Monroe, James (1758-1831) to unknown
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00496.070 Author/Creator: Monroe, James (1758-1831) Place Written: Oak Hill, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 September 1820 Pagination: 3 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Monroe as President to an unknown recipient. Is anxious about Samuel Gouverneur, his son-in-law and private secretary, and his child, perhaps because they are ill. Sent down letters with John Coburn because there was no mail going out that day. Requested him to bring back information. Hopes recipient will help him set up an economic plan to help his family. Expresses annoyance with William Seaton, a co-editor of the Washington Intelligencer, who was talking freely about Monroe. Wants to help Seaton, but claims Seaton needs to help him in return by being more discreet and diligent. Hopes recipient can drop some subtle comments to get Monroe's annoyance across. Extended postscript goes into the possibility of eliminating someone from his business pursuits, perhaps Seaton, but it is not clear. Says if they must part, the recipient is authorized to sever the connection and that it would be best to do it earlier than later. Says if he is let go that the recipient must get the account book or Monroe will never see it again. Says to use discretion and that a severance will disarm this person from injuring him.
Oak hill sept 23. 1820
Dear Sir:
The extreme anxiety of the family in account of Mr Gouverneur & our child, induces me to send John Coburn down to day, to take letters (the mail not coming up to day), to them & to bring any up, that may be there, or any information, you may have receivd respecting him.
In adopting an economical plan, you will of course see that [struck: that] neither Mr. Seatons family, nor my people, want for what is necessary, and that due attention is paid to Frederick who has been sick, as well as to Gov. I am told Mr Seaton is in the habit of telling certain friends, of his, & particularly some English shop keepers, all that passes, & that he will probably tell them, what I said about his bills in my absence. It may be useful, to give him a [kind] on this hand, as it were, casually, to put him on his guard. My real wish is to be useful to the man, but to [secure] it he must be useful to me, by a prompt accomodation to my plans & directions & diligence, by his obedience, [inserted: in the] execution of them, and by silence and prudence in the discharge of his duties. a [rot] [2] about chatterer does not suit me. a hint, without letting it be inferred, that you ever heard any thing, or were suspect it, may be useful to him. Let him shut up the house, that is all the rooms, letting those who enter, if you think it proper to let any enter in the hall & [shape] of the building but none of the rooms: Let him stay at home, take care of things, keep the idle gang from the basement story; press his mouth shut; be [serving], and I shall like him very much.
This man is either honest, or he is not. If he is honest, close inspection does no harm; it will redound to his credit. If not, it is necessary to protect myself, as well as the public, from peculation & plunder. I would therefore watch him close, without letting him suspect it, and in your absence get Mr Ganett to do the same thing, in the same way. If he is dishonest things are not safe, now, in his hands. He knows that I shall adopts different rules if he is honest he will aid me in it, his wages will be the same, he will have less trouble & exposure to bad weather, & better opportunity to do his other duties. My hope therefore is that he will pursue this course.
your friend
James Monroe
If there is any thing now of any kind since I left town let me hear of it. [3] This affair with this man is interesting. If we are to part, perhaps, it will be best to do it at an early day, & go he must, if he does not answer my purpose. You will reflect on this, and if he is insolent or expresses a desire [struck: to go], tell him that you are [struck: at] authorized to dismiss him, & do it forth with... The misfortune with such cases, is, that by taking such a person into service, you give him a consequence, which, if a villain, he may learn, by every sort of calumny & misrepresentation against you. Great candor is therefore necessary, in case he goes, to get that book, which contains an account of everything public & private; and he certainly will not give it up, if he expects to go....
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.