1To James Madison from James Hillhouse, 14 June 1809 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Hillhouse will have the honor of dining with the President of the United States on Monday Next agreeably to his invitation. RC (owned by Charles M. Storey, Boston, Mass., 1961). Hillhouse was a Connecticut Federalist serving in the U.S. Senate.
2To James Madison from James Dinsmore, 16 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I received by Sundays Mail your favour of the 12th inst. and Shall accordingly accommodate our work to the present height of the Ceiling. We yesterday Made a general examination of the Chimneys and find that it would not be prudent (if practicable) to Attempt any alteration in the Chimneys without takeing them down from the begining of the Shaft, the Shaft I beleive May be Saved: it is yet...
3To James Madison from James Dinsmore, 20 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
Understanding that your waggon is now on its way to washington I take the liberty of encloseing you a Memdm of articles that now are, or Shortly will be wanted here, that you May have an opportunity of Sending them by its return, Should the waggon not be able to fetch all you Can Curtail the quantity; I will also take it as a particular favour if you Can Send Me a Grindstone as those here are...
4To James Madison from James Maury, 3 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to present you my congratulations on your becoming president of the United States, hoping you will experience that comfort in the office, which those, who undertake so arduous an one under the influence of such motives as your’s, so highly merit. The partial repeal of the Embargo law was indeed very unexpected in this country; but the late revocation of the orders in council has...
5To James Madison from James Lovell, 5 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
As the fiercest Tyrant and the mildest philosopher possess equally the power of self-examination, so the whole human race may be allowed to search after the source of Life & of Morals. Such search, conducted by Reason, and proceeding downwards from the branching-ends of both those Trees, will assuredly find only the single common tap-root to be Self-Love. As no President of these United States...
6To James Madison from James Dinsmore, 26 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have received yours of the 23. and shall proceed with the alteration of the Chimneys, as it will enable us to go on regularly with our work. Mrs Madison informs Me that She has not got the key of the upper front room, and thinks it was Carried to washington, if So you will Please to send it by next Mail. The key of the Closet leading to the garrett will not be neccessary as the Door will...
7To James Madison from James Taylor, 29 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
I am informed by The Honble John Coburn that he has lately rec[e]ived a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury informing him that he must not draw on him for his Sallery until he explanes the Circumstance of his bills being uniformly dated from this state. From the intimacy between us & the connection between our families I think I have a pretty correct Idea of his veiws & intentions and I...
8To James Madison from James Leander Cathcart, 12 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I was honor’d with your esteem’d favor of the 13th. March on the 28th. Ulto. & I most Sincerely congratulate you & our Country on the Success of your election, & hope you may live long to enjoy the fruits of your labours in the full confidence of the worthy part of the Community however they may differ in political matters. The Wines you order’d me to Send you are Ship’d by the Madeira as ⅌....
9To James Madison from the Right Reverend James Madison, 14 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Permit me to make known to you, Mr. Greenhow, a very worthy & respectable Inhabitant of this Place, & who wishes to be gratified with your Acquaintance. I congratulate you, most sincerely, on the irresistible Demonstration, which has been given, of the Wisdom & sound Policy of the Measures of the Genl. Govt, with Respect to our foreign Relations. Be pleased to present my best Regards to Mrs....
10To James Madison from James Wilkinson, 1 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
The extraordinary nature of the Communication I am about to make, and the Interests of the Person committed to my discretion, will I hope excuse my deviation, from the Ordinary course of my Correspondence, by addressing you directly. I yesterday had a most particular conversation with Governor Folch, & found his Mind decisively made up, as to the course he will pursue should European Spain be...
11To James Madison from the Right Reverend James Madison, 8 September 1809 (Madison Papers)
Being at this Time in Montgomery County, some very respectable Friends have express’d a Wish, that I would recommend to your Notice Mr. Thomas Lewis, Grandson of the late Genl Lewis, as a Candidate for the Place of a Midshipman in the American Navy. From the Character, which he sustains as a young Man of Prudence & uniform good Conduct, as well as unquestion’d Fortitude, I have no Doubt,...
12To James Madison from James Dinsmore, 4 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
Your favours of the 16th & 24 Ult have been received and Shall be attended to, the articles Sent for by the waggon have Come to hand except the Grindstone which the waggoner Says he forgot to Call for. We are at present engaged in preparing flooring plank for the Colonnade it being the only Stuff we have kiln dryed, or indeed I May Say Sawed, Mr Gooch has engaged Sawyers to Cut by hand, to...
13To James Madison from Daniel James, 31 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
I Have made free as an Individual, to rite a few lines to you on the Subject of the Negociation between us and great Britton. Whether you think their is a probable chance of the same taking place, or whether we are to have no trade at all with them; our corps of wheat are uncommonly Good, this year. And we Know not what to be at for the best; if it is not too much trouble to your Excellency to...
14To James Madison from James Maury, 12 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have just received the inclosed from Mr. Joy & have the honor to be with perfect respect Sir Your Most Obt Servant RC and enclosures ( DNA : RG 59, Consular Despatches, Liverpool). Consul Maury enclosed a copy of George Joy to JM, 8 July 1809, which included a translation of a Dutch resolution of 30 June listing articles that could be imported into Holland “by our decree of 31 March,”...
15To James Madison from James J. Wilmer, 16 September 1809 (Madison Papers)
I do myself the honour to enclose you an Epitome of the work contemplated. My Funds will not admit of printing the whole at present. Several writers have undertaken to write, as they call it, “a defence of Mr. Jefferson’s administration”; their mode may be right, but my manner of doing it will be viewed in the present specimen. There is something singular in this humble offering, that the very...
16To James Madison from Joel Barlow, April 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
April 1809. Sends on letter “from Mr. Lee” recommending William Bass for the consulate at Antwerp and mentions that Walter Livingston, Jr., may deserve consideration for the secretary’s post at the Paris legation, if a vacancy occurs. “I dont know but I ought to make an apology once for all for consenting sometimes to be the organ of such applications. It is a business I very much dislike but...
17To James Madison from Richard Brent, 24 July 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
24 July 1809, Fauquier Court House. The Virginia senator recommends Alexander Scott for the vacant assistant judgeship of the District of Columbia circuit court. RC ( DNA : RG 59, Letters of Application, 1809–17). 2 pp. Brent wrote a second letter on Scott’s behalf on 11 Sept. 1809 (ibid.).
18To James Madison from James Taylor, 2 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
We have just rec[e]ived your Speech here and I assure you it appears to be much admired even by the Federalist of Cincinnati. Mr Rowan passed this about 10 days ago he spoke of it & your self in respectful terms, which was more than I expected from his opposition to the late Administration generally. He observed & it appeared to be assented to by several of the highest Federal characters in...
19To James Madison from Walter Franklin, 21 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 21 April 1809. Mentioned in Robert Smith’s letter to Franklin, 24 Apr. 1809 (DNA: RG 59, Domestic Letters). Relates to the trial in Philadelphia of the state militia involved in the Olmstead case, and Franklin as attorney general of Pennsylvania apparently asked JM to intercede. “The President had decided, that there ought to be no interposition on his part in the prosecution...
20To James Madison from John Love, 25 July 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
25 July 1809, Fauquier Court House. The Virginia congressman withdraws himself from consideration for the vacancy on the District of Columbia circuit court and recommends Alexander Scott for the office. RC ( DNA : RG 59, Letters of Application, 1809–17). 3 pp.
21To James Madison from David Gelston, 9 June 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 June 1809, New York. Has received JM’s letter of 15 May and has “had the wine cased.” Encloses a bill of lading of the same date, signed by the master of the schooner Eliza Ann , at New York, who will deliver to Georgetown the shipment described in Gelston to JM, 11 May 1809 . An account for duties, freight, casing, and storage, totaling $146.20, is enclosed. RC and enclosures ( DLC ). RC 1...
22To James Madison from Armand Duplantier, 25 July 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
25 July 1809, New Orleans. Concerns his management of land warrants on behalf of Lafayette. Recommends the sale of Lafayette’s claim as best way out of the situation. RC ( DLC ). 3 pp. Written in French. Docketed by JM.
23To James Madison from Bushrod Washington, 27 July 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 July 1809, Mount Vernon. Recommends Edmund Jennings Lee for the vacant assistant judgeship of the District of Columbia circuit court. RC ( DNA : RG 59, Letters of Application, 1809–17). 1 p.
24To James Madison from David Goldsmith, 13 June 1809 (Madison Papers)
You will exus a Deutchmen his bath writing I never wont undertainin it both in the misre of been a Prisner in Captain Gill Party of Marien Corps. Inlister in the Greates distres werent the Imbargo, & desertent for witch I exspect to sower Serverly with out the Honerable President Medicen Grant a Poor Distrest Seeler: Pardon your Servent RC ( DNA : RG 45, Misc. Letters Received). Postmarked “...
25To James Madison from Jonathan Bull and Others, ca. 26 April 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
Ca. 26 April 1809. Urges JM to appoint Henry Seymour as federal marshal for Connecticut. His father has been a staunch Republican in the state Senate and was recently defeated by vindictive Federalists. Young Seymour, like his father, is “a firm supporter of the Administration.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, Letters of Application, 1809–17). 2 pp. Signed by Bull and thirteen other Hartford merchants....
26To James Madison from Isaac Ball, 11 April 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 April 1809, New York. Thanks JM for his letter of 4 Apr. that authorized Ball to list JM “in the Catalogue of Respectable patrons” if a new edition of his book on “Animal Œconomy” is published. RC ( DLC ). 1 p. Docketed by JM.
27To James Madison from William Kilty, 28 July 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 July 1809, Annapolis. The chancellor of Maryland recommends Alexander Scott for the vacancy on the District of Columbia circuit court [on which Kilty himself had served as chief judge]. RC ( DNA : RG 59, Letters of Application, 1809–17). 2 pp.
28To James Madison from Isaiah Eiland, 31 August 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
31 August 1809. Salutes “honourd Madisson” and delivers a discourse on topics ranging from the “seeds of damnation” to “Bull bellowing Methodists.” Praises Washington and Joseph Warren and finishes by “wishing universal Success to republican equality [and] the rights of man.” Identifies himself as “a Minister of the Gospel ten years” who lives “within one mile of milledgeville” in Georgia. RC...
29To James Madison from the Republican Meeting of Garrard County, Kentucky, 4 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Document not found. 4 March 1809, Lancaster, Kentucky. Acknowledged in JM to the chairman of the meeting, 29 Apr. 1809 . A set of resolutions lauding JM on his inauguration and expressing a willingness to support the administration against foes at home and abroad.
30To James Madison from James Powell, 17 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
The honourable and dignifyed languidge of Your late Inaugural adress, protends a peculiarly pleaseing Guarantee To the future Honour and National Caracture of the United States. For what, but a most pitteyfull Chimera, Is our Vain pompious bumbastick Boasting, of our Liberty and Freedom, of our being, the onely Free and Inlightned Nation on Earth, If such Sacrid princoples as forme the verrey...