Monroe, James (1758-1831) to William Benton
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04926 Author/Creator: Monroe, James (1758-1831) Place Written: Washington, D.C Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 April 1821 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket : free frank ; 25 x 20.2 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Monroe as President to Benton as the overseer of his properties in Loudoun County, Virginia. Says he has written to Harrison in Alexandria, Virginia and will have 20 barrels of herring and five of shad sent. If instructions need to change, he tells Benton to send the letter to him first and he will forward it to Harrison. Because of the prospect of war with Naples in Europe, Monroe discusses speculating in flour. Says price will likely rise and says he wants to hold it back from the market. Asks Benton to handle this because if he became involved it might get into the newspapers and he might be accused of insider trading, despite not knowing more than others on the subject. Major repair to a large part of the area around the fold. Part of the address leaf has been detached and is included in mylar in the folder.
Paris Jany. 17. 1795
Sir
Early in decr. last English papers were recd. here containing such accts. of yr. adjustment with the British admn. as exiled much uneasiness in the councils of this govt. & I had it in contemplation to dispatch a confidential person to you for such information of what had been done as would enable me to remove it. at that moment however I was favored with your of the 25. of Novr. intimating that the contents of the contents of the treaty could not be made known untill it was ratified, but that I might say it contained nothing derogatory to our existing treaties with other powers. Thus advised I thought it improper to make the application because I concluded the arrangement was mutual, and not to be departed from. I proceed therefore to make the last use in my power of the information already given.
Today however I was favd. with yrs. of the 28th of the same month by which I find you consider yourself at liberty to communicate to me the contents of the treaty, and as it is of great importance to our officer to remove all doubt upon this point I thought fit to resume my original plan of sending a person to you for the necessary information & have in consequence dispatched the bearer Mr. John Purveyance for that purpose. I have been the more induc'd to this from the further consideration that in case I shod. be favd. with the communication promised [2] in [cypher] - it wod. be impossible for me to comprehend it as Mr. Morris took his off with him. Mr. Purveyance is from Maryland, a gentn. of integrity & no wit & to whom you may commit whatever you may think proper to confide with perfect safety. Tis necessary however to observe that as nothing will satisfy this government but a copy of the instrument itself, and which as our ally it thinks itself entitled to, so it will be useless for me to make to it any new communication short of that: I mention this that you may know [precisely] the sate of my engagements hear & how I dream it my duty to act under them in relation to this object. I beg leave to refer you to Mr. Purveyance for whatever other information you may wish to have whether on [strikeout] this subject or the [often] more generally of this reestablish. I have the honor
to be with great respect yr. most obt. servt.
Jas. Monroe
[docket]
Mr. Monr[inserted: o]oe - Paris
17th- Jany 1795-
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