James Madison Papers

From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 10 November 1782

To Edmund Randolph

RC (LC: Madison Papers). Docketed by Randolph, “James Madison Novr. 10. 1782.” Only a portion of the cover is extant. On it, in JM’s hand, appears “The honble Edmun Fav’d. by Col: Bassett.” For “Col: Bassett,” see JM to Randolph, 12 November 1782, n. 1.

Philada. Novr. 10th. 1782.

Dear Sir

I put under this cover the Newspaper of saturday last,1 and a poetical production of N. England which has much applause bestowed on it.2

We have recd. no intelligence from Europe since my last.3 I have inclosed to the Govr. a copy of a late letter from Carlton which breathes a much less conciliating spirit than his preceding correspondence.4 No steps have been taken by Congress as to the Cessions since the acceptance of that of N. York.5 Asgill is directed to be set at liberty, without any special reason being assigned for it, and Gl Washington instructed to call upon Gl Carlton to fulfil his promise to pursue the guilty.6 If the interval between this & the post produces any thing, you shall then have it

farewell

J. M.

1Either the Pennsylvania Packet of 9 November 1782 or the Pennsylvania Journal of the same date.

2No doubt the “poetical production” was the one-hundred-page political satire by John Trumbull (1750–1831) entitled M’Fingal: A Modern Epic Poem, in Four Cantos (Hartford: Printed by Hudson and Goodwin, near the Great Bridge, 1782). See Moses Coit Tyler, The Literary History of the American Revolution, 1763–1783 (2 vols.; New York, 1897), I, 441–42. Seemingly the kindness of Colonel Burwell Bassett also enabled JM to send this volume to Edmund Pendleton and perhaps to Governor Harrison. See Pendleton to JM, 25 November; Harrison to JM, 30 November 1782, and n. 1.

4See Notes on Debates, 8 November 1782, and n. 18. JM’s letter and enclosure to Governor Harrison have not been found.

6See ibid., and nn. 17, 20, 30; Notes on Debates, 7 November, and nn. 15, 20, 22; Motion on Instruction to Washington, 7–8 November, and nn. 4, 7; Notes on Debates, 8 November 1782, and nn. 12, 14, 17.

Index Entries