To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 March 1819
From James Monroe
Washington March 18. 1819
Dear Sir
Mr Vaughan,1 with whose character you are I presume well acquainted, left this city lately on a visit to Mr Jefferson, & yourself, by Norfolk & Richmond, having much desire to see him once more, & to become personally acquainted with you, before, he returns to Kennebeck in Maine, to remain stationary the residue of his days. He was the confidential friend of the M. of Landsdowne & Dr Franklin in the communications between them in the negotiations for peace during the revolutionary war.2 He came with me from France in 1797. I know that it is sufficient only to make him known to you to secure to him all the attentions, which his great worth & acquirments entitle him to. With very sincere regard yours
James Monroe
RC (DLC).
1. Benjamin Vaughan (1751–1835) was an English writer of scientific and political bent who was a strong supporter of the American Revolution. He came to the United States in 1796 and settled in the Maine district of Massachusetts where he took up experimental farming (, 6:132 n. 1).
2. In the autumn of 1782, Vaughan provided reports of the peace negotiations in Paris to William Petty, marquis of Landsdowne (1737–1805), known as Lord Shelburne during his tenure as prime minister (ibid.). Vaughan had been the intimate friend of Benjamin Franklin since at least 1775 (Labaree et al., Papers of Benjamin Franklin, 21:441–42).