1John Hollins to Thomas Jefferson, 4 August 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
The Rev d M r Sparks , the bearer of this, being on his travels in your part of Virg a and naturally feeling a desire to have an introduction to your worthy self—I have at the request of some of your friends, & my particular acquaintances, used the freedom to address you a few lines, introducing that Gentleman to your usual civilities & politeness=it is true I have no personal knowledge of M r...
2To James Madison from Jared Sparks, 22 May 1827 (Madison Papers)
After my return to Mount Vernon I looked through the letter books, and noted down the dates of all the letters recorded as having been sent to you by General Washington. The list is enclosed. Should you find upon inspection, that you possess letters of importance not comprised in this list, I hope you will have the goodness to furnish me with copies of the same. The letter dated Jany. 1789,...
3Jared Sparks to James Madison, 30 March 1831 (Madison Papers)
Having recently engaged to write a life of Gouverneur Morris, which is to be published with a selection from his writings, I take the liberty to apply to you for a few hints respecting the part he acted in the Convention of 1787. From several quarters I have understood, that he was an active member, and had a good deal of weight and influence, but the published account of that convention is so...
4Jared Sparks’s Visit to Montpelier, 25 April 1827 (Madison Papers)
April 25th, Wednesday. Breakfast at Orange Court House. Rode thence to Mr. Madison’s, four miles distant, where I spent the day most agreeably. My principal object in visiting Mr. Madison was to converse on historical matters pertaining to General Washington and Revolutionary times. I found him affable, ready to converse, full of interesting facts, and communicative. A few particulars related...
5Jared Sparks’s Account of a Visit to Monticello, [20 August 1820] (Jefferson Papers)
But one of the greatest curiosities I met with was Thomas Jefferson . Whether you will call this a natural or an artificial curiosity, I am puzzled to know. At all events, I went to see him at the exhibition-house at Monticello , up a long hill, which is almost daily trod by many a weary pilgrim’s foot. I was very kindly received and politely treated; and I think there are very few persons who...
6Jared Sparks to James Madison, 14 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
My mind has got into a new perplexity about Pinckney’s Draft of a Constitution. By a rigid comparison of that instrument with the Draft of the Committee reported August 6th, they are proved to be essentially, and almost identically, the same thing. It is impossible to resist the conviction, that they proceeded from one and the same source. This being established, the only question is, whether...
7To James Madison from Jared Sparks, 29 December 1827 (Madison Papers)
As Col. Peyton left Boston unexpectedly he did not receive the parcel of letters, as you proposed; but I forwarded them soon after by Col. Storrow, from whom I presume they came safely to your hands. I am now on my way to Washington preparatory to my departure for Europe, and if the letters have been sent to Mr Barbour I shall obtain them, but should this not have been done, you can keep them...
8To James Madison from Jared Sparks, 27 February 1828 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 7th: of January came safely to hand. I trust you have before this time received the packet of letters sent by Col. Storrow. Had any accident befallen them I think he would have informed me. It is probable he has waited for a safe conveyance. I have written him on the subject. As all Genl. Washington’s papers are put up in chests, and deposited in the safety vault of an...
9To James Madison from Jared Sparks, 25 August 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your two very obliging letters of May 30th. and Aug. 6th. have been received. Although you have already seen some of the letters sent by you to General Washington, yet I have tho’t it best to put the whole in the parcel, which I have left with Mr Coolidge for Col. Peyton. You will understand, therefore, that this parcel contains all the letters from you, which I have found among General...
10Jared Sparks to James Madison, 16 April 1835 (Madison Papers)
Will you allow me to ask a favor, which I cannot doubt you will very readily grant? By some accident, for which I cannot account, a letter from you to General Washington, dated Decr. 9th. 1786, has been mislaid or lost. I think I remember having seen the letter, but whether it was in the parcel that I sent to you I cannot say. General Washington alludes to it in such a manner, that it seems...
11Jared Sparks to Thomas Jefferson, 18 September 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I hope you will pardon the liberty I take in sending you a work, which I have lately published, and which accompanies this note. I know not whether the sentiments advanced in it agree in any respect with yours; but should you have leisure & inclination to look it over, I trust you will not be displeased with its manner & spirit. You will at least be ready to countenance any fair and liberal...
12Jared Sparks: Notes on conversations with James Madison, 19 April 1830 (Madison Papers)
The apportionment of taxation in the old states of 3/5 for slaves was decided rather from accident, than any accurate calculation. The subject caused much debate in Congress. The east and the south differed. The former was for a high ratio, the latter for a low;—¼, ½, 2/3 were proposed and rejected. At length Mr Madison proposed 3/5, which was accepted, & he still thinks it very near the true...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Jared Sparks, 13 January 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I hope you will pardon me for the liberty I take in sending you the last number of the North American Review. I have thought you might be pleased to see an article, which I have there drawn up, on the subject of colonizing free blacks in Africa. The interest, which you formerly took in the subject, encourages me to this belief. In another part of the work, (p. 163) you will see I have made...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Jared Sparks, 13 May 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Your kind favor of 8 th ult o reached me in Raleigh, and I write to thank you for the willingness you express to promote my project of a history of the Revolution. As my tour has already been much longer in duration than I expected, and as pressing duties at home demand my speedy return, I am compelled for the present to deny myself the pleasure of the visit to Monticello, which I...
15Jared Sparks to James Madison, 24 May 1831 (Madison Papers)
I am under many obligations to you for your full and satisfactory letter, respecting the part taken by Gouverneur Morris in the Convention. The information is valuable, & not to be obtained in any other Quarter. I should not trouble you at present, were it not for a hint contained in the postscript to your letter, respecting a pamphlet by Mr Morris on the threatened repeal of the law of...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Jared Sparks, 3 April 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
For some time past I have been contemplating a publication on the American Revolution, intended to embrace the substance of the most authentic materials, particularly such manuscript papers & documents, as have not yet been made public. In perusing the histories of the revolution hitherto written, I have been forcibly impressed with the belief, that the best of them exhibit only the shadows of...
17Jared Sparks to James Madison, 5 May 1830 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty to forward to you a recent number of the N. A. Review, which contains an article (p. 454) written by me respecting early revolutionary matters, in which you may possibly find some things to interest you, should you ever have leisure to look into it. Since my return I have conversed with Mr Adams concerning Charles Pinckney’s draft of a constitution. He says it was furnished...
18Jared Sparks to Thomas Jefferson, 20 August [1820] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Sparks accepts with pleasure Mr. Jefferson ’s invitation to dinner at 3 oclock. His friend and travelling companion, Mr. Steell of Baltimore will accompany him. RC ( NNPM ); partially dated; dateline at foot of text; addressed: “ Thomas Jefferson . Esqr. Montecello ”; endorsed by TJ as a letter of 20 Aug. 1820.
19Jared Sparks to James Madison, 23 March 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 13th inst, with a letter enclosed for Genl. Lafayette. It is uncertain whether I shall proceed directly to France after my arrival in England, or whether I shall first examine the papers in London. In this latter case I will take care that Genl. Lafayette’s letter shall be forwarded under cover to our minister at Paris, in such a manner as...
20Jared Sparks to James Madison, 17 January 1832 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment received your very obliging note of the 7th. instant. Yours of Nov. 25th. also came safely to hand. As to the main point in question, this letter seems to me conclusive, but I am still a good deal at a loss about the first draft of the Committee. The history of the composition of that draft would be a curious item in the proceedings of the convention. Perhaps it may...
21Jared Sparks to James Madison, 8 March 1830 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of March 28th. reached me after my return from Europe. I am glad that the packet committed to Col. Storrow got to you safely. Should it be convenient to you to send this parcel to Washington, to the care of Mr. Everett, as soon as Apl. 10th. I shall be there, and can bring it home with me; if not, it may be sent at any time hereafter to Mr Brent, of the Department of State, with a...
22Jared Sparks to James Madison, 16 June 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have procured from the Department of State a copy of the letter from Mr Charles Pinckney to Mr Adams, when he sent his draft for publication. This letter is so conclusive on the subject, that I do not think it necessary to make any further inquiry. It is evident, that the draft, which he forwarded, was a compilation made at the time from loose sketches and notes. The letter should have been...
23To James Madison from Jared Sparks, 12 April 1827 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed letter from Mrs Randolph was forwarded to me, with the expectation that I should hand it to you in person, but I have been prevented till the present time from proceeding farther south. In a few days, however, I hope to have the honor of waiting on you, and my chief motive for sending this letter in advance is, that I may intimate to you some of the purposes for which I am...
24Jared Sparks to James Madison, 15 April 1830 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of the 8th. instant, and shall accept with very great pleasure your kind invitation to visit Montpellier and examine the letters of General Washington in your possession. I shall probably go in the stagecoach, which I understand will reach Orange Court House on monday. Meantime please to accept the assurances of the perfect respect with which I am, Sir, your much...
25Jared Sparks to Thomas Jefferson, 12 November 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
In addressing you I am not certain that I do not take an inexcusable liberty, but it is one, which I am prompted to take, by the interest I feel in the subject respecting which I am about to make some inquiries. I observe in your Life of Capt. Lewis , prefixed to Lewis & Clarke ’s Travels, a short notice of our unfortunate countryman, Ledyard . I have always been an ardent admirer of this...
26Jared Sparks to James Madison, 16 July 1830 (Madison Papers)
I send you enclosed a copy of the extract contained in the Draft of Washington’s Farewell Address, as first transmitted by him to Hamilton. You will remember my saying to you, that this extract purports to be the Address, which he intended for the public, if he had resigned at the end of his first term. It is doubtless essentially the same as the Sketch you sent him. Perhaps it may have...