James Madison Papers

From James Madison to Mathew Carey, 28 January 1815

To Mathew Carey

Washington Jany. 28. 1815

Sir

I have recd your letter of the  1 with a copy of the 2d. Edition of the Olive Branch, for which & for that of the 1st. previously sent to me I return you my thanks.2

I have not been able as yet to do more, than glance at the plan of the work, and run over a few of its pages. The course adopted, of assembling authentic & striking facts, and addressing them impartially & independently, but with becoming emphasis, to the attention of the public, was best fitted to render it a valuable & seasonable service, and it appears that the success of your labour will well reward the laudable views with which it was undertaken.3 Be pleased to accept my respects

James Madison

RC (DLC). Docketed by Carey: “Recd Jan 31 / Ansd Feb 3.”

1Left blank by JM.

2No letter from Carey to JM covering a copy of the first or second edition of The Olive Branch has been found. For the work, see PJM-PS, description begins Robert A. Rutland et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Presidential Series (8 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1984–). description ends 5:110 nn. 2 and 5, 603 n. 1, 619 n. 7.

3The preceding paragraph was printed in the Philadelphia Democratic Press on 20 Sept. 1815 as part of an advertisement for the sixth edition of The Olive Branch.

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