ALS 1 page, 4 to., Washington, Oct 31, 1807. While serving as Jefferson's Secretary of State Madison writes to an unknown recipient. "I have received your favor to the 30th and thank you for your attention to the articles expressed to me from Lisbon. Having no invoice of them, I must ask the favor of you to proceed according to the rules in such cases, and to let me know the amount which is to be remitted; forwarding them to this place by the first oppor. that may be convenient. As the articles for the President and others are all addressed to me it will be best to let all the duties etc to be included with mine, and the articles sent to me also."

Interestingly Madison refers to articles expressed to him from Lisbon, Spain.

This letter is written during a very trying period in the US's history, and international trade was the issue. In June of 1807, the Chesapeake-Leopard affair occurred (impressing British deserters). On October 17, in spite of Jefferson's protest the British government announced it would continue its policy of impressing seamen on American ships who were thought to be British deserters. At the same time France and Britain were refusing to recognize US's neutral rights at sea and continued to hamper its commercial trade. This led to Jefferson's 1807 Embargo Act. These early incidents also played a critical role in the advancement of the cause of the War of 1812. Silked on verso, split at folds with some paper loss. (#PVP)