1To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Randolph, with a Memorandum by Jefferson, 9 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As your excellency and the council probably have not access to Vattel, on whose doctrines this hasty answer is founded, I shall inclose the paragraph from his work, which treats of the right of soldiery to booty. They seem to amount to this: that booty does in strictness belong to the commonwealth; but that late usage has divided it among the captors, military stores excepted. Now I believe,...
2Proposals to Furnish Delegates Copies of Papers to Be Debated, [ca. 28 December] 1781 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 23, fol. 79). Docketed: “Report of Comee. on Motion of Mr. Middleton Decr. 28. 1781 Mr. Middleton Mr. Clymer Mr. Clark for furnishing the members of Congress with printed Reports before debated.” The first of the proposals shown below is in Edmund Randolph’s hand, the second in JM’s. Resolved, that the secretary upon application to him made for that purpose furnish a copy...
3To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 8 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Addressed by him to “The honble. James Madison jr. esq of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “Novr 8. 1782.” The house of delegates was within two members to day of a sufficient number to proceed to business. Among the reformations, suggested in my last letter but one, the foremost will probably be some attack on those debtors to...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Randolph, 31 August 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
No new Occurrence at Cambridge can justify an Intrusion on the well-employ’d Moments of a Delegate. I must, however, urge you, to assign a Reason for the Supineness of Virginia, amidst the Robberies, and other Violations of private Property, said to have been committed by Lord Dunmore. He plunders Custom-Houses, and reviews his Body-Guard at Gosport, unarrested. What is the Conclusion from...
5To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 30 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed by him to “The honble James Madison jr. esq of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “Aug: 30. 1782.” I am rejoiced to hear from Mr. F. Webb, that a succour, altho’ it is moderate, is to be forwarded by Mr. Ambler by the present mail. He can best tell you, how the prospect is of future puncituality towards the...
6To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 28 June 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed to “The honble James Madison jr. esq. of congress Philadelphia To go by the post.” Erroneously docketed by JM, “June 8. 1783.” The last post brought, as usual, your esteemed favor. The friends to the impost, as recommended by congress, finding, that the adoption of that measure in the form of the bill, then depending...
7To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 5 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The letter is not signed, but it is in Randolph’s hand. Addressed to “The honble James Madison jr. of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “May 5. 1782.” Your flattering urgency for my return, contained in your favor of the 23. Ulto. was answered by anticipation in my letter of last week. I still adhere to the same inclination to revisit you. By the next post, I...
8To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 27–29 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned and undocketed letter in Randolph’s hand. The cover is missing. The capture of the mail, announced in your favor of the 18th. instant, cannot thro’ my means avail the enemy, nor give pain to either of us. It is impossible indeed to recollect the contents of my letter, as it was leng[thy] but I believe, that the cypher was scarcely necessary for the...
9To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 24 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover missing. The address of congress has at length arrived, and received the commendations to which it is so justly intitled, and some of which I should enumerate here with cordiality, did I not perceive the marks, which it bears of your pen. Dr. Lee, who came yesterday, delivered me the copy, intrusted by you to him for my use. A...
10To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 11 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate your Excellency, as a Friend to the Reputation of Virginia, and the Interests of the Continent, that Colo. Harrison is again restored to the Councils of America. During his Absence at the Northward, he had been appointed one of our privy Council, but refused to qualify, as such. This afforded him an Opportunity, to vindicate himself from those malicious Insinuations, which first...
11To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 29 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned letter, in Randolph’s hand. Besides being so badly water(?)-stained that portions of the brief text have disappeared, the paper is torn unevenly across the lower edge. Although the message ends abruptly, it apparently is complete, because the margin at the bottom is sufficiently wide and free from stain to show additional words if Randolph had written them....
12To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 15 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your excellency’s favour, desiring me to communicate with Mr Lund Washington on the subject of Colo. Mercer’s affairs, has been duly received. I have written to him on the subject; informing him, that the application of Mr John Mercer for the b ond was founded on an order of the high court of chancery. He was directed to give bond, and, I believe, he has done so tho’ of this I am not I cannot...
13To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 7 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Lacks complimentary close and signature, but the text, in Randolph’s hand, seems to be complete. The cover was addressed by him to “The honble. James Madison jr. esq of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “Sepr. 7. 1782.” I waited upon Mr. Ambler to shew him your letter by yesterday’s post, but he was too much indisposed to have communication with any person. Mr....
14To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Randolph, 27 July 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 27 July 1779 . Detailed account of Wayne’s capture of Stony Point on the Hudson, 15 July. Postscript reads: “You will oblige me much, by suggesting to me such reflections, as occur to you on the subject of peace: not on the propriety of making it, if possible, but on terms, necessary for America to insist on.” RC ( DLC ); 1 p. Printed in part: Conway, Edmund Randolph , p. 39–40.
15To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 7 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover missing. In my letter of last week, I mentioned, I believe, the great probability of Mr. Henry’s return to active legislation and my communication to him of the awful crisis, in which America seems to stand, but which his aid might tend to dissipate. As yet I have not received an answer: but I suggested to his recollection the...
16To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 18 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed by Randolph to “The honble James Madison jr. esq. of congress. Philadelphia.” Erroneously docketed by JM, “Aug: 18th. 1782.” On the cover he wrote, “Huddy Camp Front: N.Y Brit: fleet. Mr. Jones. Finance Contr: Money Mattrs. Cessions.” These jottings were to remind him of subjects to mention in his reply of 29 October (...
17To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 23 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned, but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed to “The honorable James Madison jr esq. of congress now in Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “August 23. 1783.” My trip to Baltimore, from which I returned last sunday, has occasioned the chasm in my correspondence. Mr. Nathan met me according to appointment, with an elaborate argument, prepared on paper by Mr. Sargent....
18To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 8 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your excellency will, I hope, readily believe, that I most cheerfully obey the commands of my brethren in the delegation, to transmit to you the vote of the Virginia assembly, expressing their sentiments of your conduct and exertions at York. We cannot pass by this favorable opportunity of declaring to your excellency the thorough coincidence of our feelings with theirs. Shall we beg the favor...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Randolph, 7 September 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
By the last post I suggested to you that our European affairs would probably bear greater delay than you apprehended. What you call your temporary disability will be removed early enough, to allow you to reach France by January. From Colo. Laurens’s account I am induced to believe, that Great Britain will never admit an American plenipotentiary into the congress, before which a general...
20To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 1 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed to “The honble. James Madison jr. esqr. of congress Philadelphia.” Unsigned letter, docketed by JM, “June 1st. 1782.” The senate have amended the resolution of the house of delegates, which I inclosed to you by the last post, respecting passports for the transportation of tobacco to New-York, so as to destroy its force. The delegates disagreed to their...
21To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 14 June 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed by him to “The honorable James Madison jr. esq. of congress. Philadelphia.” Cover docketed by JM, “June 14, 1783.” It is with real mortification, that I find an abortion of the scheme of impost. By some unaccountable revolution the zealous patrons have cooled, and seem united with its enemies to deal it out through our...
22To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 1 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Richmond , [ 1 Dec. 1780 ]. Randolph replies to GW’s “favor of the 12th of April” later than anticipated because of “an expectation of hearing from you soon after” regarding the settlement of disputes among those holding mortgages on George Mercer’s lands in Virginia. Randolph explains that the confused state of public records “rendered it difficult to lay our hands upon all the documents in...
23To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 10 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed to “The honble James Madison jr. of congress Philadelphia,” but unsigned. The handwriting and contents of the letter permit no doubt that Randolph wrote it. Words encoded by him in the official cipher are here italicized. Yesterday I received your favor of the 1st. instant, and took Dr. Lee by the hand at almost the same moment. His brother Richard Henry...
24To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 19 April 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I derive the sincerest pleasure from the prospect, which your punctuality of correspondence presents. I could not begin my part of our intercourse by letter until the last week: but the obstacles must be invincible, which shall prevent me from a weekly return in future. Our maritime code requires a small alteration. From the deference, which we paid to the...
25To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 15 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned and without complimentary close but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed by him to “The honble James Madison jr. Esq. of congress Philadelphia.” The date line and many words in the first six and last six lines of the text are so blotted as to be illegible or doubtfully legible. I had resolved before the receipt of your favor of the 2d. instant to change our...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Randolph, 22 February 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
The council board has been so much crouded with business of late, that I could not procure an order for the removal of Goodrich to Albemarle, ‘till this morning. I should not have delayed to comply with the resolution of Assembly so long, had it not been necessary to examine him in the county, in which it is supposed he committed the crime. The order for his removal went by express to day to...
27To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 18 July 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed by him to “The honble James Madison esqr Congress Princeton.” Docketed by JM, “July 18. 1783.” I have received by the last mail your two favors of June 30. & July 8. They satisfy me of what was before problematical, the propriety of the removal of congress to Princeton. But with what decency can you retreat from thence...
28To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 15 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed by him to “The honble James Madison Jr. esq of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “March 15. 1783.” I have not been able as yet to procure your expected favor from the post; nor shall I, until the return of the messenger, who carries this letter to the mail. We make considerable progress in the detection of the...
29To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 16 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). In Randolph’s hand but lacks signature, cover, and docket. The words in italics are those encoded by Randolph in the official cipher. Your favor of the 5th instant remained impenetrable in a great measure, from our misapprehension of the new cypher. I wish that the stimulus, administered in the close of it, had also been among the inscrutable arcana, until I had...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Randolph, 13 November 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Carrington, who is a defendant in the suit, brought by your Relation Jefferson vs. Reade’s administrators , obtained an order at the last court, that he, as being nonresident, should give security for costs at the next Term. Will you be so good, as to inform him of this, if he is within the circle of your correspondence? Be pleased to add, that dismission is the penalty on non compliance...