Day-by-Day / March 7, 1803

March 7, 1803

Monroe travels to Paris

New York Harbor James Monroe and his family wait for the weather to allow their ship, the Richmond, to leave New York. He has been sent to assist with the Louisiana negotiations in Paris.

The U. S. Ship Franklin, with a View of the Bay of New York

c. 1820s or 30s (cropped)

A sunny harbor crowded with masted boats large and small

The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps and Pictures, Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954. Public Domain courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of New York.

Waiting for the Weather

Dear Sir [Thomas Jefferson]

New York March 7. 1803

The ship, Richmond, of abt. 400. tons burden whose cabbin I have taken, cleared at the custom house on saturday, my baggage was put on board, in expectation of sailing yesterday as Mr. Madison informed me my instructions ought to arrive by 6 in the morning; but it being sunday, they were delayd till to day. We are now detained by a snow storm and contrary wind, but shall sail as soon as it clears up, & the wind shifts.

Monroe, his wife, and two daughters would disembark at Le Havre, France. In Paris, Monroe would join Robert R. Livingston, U.S. Minister to France, and James Madison, U.S. Secretary of State. Their negotiations resulted in the Louisiana Purchase.

The Mississippi Question

The resolutions of Mr. Ross prove that the federal party will stick at nothing to embarrass the admn., and recover its lost power. They nevertheless produce a great effect on the publick mind and I presume more especially in the western country. . . . If the negotiation secures all the objects sought, or a deposit with the sovereignty over it, the federalists will be overwhelmed completely: the union of the western with the Eastern people will be consolidated, republican principles confirm’d, and a fair prospect of permanent peace and happiness presented to our country.

Federalist U.S. Senator James Ross of Pennsylvania brought forward a resolution—known as the Mississippi Question— to eliminate the Spanish closure of New Orleans by military action. Jefferson and his fellow Democratic-Republicans thought negotiating with France and Spain was a better solution. For excerpts of Ross’s two speeches, see February 14, 1803 and February 16, 1803.

With an Ardent Zeal

I accepted my appointment with gratitude and enter on its duties with an ardent zeal to accomplish its objects. I derive much satisfaction from a knowledge that I am in the hands of those whose views are sound, are attachd to justice, and will view my conduct with candour and liberality.

yr. friend & servt.

Jas. Monroe[1]All letter excerpts from “To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 7 March 1803,” Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-40-02-0025. [Original … Continue reading

 

Notes

Notes
↑1 All letter excerpts from “To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 7 March 1803,” Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-40-02-0025. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 40, 4 March–10 July 1803, ed. Barbara B. Oberg (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2013) 19–22 including notes.]

Discover More

  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.

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Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).