To James Madison from John Nicholson, 17 February 1790
From John Nicholson
Philada. February 17h 1790.
Sir
I have taken the liberty of inclosing you copies of a number of letters I have written to a friend in Congress published at his request relating to the important subject of finance now before that honorable body.1
The practicability of effecting a separate provision for original holders, I am well convinced of. I have carried into effect a similar plan in Penna. adopted by the Legislature with respect to their depreciation debt And with a few alterations it might be done with great exactness and very little difficulty.
Pardon the freedom I have taken and permit me to subscribe myself, with high respect sir your Most Obedt humble servant
Jno. Nicholson2
RC (DLC). Addressed by Nicholson. Docketed by JM. Enclosure not found (see n. 1).
1. These letters, dated 28 and 29 Jan. and 8 Feb. 1790, were published anonymously in the Philadelphia Freeman’s Journal of 3, 10, and 17 Feb. 1790. The “friend in Congress” was Senator William Maclay of Pennsylvania (, p. 194).
2. John Nicholson (ca. 1757–1800) was comptroller general of Pennsylvania (Robert D. Arbuckle, Pennsylvania Speculator and Patriot: The Entrepreneurial John Nicholson, 1757–1800 [University Park, Pa., 1975]).