To James Madison from John Armstrong, 20 March 1807 (Abstract)
From John Armstrong, 20 March 1807 (Abstract)
§ From John Armstrong. 20 March 1807. “I have been told that no answers have been given to the letters of foreign ministers here since the Battle of Eylau (the 14th. Ult)1 this is perhaps oweing to the occupation given to the Emperor’s attentions by interests more touching than those arising out of the relations2 of friendly Powers. Another reason for it may be M. de Talleyrand’s seperation from the Emperor. His M. is at Osteroda—the Minister is at Warsaw—but is on the point of moving, and it is whispered, to Berlin. Very different conclusions are drawn from this fact. Some think it indicates peace, which would appear to be the creed of the Court, or what is found of it, at Paris—while others consider it as the first step towards France.
“I have written another Note to the Minister on the 5 of March.”
RC (DNA: RG 59, DD, France, vol. 10). Appended to the triplicate of Armstrong to JM, 15 Feb. 1807. “Towards France” was encoded by Armstrong’s clerk and interlinearly decoded by Brent using the code provided by the State Department. Code has not been identified (Weber, United States Diplomatic Codes and Ciphers, 154). Decoding here is from a key partially reconstructed by the editors.
1. The Battle of Eylau was fought on 8 February 1807 (Adams, Napoleon and Russia, 147–52).
2. “Relations” is underlined, not encoded.