James Madison Papers
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Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 19 November 1782

Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison

RC (LC: Virginia Miscellaneous Collection, 1773–1789). In JM’s hand, except for Joseph Jones’s signature. Addressed to “His Excy. Govr. Harrison.”

Philada. Novr. 19th. 1782.

Sir

We had the honor yesterday of your Excellency’s letter of the 8th. inst.1 on the several subjects of which we must postpone an answer untill the next mail.

We are sorry to be obliged to repeat our inability to add any intelligence relative to the negociations for peace. Various reports prevail of the surrender of Gibralter, but they amount to nothing more than a small degree of probability.2 The investiture of Jamaica is also reported, but rests on still more slender testimony. There seems to be every proof of the evacuation of Charles-town short of an official report of it. Col: Bland set out on friday last for Richmond.3 To his information we beg leave to refer for a full state of all precedent circumstances.

We have the honor to be with great esteem Yr. Excelly’s obt. & hble servts.

Jos: Jones

J Madison Jr

1Q.v.

2See JM to Pendleton, 15 October 1782, n. 10. Neither this rumor nor either of the other two rumors mentioned in this paragraph conformed with fact. JM probably was reporting what he had read in the Pennsylvania Gazette of 13 November and in the Pennsylvania Journal of 16 November, and also stories, orally reported on the date of the present letter, which appeared in each of these newspapers on 20 November 1782.

3On 15 November 1782. See JM to Randolph, 12 November (first letter), and n. 5; Jefferson to JM, 26 November 1782.

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