Monroe, James (1758-1831) Mr. Monroe's claims
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00496.062 Author/Creator: Monroe, James (1758-1831) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph note Date: circa 1825-1829 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 24.5 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Monroe in retirement after his presidency. Starting in 1825, in order to pull himself out of $75,000 of debt and save his Oak Hill estate, he requested reimbursement of back salary and expenses from his diplomatic missions and governmental work in the 1790s and the first two decades of the 19th century. He also attempted to sell other property he owned, but when that failed he put his full force behind getting reimbursed from the government. In order to prove his claims he had to submit many documents from his time abroad and this undated draft is part of the paperwork he would eventually send to the federal government for review. This document describes the appointment of various secretaries that Monroe had with him during his mission to France in 1794-1796. In various places he crosses out the pronouns "I," "my," and "me" and writes "him" or "Mr. M." over them. Monroe received his first reimbursement for over $29,000 in 1826, and received other payments until 1829.
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Mr. Monroe's Claims.
Documents
Relating to Mr. Monroe's first Mission to France
[Mr. Skipwith accompanied [struck: me] [inserted: Mr. Monroe] to France, in this mission, as Secretary. The state of our commerce there, on [struck: my] [inserted: Mr. M's] arrival, and the pressure on [struck: me] [inserted: him], requiring the aid of a consul, & one with whom [struck: I] [inserted: he] was acquainted, & in whose rectitude & decision [struck: I] [inserted: he] could confide, [struck: I] [inserted: he] appointed [struck: him] [inserted: Mr. [illegible] Skipwith] provisionally to that office, & in which he was inform'd by the President. [struck: I] [inserted: Mr. M] made this appointment, with the greater confidence, because [struck: I] [inserted: he] had taken him [struck: with me], as Secretary, on the suggestion of Mr Randolph, then Secretary of State, that it would be gratifying to the President [inserted: as he did so with] [struck: with] others, whom [struck: I] [inserted: Mr. M] then employed as assistant secretaries, was Mr G[illegible], the author of the [inserted: following] document, who spoke both languages very correctly. [struck: I] [inserted: Mr. M.] took him on the recommendation of many of our respectable citizens, who were connected in commerce, with his family, a very respectable one at Havre. He remaind with [struck: me] [inserted: Mr. M.] nearly two years, attended [struck: me] [inserted: him] in many interviews with the French govt., & the members individually, who composed it, & was very useful. [struck: to me]
[docket]
a note respecting [vein]
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