To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 27 July 1804
From Thomas Jefferson
July 27. 04.
Th: J. to J. M.
I inclose you Story’s oration1 that you may be enabled to take his measure. Be so good as to return it. I retain the letter of E. Livingston urging the validity of Baron Bastrop’s monopoly of the Indian commerce for 10. years,2 because I presume it may be proper to lay it before Congress. The postmaster at Washington ⟨wr⟩ites me that during our recess the post will come 3. times a week, the 3d. being extra for this particular term, to wit,
| extra | permanent | permanent | ||
| leave Washington | Sunday. | Tuesday. | Thursday at | 7. P.M. |
| arrive at Milton | Tuesday | Thursday | Saturday | 6. P.M. |
| leave Milton | Wednesday | Friday | Sunday | 4. A.M. |
| arrive at Washington | Thursday | Saturday | Monday | 8. P.M. |
| Affectionate salutations. |
RC (DLC: Rives Collection, Madison Papers); FC (DLC: Jefferson Papers).
1. Jefferson referred to An Oration, Pronounced at Salem, on the Fourth Day of July, 1804, in Commemoration of Our National Independence, by Joseph Story (Salem, Mass., 1804) (Sowerby, Catalogue of Jefferson’s Library, 5:34). In his speech Story defended the policies of the Jefferson administration, including the acquisition of Louisiana.