Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Madison, James, 1751-1836 to William Pinkney

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03419 Author/Creator: Madison, James, 1751-1836 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Letter signed Date: 19 February 1808 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 25 x 21 cm. Order a Copy

Indicates that he is sending a series of gazettes reporting on congressional proceedings, which "will give you a view of our internal affairs." Explains the route by which Mr. Nourse will deliver them to London so that Pinkney can arrange other correspondence to Paris and his own government. Discusses a previous letter concerning the Embargo Act of 1807 and a British decree made on 11 November 1807. Also comments on communications from David Erskine, the British Minister Plenipotentiary, concerning Napoleon's Berlin Decree, the British retaliation, and their effects on neutral maritime commerce. Page three has a decoded cypher attributing the letter's brevity to ill health and the need to expedite communication. Madison signed on page two as Secretary of State. Pinkney was serving as Minister to Great Britain.

Madison, James, 1751-1836
Pinkney, William, 1764-1822
Erskine, David Montagu, 1776-1855

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources