To James Madison from James Maury, 24 February 1827
From James Maury
Liverpool 24 Feby 1827
My dear Sir,
I am much indebted for your very acceptable letter of the 25 Novr,1 but cannot have the pleasure of answering it farther at this juncture.
With this are four Liverpool Mercuries: in two of them are remarks on Negroe Slavery in Virginia, in the two others, signed Virginian, the correctness of those remarks is disputed.2 I request to know if Virginian be right in what he states of the early aversion we evinced to this horrid traffic especially by our petition to the King. My reason for asking this is that I particularly suggested that matter to the Author, referring him to Walsh’s United States & Great Britain,3 from which he has copied it.
You must know I have often gloried in this, as being highly honorable to our native Land.
Lord Liverpool has just been visited by a paralytic stroke, which ’tis apprehended may prevent his continuance in office. I present the Ladies my best respects & wishes. Most sincerely yrs
James Maury
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. Letter not found.
2. The four issues of the Liverpool Mercury enclosed by Maury most likely were those of 26 January and 9 February 1827 containing articles by “James Cropper” and those of 2 and 16 February 1827 containing counterarguments signed “A Virginian.” The 2 February 1827 article by “A Virginian” included quotations from the 1772 “Petition against Importation of Slaves from Africa.”
3. Maury was referring to Robert Walsh Jr., An Appeal from the Judgments of Great Britain Respecting the United States of America ( 50024).