1From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 10 March 1784 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 27th. Jany. was safely delivered to me about a fourtnight ago, and was recd. with the greater pleasure, as it promises a continuance of your friendly attention. I am sorry that my situation enables me to stipulate no other return than sincere & thankful acknowledgments. On my arrival here which happened early in Decr. I entered as soon as the necessary attentions to my...
2From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 16 March 1784 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 20. Ult. came duly to hand a few days ago. I can not apprehend that any difficulties can ensue in Europe from the involuntary & immaterial delay of the ratification of the peace, or if there should that any imputations can be devised which will not be repelled by the collective force of the reasons in the intended protest; some of which singly taken are unanswerable. As you...
3To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 16 March 1784 (Madison Papers)
I received yesterday by mr. Maury your favor of Feb. 17. That which you mention to have written by post a few days before is not yet come to hand. I am induced to this quick reply to the former by an alarming paragraph in it, which is that Mazzei is coming to Annapolis. I tremble at the idea. I know he will be worse to me than a return of my double quotidian head-ach. There is a resolution...
4To James Madison from Eliza House Trist, ca. 13 April 1784 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 13 April 1784. Mrs. Trist was at Fort Pitt awaiting transportation down the Ohio for a reunion with her husband. She wrote Jefferson regarding a misunderstood report that Virginia had “reward[ed] merit by making our friend Madison Governor.… I have wrote to him, but before I got your letter, which I beg you to forward” ( Boyd, Papers of Jefferson Julian P. Boyd et al.,...
5To James Madison from Patrick Henry, 17 April 1784 (Madison Papers)
After so long Time had passed without hearing from you, Mr. Mazzei did me great pleasure in telling me you were well, & not averse to render stil further Services to our Country. Altho’ from the Length & Importance of those you have so happily accomplished some Respite might be demanded for the present, yet I must tell you I think several Matters of the greatest Moment forbid it. Is not the...
6To James Madison from Alexander Hamilton, 18 April 1784 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty to introduce him to you, as to one who will be disposed, as far as your situation will permit and the circumstances of the State may render practicable, to patronise any just or equitable claims which he may have upon the State. What those claims are he will himself explain to you, I have assured him that he will find in you a friend to justice and an able advocate for...
7From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 25 April 1784 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 16th. of March came to hand a few days before Mazzei called on me . His plan was to have proceeded hence directly to Annapolis . My conversation led him to pr [o] mise a visit to Mr. Henry from whence he proposed to repair to Richmond
8Endorsement of Philip Mazzei’s Petition, 25 April 1784 (Madison Papers)
I have perused a paper entitled “A representation of Mr. Mazzeis conduct from the time of his appointment to be Agent of the State in Europe untill his return to Virginia”; and believe the proceedings of the Executive Board whilst I was a member of it to be therein correctly stated. Not having been present at the conversation between Governor Henry and Mr. Mazzei relative to an allowance of...
9To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 25 April 1784 (Madison Papers)
My last to you was of the 16th. of March, as was the latest I have received from you. By the proposition to bound our country to the Westward, I meant no more than the passing an act declaring that that should be our boundary from the moment the people of the Western country & Congress should agree to it. The act of Congress now inclosed to you will shew you that they have agreed to it,...
10To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 7 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed resolutions on the subject of commerce are the only things of consequence passed since my last. You will be surprised to receive another pair of spectacles. The paper with them will explain the error. If you can dispose of the supernumerary pair do so, & I will remit the money to Dudley: if you cannot, return them by the next post & I will return them to him. Congress is now on...
11From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 8 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 8 May 1784. In his “Summary Journal of Letters,” Jefferson recorded that he received in Philadelphia on 24 May a letter from JM written in Richmond on 8 May ( Boyd, Papers of Jefferson Julian P. Boyd et al., eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (18 vols. to date; Princeton, N. J., 1950——). , VII, 235; Jefferson to JM, 25 May 1784). There is no clue concerning the subjects...
12To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
I will now take up the several enquiries contained in your letter of Apr. 25. which came to hand yesterday. ‘Will it not be good policy to suspend further treaties of commerce till measures shall have taken place in America, which may correct the idea in Europe of impotency in the federal government in matters of commerce?’ Congress think such measures requisite, and have accordingly...
13From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 13 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
The Spectacles herewith inclosed came to my hands yesterday with information that the pr. first sent were forwarded by mistake. It will however give my mother a double chance of suiting herself. I wish the pr. which may not be preferred, to be sent down to me by the earliest opportunity, unless they should suit yourself & you chuse to keep them, as I am desired by the Maker to return them in...
14From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 14 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 14 May 1784. In his “Summary Journal of Letters,” Jefferson recorded that he received on 19 June a letter written by JM in Richmond on 14 May, “inclosing on account B. Harrison John Pirkman’s draught on John J. Rogert [Bogert] Phila. for 333 1/3 D.” ( Boyd, Papers of Jefferson Julian P. Boyd et al., eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (18 vols. to date; Princeton, N. J.,...
15From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 15 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 7th. inst: with another pr. of spectacles inclosed came safe to hand on thursday last. I shall leave the person for whose use they were intended to take choice of the most suitable & will return the other pr. to Mr. Dudley by the first conveyance, unless I meet with a purchaser which I do not expect. The arrangement which is to carry you to Europe has been made known to me by...
16To James Madison from Samuel House, 18 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 18 May 1784. Mentioned in JM’s letter to House, 29 May 1784 . Probably related the news of Nicholas Trist’s death.
17Resolutions to Strengthen Powers of Congress, 19 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
On 19 May a special Committee of the Whole House heard Henry Tazewell introduce seven resolutions, the first and last of which are those printed below. All seven dealt with subjects of confederation or state finance and lay within an area to which JM had devoted much attention as a delegate in Congress. Designed to strengthen the powers of Congress, they were closely attuned to his political...
18Bill for Regulating the Appointment of Delegates to Congress, 22 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
Whereas Congress by their Act of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three have recommended to the Respective States in the Union to pass Laws for the purpose of keeping up a full Representation in Congress from each State, and it is expedient to reduce the several Acts of Assembly now in force in this CommonWealth respecting the appointment of Delegates to...
19Motion on Settlement of National Accounts, 22 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
Ordered , That a committee of five members be appointed to inquire into the progress made by the commissioners employed in settling the accounts between this State and the United States, and into the difficulties which may impede the same, and make report thereupon to the House. Printed text ( JHDV Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia; Begun and Held at the...
20To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 25 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
Your favors of the 8th. & 15th. came to hand yesterday. I have this morning revised your former letters to see what commissions it would be best for me to execute here for you. In that of Feb. 17, you desire a recommendation of a fit bookseller in Paris & London. This certainly I can better do from the spot. In the mean time address yourself to me as your bookseller for either place, because...
21Report and Resolution on Accounts between Virginia and the United States, 28 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
It appears from the enquiries of your Committee, that no progress has yet been made in the settlement of the said Accounts. It appears from the representation of the said Commissioner that he arrived at this place in September last & has been since in readiness to receive & examine, both the Debits of the State & the demands of its Citizens against the United States, but that neither the...
22From James Madison to Samuel House, 29 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. your favor of the 18 inst: inclosing one from my amiable friend Mrs. Trist. I feel pathetically for her in case she should have proceeded down the river before the news of Mr. Trist’s death got to Fort Pitt. The situation in which she will find herself at the end of her voyage bereft of the object of her pursuit, and surrounded wholly by strangers whose very language will be...
23Resolution on the Revision of the Virginia Statutes, 29 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
Among the many reforms introduced during the exciting 1776 session of the Virginia House of Delegates was Jefferson’s plan for a thorough revision of the new state’s statutory code “corrected, in all it’s parts, with a single eye to reason, and the good of those for whose government it was framed” ( Boyd, Papers of Jefferson Julian P. Boyd et al., eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (18 vols....
24State Property and Poll Assessments for 1782, [ca. 31 May] (Madison Papers)
It is not possible to state with precision when JM prepared this document. The source of JM’s information is also uncertain. With minor variations the statistics in columns 3 through 7, and in columns 10 and 12 (counting from the left) are identical with those in Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia (ed. William Peden [Chapel Hill, N. C., 1955], p. 86). This would indicate that JM either...
Whereas it has been agreed by the United States in Congress assembled and the General Assembly of this Commonwealth that the necessary and reasonable expences incured by this Commonwealth in subduing any British Posts or in maintaining Forts or Garrisons within and for the defence, or in acquiring any part of the territory North Westward of the River Ohio, shall be reimbursed by the United...
26Resolution on Payment of Revisors, 1 June 1784 (Madison Papers)
Whereas no allowance hath hitherto been made to the Committee of Revisors ⟨appointed under an Act entitled “An Act for the revision of the laws”⟩ for their labour and expences in executing their important trust Resolved that the sum of each be allowed to the Honorable Edmund Pendleton, George Wythe and Thomas Jefferson Esquires, to be paid by the Treasurer on Warrant from the Auditors, out of...
27To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, ca. 1 June 1784 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 1 June 1784 . In his “Summary Journal of letters,” Jefferson wrote under June, “Jas. Madison. Inclosed Deane’s letters.” In New York on 31 May, Jefferson noted in his account book a payment to James Rivington “for paper and books £3.4” ( Boyd, Papers of Jefferson Julian P. Boyd et al., eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (18 vols. to date; Princeton, N. J., 1950——). ,...
28Resolution for Schedule of Tax Rates on Documents, 2 June 1784 (Madison Papers)
JM was appointed on 18 May to serve on a House of Delegates committee charged with amending “the several acts of Assembly, for ascertaining certain taxes and duties, and for establishing a permanent revenue” ( JHDV Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia; Begun and Held at the Capitol, in the City of Williamsburg. Beginning in 1780, the portion after the semicolon...
29To James Madison from James Madison, Sr., 4 June 1784 (Madison Papers)
I wrote to you two days since, by Ralph Cowgill, since which I have got of Mr. Benjamin Winslow £144— & have sent it to Capt. S. Jones in Frederick by Mr. Hite—so that you must deduct that Sum in settling my Bond to him. & I desire you will pay the Treasurer out of the Money you sell my Tobo. for on Acct. of Mr. Winslow for the Taxes due from him as Collector £170 which will reimburse him the...
30From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 5 June 1784 (Madison Papers)
I have disposed of the tobacco entrusted to me for 40/. per Ct. but receive in hand no more than will be delivered by Mr. Craig. The residue will be paid before I leave this place. I inclose a draught on S. J. from Col: Harvey, for £200 for Which I have credited Mr. Anderson on his bond. Mr. Anderson could not pay the balance now, but expects to do it shortly. The draught & the remittance will...