31To James Madison from James Pleasants Jr., 18 May 1817 (Madison Papers)
This letter will be handed you by my son John H. Pleasants. Going into your neighbourhood for a few days, and feeling the highest veneration for your character, he feels the strongest inclination to enjoy the pleasure of seeing you. With a view of indulging that inclination I have taken the liberty of troubling you in this mode of introducing him. Be pleased to present me most respectfully to...
32To James Madison from George M. Dallas, 19 May 1817 (Madison Papers)
In reviewing and examining my father’s papers, with the design of giving ornament and interest to his biography, I have derived incalculable pleasure from the perusal of letters written by you. They are very numerous; and (with some exceptions of a closely confidential character) treat of topics so important, in a manner so delightful, and so authentic, that I cannot estimate the value, their...
33To James Madison from Donald Fraser Sr., 8 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
Notwithstanding, my not having the honor of a personal acquaintance, yet, I trust, that, the well known, suavity of your disposition will induce you to pardon my freedom in addressing you at present. Knowing, that for many years past, your highly useful life, has been Devoted to the promotion of the best interests of your beloved Country: I [s]hou’d not have intruded upon your retireme[n]t,...
34To James Madison from George Bomford, 13 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 7th. Current has been duly received. The Contract as now proposed by Mr. Eddins for 12000 Stocks is perfectly satisfactory, although a preference would have been given to the number first proposed. I therefore beg leave to enclose to you the agreement executed by me, which you will please to deliver to Mr. Eddins on his furnishing you a Corresponding one, executed by himself,...
35To James Madison from Dominick Lynch Jr., 14 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
“The American Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Manufactures,” instituted in this city, sensible of the zeal, you have uniformly displayed, in the promotion of every object, connected with the Welfare and Independence of our country, had the honor to elect you a member, at their last meeting convened on the 13th. Inst., for the purpose of initiating into the Society, James Monroe,...
36To James Madison from James P. Preston, 14 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of May last with its enclosure an Extract Signed Valentine Gill. At the next meeting of the Board of Public Works, I will submit it, that I may receive their instructions, whether or not an inquiry shall be made after that gentleman. The acquirements and qualifications, which Mr Gill states himself to be possessed of being “A...
37To James Madison from John Adams, 17 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
Accept my thanks for your favour of last month. The safe Arrival of your books has quieted my conscience. There is nothing within the narrow Compass of human knowledge more interesting, than the Subject of your Letter. If “the Idea of a Government in one Center Seems to be every where exploded” perhaps Something remains, undefined, as dangerous, as plausible and pernicious as that Idea. Half a...
38To James Madison from George Joy, 17 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
I have already sent you original and duplicate of the enclosed; and I am sorry to say that my Correspondence with Dr. Eustis leaves the question of the appointment to the Consul Generalship of Holland under considerable doubt, which is by no means removed by a Letter he has written Mr: Adams—“Had Mr: Joy been at Rotterdam” he says “he would have had strong Claims; but under the necessity of...
39To James Madison from Richard Rush, 18 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
When it became my lot to superintend for a short time, the business of the department of state, I little imagined, that among the foreign ministers, the Abbe Correa was the one with whom my official relations were to be the least smooth. Having imbibed a veneration for his character and genius, struck with the engaging simplicity of his manners and liberality of his principles, I had, on the...
40To James Madison from William Thornton, 18 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
The Bearer of this, Mr: Thomas Freeborn, is desirous of visiting Mr: Jefferson & yourself, and has requested me to favor him with a line. He would have brought Letters from respectable Gentlemen of New York, where he is a very respected Character, as I have ample testimony of, but he did not think of going further South than this. He has no particular Business, but to see those great men of...
41To James Madison from Richard Rush, 20 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
We have latterly had no papers from abroad. Mr Adams seems to have ceased sending them, probably from his preparations to come home. His last letter to the department stated his expectation to embark before the first of June. As to the French papers they come to us but seldom, and amount to but little when they do come. With Russia, France and Spain, our relations continue, I believe, just as...
42To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
In two packages, distinct from this letter, I return you your father’s meteorological diaries, which you were so kind as to lend me, and a piece on paper money recieved from you some time ago. From the former I have made out tables of rain and snow, and a calendar of animal and vegetable matters announcing the advance of seasons. Having now compleated 7. years of observations since my return...
43To James Madison from Charles Valérie de Perron, 22 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
It being nearly impossible for me to do my self the honour of presenting the inclosed letter, I take the liberty to forward it to you, desiring to be permitted to expose the reasons and motives of my proceeding. Circumstances having obliged me to delay my departure from France, after my last interview with the marquis de la Fayette I could not reach this place before november last year. I...
44To James Madison from Alexander Garrett, 24 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
After you left this, a difficulty occured in obtaining the title to the lands purchased for the Central College, that difficulty was not removed untill yesterday, when a title was obtained; the prospect of raising a considerable sum by individual donations to the College is now truly flattering. I am advised to (and now with great diffidence & due deference) inclose you a copy of the...
45To James Madison from Michael Hutton, 25 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
England ought to have been the Garden of the World, as it respects the management of Agriculture, and she certainly has done much in this way, but very very far short indeed, of what might have been done, too much consequence has been placed upon some other Systems, where more rapid Fortunes could be made, but as I have uniformly declared to my Private Friends that Riches so accumulated would...
46To James Madison from David Gelston, 26 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed was received in due course, no proper opportunity presented until a few days since, on presenting the letter, the Gentleman observed, that Mr Gill had left Halifax, and he believed for the United States, but for what State he did not know. I have thought best to return the letter to you, if I should learn where Mr Gill is, I shall advise you. Very respectfully, I am, Sir, your...
47To James Madison from Edmond Kelly, 1 July 1817 (Madison Papers)
I am aware that to write on public business to a Gentn who retired from it, if on any common or ordinary occurrence would be improper. I wd. not—& am sorry the nature of the Comn. renders appology unnecessary because as you have held the first rank & enjoyed the confidence and Esteem of all good Citizens honor gratitude & Duty impose on you the sacred obligation of a public Guardian of their...
48To James Madison from Richard Bland Lee, 2 July 1817 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed I send you a letter from Mrs. Lee to Mrs. Madison, to whom be pleased to present my best respects & wishes, which was intended to have been conveyed by Mr. Todd. It affords me very great satisfaction to hear from every quarter, that you enjoy in your delightful retirement fine health with philosophic Ease. That you may long continue in possession of these blessings, enhanced as they...
49To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 5 July 1817 (Madison Papers)
I was honored by your letter of March last on the 11th. of that month. The papers inclosed came safely to hand. The subject of the cotton culture, commerce and manufacture can never cease to be of primary interest to any man who understands and feels a concern in the means of promoting the wealth of the United States. The present embarrassments of the maritime commerce of the world, in which...
50To James Madison from Charles Stewart, 6 July 1817 (Madison Papers)
I have been honor’d by the receipt of your Excellencys letter & inclosures of the 30th Ulto. I hasten to assure you, that whatever is in my power to serve the General Fayett or his friends, will be afforded with the greatest pleasure. If Mr. Deperron is desirous of embarking onbd. the Franklin as a passenger, he is most heartily welcom, and to everything my Cabin & personal attention, will...
51To James Madison from Edward Caffarena, 12 July 1817 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to present my respects to You Sir the 25th: of July last Year, giving you notice, that I had Shipped on Board the Ship Gosport of Philadelphia, Isaiah Bunker Master, two Boxes to your address containing a Statue of Bonaparte, with a Pedestal, and finding myself deprived of your new’s accusing the reception of the same, this induces me by way of precaution to inclose herein a...
52To James Madison from John Love, 15 July 1817 (Madison Papers)
I had the pleasure of seeing the President who passed on this road in the spring to Washington, and who being satisfyed from the appearance of the Lawler wheat contrasted with the common kinds, that it was not injured by the hessian fly, engaged with me for 200 bushls: for himself, and requested I would also reserve the same quantity for you, to whom He said He would write. Not having had the...
53To James Madison from Hezekiah Niles, [ca. 15] July 1817 (Madison Papers)
After revolving upon some suitable apology for intruding myself with the following statement and request, I have thought it most respectful to decline offering any, expect [ sic ] to observe that if ought appears to your better judgment improper in either, that you will attribute it to any thing else than a willingness on my part to act so in any respect towards you. For six years ending with...
54To James Madison from Albert Gallatin, 17 July 1817 (Madison Papers)
On my return from Geneva, I found your friendly letter of March last. Most sincerely do I congratulate you on the happy & honorable termination of your political labours. Few indeed have the good fortune, after such career as yours, to carry in their retirement, the entire approbation of their fellow citizens with that of their own conscience. Never was a country left in a more flourishing...
55To James Madison from John Pope, 20 July 1817 (Madison Papers)
If you have retained a letter I wrote you about the first of April 1812 the day preceding your message to Congress recommending an embargo, you would oblige me by enclosing it or a copy to me by mail with an endorsment of the time or about the time it was received. I trust it is unnecessary for me to assure you that no improper use is intended to be made of the letter. I do not know if I was...
56To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 23 July 1817 (Madison Papers)
The promptitude & success of our subscription paper, now amounting to upwards of 20,000. D. with a prospect much beyond that renders the decision immediately necessary of some important questions which I had thought might have laid over to our periodical meeting the last of September. Having an opportunity of writing to Genl. Cocke, I invited him to join me in a visit to you on Friday the...
57To James Madison from James Monroe, 27 July 1817 (Madison Papers)
I am so far on my route westward, after having extended my tour to the East, as far as Portland, whence I return’d to Dover in N Hamshire, & came thence, by Concord, & Hanover, into Vermont, at windsor, & by montpelier, & Burlington to this place. I visited yesterday Rouse’s point, which is within a few hundred yards of the boundary line. I met her⟨e⟩ Genl Brown, and to morrow we proceed,...
58To James Madison from Thomas Todd, 27 July 1817 (Madison Papers)
I regret very much that your request respecting the horses has not been sooner complied with, the delay is attributible to a variety of causes, which it would be tedious to both you & myself to detail. I now have the pleasure of sending you four bays—One four years old, two of them five and one six—they have been since my last under the management of a person in whose Judgement & integrity I...
59To James Madison from Thomas Todd, 6 August 1817 (Madison Papers)
Since my return from Lexington from whence I wrote you, Mrs. T. has received two letters from her son Walter, pressing for permission to spend the ensuing winter in Philadelphia & attend the lectures of Dr. Cooper. As the request is complied with, I have to solicit the favour of you to advance to him (if convenient) such sum of money as you deem necessary for the outfit & to fix him there til...
60To James Madison from Joseph C. Cabell, 22 August 1817 (Madison Papers)
As soon after the afflicting scene produced by the death of my mother as I could find time to write I have copied the enclosed papers for the loan of which I return you my sincere thanks. It is to be regretted that such tables are not kept at all the colleges along the atlantic Coast, as well. They would soon throw abundant light on the nature of our climate. I have sent subscription papers...