To James Madison from John Lamson (Abstract), 31 May 1805
§ From John Lamson
31 May 1805, Leghorn. “I have written several letters on the subject of a reimbursment of the expences I had incurred in consequence of my accepting the commission as Consul for the United States of America for the port of Trieste the last of which was under date of the 2d. May 1804,1 but to this time I remain without any information on that subject. The Justice of this demand, against the United States appears so very clear and plain that I am really at a loss to imagine what objection there can be to allowing it more especially as I have been informed that there have been accounts of a simular nature, tho’ certainly not more Just allowed and passed at the office of state. I therefore cannot doubt but that in a view of all the circumstances the Goverment will do me that Justice which I should be entitled to from an individual in simular circumstances. As you are perfectly acquainted, Sir, with all the incidents attending this transaction it is unecessary that I should make any observations to demonstrate to you the great injustice of an individual being obliged to suffer great and real inconveniences on such occasions. I beg you would have the goodness to inform me what I am to expect with regard to the payment of this account of expences, and to pardon my intruding on your patience so often on this subject.”2
RC, three copies (DNA: RG 59, CD, Leghorn, vol. 1). 2 pp. Second RC, marked “<D>uplicate,” enclosed in Lamson to JM, 6 July 1805; third RC, marked “Triplicate,” enclosed in Lamson to JM, 13 Aug. 1805.
1. 7:129–30.
2. On 5 Aug. 1805 JM replied: “To reimburse the expences incurred in accepting and exercising the Commission of Consul at Triest, as claimed by you, would be not only without precedent but unwarrantable from the nature of the circumstances. The letter which I wrote you on the 22d Feby 1803 will have shewn that the Commission superseding yours was not granted till, by the long omission of the usual correspondence on your part, a reasonable presumption existed that you did not intend to fill the Office; but beside these considerations which oppose it, the claim, it is conceived, is not warranted by law” (DNA: RG 59, IC, vol. 1; 2 pp.). For JM to Lamson, 22 Feb. 1803, see 4:338–39.