MADISON, James-- Letter signed ("James Madison" in the hand of a secretary), to James Monroe, Washington, 26 March 1811.
Three pages, 256 x 203mm, bifolium (partial fold separation along spine, dampstain at left margin, else fine).
A retained copy of James Madison's letter to James Monroe Secretary on assuming the post of Secretary of State. An extraordinary communication written a week before he would dismiss Secretary of State Robert Smith who had proved disruptive in his feuding with other members of the administration (especially Albert Gallatin). Madison writes that he had received Monroe's letter of 23 March, "and learn with much pleasure that you are not disinclined to the station which the one answer'd by it, pretend to your consideration. Madison briefs his soon-to-be top diplomat on current European affairs that would drag the country into war the following spring: "A like concurrence has prevailed in the opinion, that whilst on one hand, it is of great importance to the interests of the U. S. that peace should be preserved, and commerce obtained with the Continent of Europe, there are on the other hand, powerful reasons in favor of an adjustment with the great Maritime power, who, tho’ liable to suffer much from our enmity, is capable also of doing us much harm or good, according to her disposition towards us." Anticipating the current Secretary's dismissal at the end of the week, Madison adds that Monroe's commission would be dated "the 1st of April, the date of the vacancy to be filled," and urging him to come to Washington without his family, as "there is important business that claims the earliest attention." A draft and Monroe's copy of this letter are part of the collections of the Library of Congress.