of our follies, yet all see & feel the relief that Peace affords

Washington, MD - 5 May 1815

I have yours of the 28 ulto. and am much gratified to find that we agree in every circumstance as to the dangers with which we are menac d by the late events in France

Jamaica, NY - 22 May 1815

Of the opinions in France, I scarcely think it worth while to enquire, France is ruled by the sword ; and those whose profession is plunder and violence call for rulers and leaders who are attached to, and masters of, the business.

New Orleans, LA - 0 July 1815

You are now in a country where politics form the principal, perhaps I may say with the exception of private business the only topic of conversation.

Liverpool, ENG - 14 July 1815

Henry Clay letter to his wife... I expect to embark to-morrow on board the Lorenzo, of this port, for New York, and hope to have the pleasure of seeing you before this letter reaches you.

Jamaica, NY - 22 July 1815

we ought not perhaps to be obliged to Messrs Clay & Gallatin for their selection ; had they employed one of their Secretaries I shd have been as well satisfied.

New York, NY - 13 August 1815

W. Gallatin letter to Dolly Madison...Ah, my dear friend, what misery are we enduring ! How can Mr. Crawford be so unfeeling?

Liverpool, ENG - 14 August 1815

Mr. Clay & Mr. Gallatin both reiterated their requests on several occasions, that I would take up the enquiry ; adding that, as I was a commercial man & from the northern States...

Waltham, MA - 20 August 1815

Democracy seems to have lost her great high Priest, and I cannot but feel some surprize, that the Leaders, at the seat of Government, should as I understand they do, express so openly, & strongly their regret at the downfall of the Tyrant.

Portsmouth, NH - 25 August 1815

I found your letter from Hanover. On the subject of the dispute between the President and the trustees, I am as little informed as any reading individual in society

unknown - 29 August 1815

When I adjusted the countervailing Duties under Mr Jay's treaty, the Duties on Potash, Lumber, Masts, Timber, &c. were the same as these articles imported from Canada & Nova Scotia.

New Orleans, LA - 1 September 1815

I will write to you soon on the subject of your request to study at Philadelphia. There are great advantages attending it, and I believe, on the whole, it will be best.

New York, NY - 4 September 1815

I have sent by Mr. Cutts the convention for regulating the commercial intercourse with Great Britain, and will write on that subject to the Secretary of State.

New York, NY - 6 September 1815

France, which alone can have a navy, will, under her present dynasty, be for some years a vassal of her great rival

Montpelier, VA - 11 September 1815

It was not much to be expected that the British government, on the pinnacle of its elevation, would look with solicitude on her relations to the United States.

Greenwich - 24 September 1815

But I cannot serve them in the station with which they would honor me. My property is not half sufficient to support me anywhere but in the Western country.

New York, NY - 25 September 1815

The specie or silver ruble contains 282 troy grains of pure silver, and is worth about 76 cents money of the United States.

New Orleans, LA - 1 October 1815

With all my confidence in you, my dear son, you cannot conceive my anxiety. I am doing a novel and a hazardous thing. I am trusting- a young man, not seventeen, to his own guidance, in the midst of the temptations of a populous city.

Liverpool, ENG - 3 October 1815

France is a prey to every sort of division in parties & interests, and altho' it is for the present, I believe, decided that her territory shall remain entire, the allies retaining for a certain number of years her frontier towns

Bath, NY - 9 October 1815

I fear we shall not be as well situated in relation to the Lumber Business as we formerly were ; it is not expected that there has been any stipulation in relation to the West India trade

Washington, MD - 30 October 1815

Since the overthrow of France, Russia has acquired the highest degree of political importance in relation to these States.

Jamaica, NY - 2 November 1815

Mr. Burke has remarked that all men professing unlimited and discretionary power tending to their own advantage abuse it, and we are not to expect a miraculous interposition to alter the laws of nature.

Jamaica, NY - 4 November 1815

On Wednesday Mr. Gracie gave a Breakfast to the Count Survilliers, alias J. B.; the Count St. Jean D'Angely and three or four young Frenchmen came with the great Personage

Washington, MD - 6 November 1815

I request you to return my thanks to the corporation of the city of Washington for the favorable opinion they entertain of the manner in which the duties enjoined on the ministers employed in negotiating peace with Great Britain

New York, NY - 15 November 1815

A congressional caucus will, in the course of the ensuing month, nominate James Monroe for President of the United States, and will call on all good republicans to support the nomination.

New York, NY - 23 November 1815

I have ultimately decided not to go to France, and write this day accordingly to the Secretary of State.

New York, NY - 23 November 1815

I find it necessary to decline accepting the appointment of minister of the United States to the Court of France, which the President had been pleased to bestow on me.

New York, NY - 23 November 1815

You must have received a letter from the Treasury similar to that written to me respecting duties on our baggage. I have not answered mine, wishing first to know what you intend to do.

New York, NY - 25 November 1815

Whilst last at Washington I communicated some observations connected with the late commercial convention with Great Britain, which, in conformity with your suggestion, I will now reduce to writing.

New York, NY - 27 November 1815

Our opinion of Bonaparte is precisely the same. In that La Fayette's and every friend of rational liberty in France did coincide. The return of that man was generally considered by them as a curse.

Washington, MD - 29 November 1815

The more I reflect on it, I am the better satisfied you ought to go to Charleston at the time of your labour.

New York, NY - 30 November 1815

I have the honor to enclose a copy of the inofficial note presented to the Emperor of Russia on the 19th of June, 1814, and alluded to in my letter to you of 21st of same month.

New York, NY - 4 December 1815

I mean a most unfounded and wicked charge, that I had speculated or was in some shape connected with purchases or speculations of the public lands of the United States.

Washington, MD - 4 December 1815

To your other letter I have felt a repugnance to give a reply. We have been long in the public service together, engaged in support of the same great cause, have acted in harmony, and it is distressing to me to see you withdraw.

Belmont, PA - 12 December 1815

Although our correspondence is rare, my most sincere regards for you are uninterrupted. I have outlived, and so have you, so many old friends and contemporaries, that the very few left are the more valuable for their scarcity

New York, NY - 12 December 1815

The order to cause the ship American Eagle to be seized and libelled having been transmitted by the Secretary of the Treasury whilst I held the office, Mr. Gelston has repeatedly called on me on that subject

Washington, MD - 16 December 1815

The appointment of the Duke of Richelieu was made in opposition to the British Cabinet, and was resented by the Duke of Wellington in an open and harsh manner.

Washington, MD - 23 December 1815

Mr. Jay's Treaty opened to us the navigation of the St. Lawrence as low down as Quebec ; from this we are to be excluded hereafter.

New York, NY - 26 December 1815

I can assure you that I feel a great reluctance to part with ray personal and political friends, and that every consideration merely personal to myself and detached from my family urges a continuance in public life.

New Orleans, LA - 29 December 1815

The great number of persons with whom you must necessarily associate in a lodging-house will, I fear, interrupt the constant attention which is now necessary for your studies.