1From James Madison to Elbridge Gerry, 14 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have been obliged as you will note to avail myself of your indulgence in answering your favor the 20th. Ult. I have looked over attentively your observations at the Cambridge Meeting, and tho’ I do not enter into the aptitude of all your observations, I perceive in them a very interesting view of our public affairs. On the question whether a publication of them would be useful, I am...
2From James Madison to Elbridge Gerry, 21 June 1811 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for your polite communication of the Speech to your Legislature. The solid & seasonable truths so emphatically inculcated in it, can not fail to do much good. The noise & anger which it is exciting, prove that the faction is deeply stung by the exposure of its guilt, and will increase the public indignation, by rousing a more diffusive attention to the subject. The delay of Mr....
3From John Quincy Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 30 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
“The Massachusetts election appears to agitate the Americans in Europe almost exclusively; of all the elections going on at the same time in many parts of the union, I see paragraphs in the newspapers, but hear not a syllable from any other quarter. But American federalists in this city, have received letters from their friends in London and in Gothenburg, in high exultation announcing the...
4From James Madison to Elbridge Gerry, 6 March 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 25. Feby. inclosing a resolve of the Legislature of Massachusetts relating to a supply of Blankets, and other requisite articles. The information conveyed by it, is the more agreeable, as it shews at once, the progress of some of the most useful branches of Manufacture, and the patriotic spirit of the State comprizing them. The proper enquiries &...
5From James Madison to Elbridge Gerry, 9 May 1812 (Madison Papers)
I duly recd. your favor of the 25th. inclosing the Report of the Adjutant Genl. The latter I have put into the hands of the Secy. of War; whose local knowledge will aid him in appreciating the difficulties pointed out by that officer. I hope they will be in a great measure overcome, by the judicious course you have taken in consequence of the Call made on your portion of the Natnl. Militia....
6From James Madison to Elbridge Gerry, 3 June 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have been so intensely occupied since I was favored with your two letters of the 19th. & 20th. May, that I could not snatch an earlier moment to acknowledge them. It gives me much pleasure to learn that you retain so much confidence in the soundness & firmness of the great body of the friends to republican principles, with respect to an assertion of the national rights, in the only mode now...
7Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 11 June 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
It has given me great pleasure to recieve a letter from you . it seems as if, our antient friends dying off, the whole mass of the affections of the heart survives undiminished to the few who remain. I think our acquaintance commenced in 1764. both then just of age. we happened to take lodgings in the same house in New York . our next meeting was in the Congress of 1775 . and at various times...
8From Abigail Smith Adams to William Eustis, 5 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
I address you upon a subject of much delicacy and which from circumstances which must be well known to you makes me diffident in presenting to your view the oldest Revolutiary Feild officer now Living. I presume I need not name to you his former Services, nor the loss of property which his Family sustaind by the Enemy, nor the wounds he received in the Service, or those qualification, which so...
9From James Madison to Elbridge Gerry, [5 January] 1813 (Madison Papers)
Your two favors of have been some time on hand. I believe it may be assumed, that no meeting of Congress will take place immediately after the 4th. of March. The Senate has usually been detained a few days, for the sake of appointments growing out of the laws of session. It is always possible, and must be so considered at present, that other business requiring their decision, may prolong their...
10From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 28 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
Vive la bagatelle. How shall we cure that distemper of the Mind State Vanity? You know to what a degree the ancient dominion was infected with it, and how many Sacrifices We have been obliged to make to it. You remember, how Pensilvania had it. “Pensilvania was first in Arts and Arms,”! “Philadelphia was the heart of the Union.” So said George Ross. Dr Lyman Hall of Georgia, readily...