1Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 4 December 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Joseph Jones and addressed to “His Excellency The Governor of Virginia Richmond.” JM wrote the postscript. Relying on the assurances given by your Excellency, that we should be releived from our embarrassments here, by the agency of Mr. Ross to whom our supply had been committed, we ceased from further representations on that head, believing them to be...
2Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 18 December 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). Written by JM. Docketed, “Lre from Delegates in Congress Decr 27. 1781.” Probably the letter reached Harrison in Richmond on that date. At the request of Baron Steuben, a letter from him to your Excellency is herewith inclosed. The paper from the Secretary of War to Congress also inclosed is an answer to the two Resolutions of the General Assembly...
3Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 1 January 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written and franked by JM. Addressed to “His Excellency Benjamin Harrison Esqr. Governor of Virginia[.] Public service.” A Letter from Genl Heath who commands the army on the North River, dated the 26th. Ulto: informs Congress that an intelligent person from N. York had reported to him that an embarkation of troops was taking place there, that he saw a part of them...
4Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 8 January 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Edmund Randolph. Docketed: “Lre from Delegates in Congress Dated Jany 8th. 1782[.] Inclosing Mr D Murrays papers[,] Also facts and reasons respecting the incorporation of the National Bank.” Your excellency’s favor of the 28th. Ulto, not having acknowledged the receipt of our despatches by Capt. Irish, we shall repeat them, unless the next post should...
5Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 15 January 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Edmund Randolph and addressed to “His excellency the governor of Virginia Richmond.” Having informed your excellency in our last letter, that we should repeat our dispatches, transmitted to Capt. Irish, unless you should announce the receipt of them by yesterday’s post, and hearing nothing from the executive, we shall prepare them for the mail of the...
6Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 24 January 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (University of North Carolina Library: Southern Historical Collection). The letter was written by Edmund Randolph. It is docketed: “Lre from our Delegates in Congress Janry 24. 1782. Reced Febry 7th:” The minister plenipotentiary of France communicated to us this afternoon the inclosed extract from a letter of Count de Vergennes. We are happy to find, that the supplies, which your...
7Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 1 February 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Franked by Edmund Randolph. Docketed, “Virga Delegates recd 14 Febry 1782.” The post of the present week having failed to arrive in this city on its usual day (Tuesday) and our letters not coming to hand until this morning (Friday) we can answer your excellency’s favor of the 17th. instant only by acknowledging the receipt of it. We have the honor sir to be with...
8Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 8 February 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed extract (Stan. V. Henkels Catalogue No. 1170 [2 June 1916], p. 34). The catalogue states that this letter, four pages in length, is dated as below and signed by JM, Joseph Jones, and Edmund Randolph. The dispatch is apparently in JM’s hand. It was found that great quantities of British goods, were brought by circuitous commerce into these States, that this trafic tending to strengthen...
9Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 15 February 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Joseph Jones. Docketed, “Virga. Delegates Letters, Feby. 15th. 1782. inclosg. resolution of Congress respectg Beef & men.” We have your favor of the 2d. with the inclosures. those for Monsr. Mazzei shall be delivered to the minister of foreign affairs with request to forward them in the manner desired. Although general Greenes information of the number...
10Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 25 February 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Joseph Jones. Docketed, “Virga. Delegates Letter recd March 7. 1782. Feby: 25th.” We have your Excellencys favor of the 9th. of this month. Since our last the plan for the final settlement of the public accounts from the commencement of the War to the 1st. of Janry. 1782, which we formerly mentioned to be under consideration has been adjusted and agreed...
11Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 5 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Joseph Jones. Docketed, “Virga Delegates Lr. recd. March. 1782. March 5th.” This weeks Post has brot. us no Letter from your Excellency. Mr. Ross has directed Mr. Whiteside a mercht. of this City to pay us £200 each, which will enable those of us who have been sometime here to discharge our outstanding balances but will leave a small sum only for future...
12Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 12 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Joseph Jones. Docketed, “Del: in Congress March 12th 1782.” We are honoured with your favors of the 22d. ult. and 1st. instant the last covering a resolution of the House of Delegates of the 5th. of Jan[ua]ry last which we had before received and lodged a Copy with the supertendt. of Finance. We cannot at present return a full answer to your request...
13Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 19 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Except for the signatures of JM and Joseph Jones, the letter was written, franked, and addressed by Arthur Lee to “His Excellency Benjamin Harrison Esqr. Governor of Virginia.” Docketed, “Virga. Delegates Lr. March 19th 1782.” The Motion we made for Congress to accept the Beef, that might be supplied by the State for the southern Army above her former quota of that...
14Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 26 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written and franked by Arthur Lee. Docketed: “Virga. Delegates Lr. recd. Apl 82[.] March 26h 1782[.] Latest advices from Europe indicate determination of British Cabinet to continue the War.” The Superintendant of Finance informs us, that he has sent a proposition to our Executive which he conceives will answer the object of our motion relative to the supply of...
15Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 2 April 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Arthur Lee. Docketed, “Letter from Delegates April 2d 1782.” We had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s letter of the 23d. ult. with the Papers for Congress which we shall present. We are obliged to your Excellency for your intelligence from the W. Indies, which we hope will be confirmed. Mr. Foster Webb will receive every assistance we can give...
16Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [17 April] 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed extract (Paul C. Richards Catalogue No. 11 [1964], item 266). The catalogue describes the manuscript as comprising two pages written by JM and bearing the signatures of Joseph Jones, Theodorick Bland, JM, and Arthur Lee. We thought it necessary to have a decision from Congress relative to the cession of our western territory, for the information of the ensuing Assembly; & therefore...
17Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 17 April 1782 (Madison Papers)
The enclosd relation was directed by Congress to be transmitted to the Executives of Virginia & Pensylvania, that they might make enquiry into the facts, & take such measures in it as they deemed proper. Your Excellency’s Letter, touching the capture in north Carolina, remains yet unreported on. We thought it necessary to have a decision from Congress, relative to the cession of our western...
18Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 23 April 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by JM. Docketed, “Lr from Delegates partly in Cypher May 82[.] April 23d 1782.” “May 82” probably signifies when the letter was received. Italicized words in the present copy appear in the manuscript as numbers, conforming with the so-called “official cypher.” A decoding and an encoding page are in the Virginia State Library. Your Excellency’s favor of the...
19Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 30 April 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Addressed, “His Excelly. B. Harrison Esqr.” Entirely in JM’s hand except for the signatures of the other delegates. The words in the official cipher are here italicized. Accompanying the recipient’s copy is a sheet upon which the second paragraph of the letter was decoded by Archibald Blair, clerk of the Council of State. We have not the honor of acknowledging any...
20Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 7 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand. Addressed to “His Excelly. The Governor of Virginia.” Docketed: “Virga. Delegates Letter May 7th recd May 16. 82[.] Will soon send information as to Inhabitant[s] transfered from Jurisdiction of Virginia to that of Pensylvania. Fifty commissions forwarded by Secretary of Congress for armed Vessels. A vigorous effort to expel the enemy from our country...
21Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 14 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (McGregor Library, University of Virginia). In JM’s hand. Docketed: “Lr. from the Virga Delegates[.] May 23d. 1782[.] referred to the Committee appd: to prepare Instructions to the Delegates in Congress.” This statement is discussed in n. 13. In our letter of the 17th Ulto. we informed your Excelly. that we had called upon Congress for a decision on the report of the Committee on the...
22Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 28 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Theodorick Bland except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “Letter from Virga Delegates recd June 6 1782.” The words written by Bland in the official cipher are italicized below. Accompanying the letter are three pages upon which the cipher was decoded by Archibald Blair, clerk of the Council of State. The state of News as it respects the action of the French...
23Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 4 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Theodorick Bland, except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “1782. June 4th.” Our last of the 28th. Ultimo informed your Excelly. fully of the State of News at this place, Since which nothing material has happened, except what the enclosed News Paper contains. There yet remains some doubt relative to the event of the Action of the two fleets in the West...
24Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [11] June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (New York State Historic Sites, Albany, N.Y.). Entirely in the hand of Theodorick Bland, Jr., except for JM’s signature. Although the cover is missing, the title by which the recipient is addressed, along with the contents of the letter, establishes the identity of the addressee. The complete date probably should be 11 June 1782 in view of the nature of the information in the dispatch and...
25Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 18 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand except for Bland’s signature. JM wrote all italicized words in the official cipher. Docketed, “Virga Dels Lr. June 18th 1782.” Accompanying the manuscript in the Virginia State Library is a page upon which the second paragraph of the letter was decoded by Archibald Blair, clerk of the Council of State. The Post having been robbed of his mail on his...
26Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 25 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand, except for Bland’s signature. Docketed, “Lr. f’m Del. in Congress June 25 82.” Your Excellency’s favor of the 15th. came safe to hand yesterday. The loss of the mail of the preceding week is the more regretted, as we understand that a packet from N. York for England which had been intercepted and carried into N. Carolina, made a part of it. A private...
27Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 2 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand, except the signatures of Bland and Lee. Addressed to “His Excellency. The Honble B. Harrison.” Docketed: “Virga Delegates Lr. July 82[.] July 2d 1782.” We had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor of the 22. Ultimo by yesterday’s mail. All the late intelligence from Europe which has not been already communicated, is contained in the gazettes...
28Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 9 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand except for Arthur Lee’s signature. Addressed to “His Excelly. Governor Harrison.” Docketed, “Virga Delegates Letter July 9th 1782.” Your Excellency’s favor of the 29th. of June inclosing a letter to Mr. Irwin & a bill of exchange in his favor from Mr. O. Pollock was received this morning. The defect of intelligence which rendered our last so...
29Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 16 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Arthur Lee except for Theodorick Bland’s signature. Docketed, “Virga Delegates Letter July July 16th 1782.” Although JM did not sign the letter, it clearly was written on his, as well as Bland’s and Lee’s behalf. The omission of his signature may be explained by the comment at the close of JM’s letter to Pendleton of this date ( q.v. ). We had the honor...
30Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 23 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In Arthur Lee’s hand, except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “Lr. from Virga Delegates rec’d Augst 1st. 82 July 23d. 1782.” The cover is missing. The Letter of the 11th. with which your Excellency honord us, came safe with the enclosd Resolves, which we shall lay before Congress The Super-intendant’s Contract, for the main Army, is ten pence pensylvania curry. per...
31Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 30 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In Theodorick Bland’s hand, except for JM’s and Lee’s signatures. Addressed to “His Excellency the Governor of Virginia.” Docketed, “Virga Delegates Lr., July 30. 82 July, 1782.” Cover missing. We deliverd the Letter to the Chevalier de la Luzerne, enclosd in that your Excellency honord us with on the 19, together with the apology you desird for your...
32Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 6 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed copy ( Burnett, Letters Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). , VI, 427–28, and n. 6). Around 1930 the manuscript was owned by Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia. Arthur Lee rather than JM seems to have been the draftsman. See n. 9, below. Endorsed by Harrison, “to be laid before Ass.” We received the Letter your Excellency...
33Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 9 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Arthur Lee, except for the signatures of Theodorick Bland and JM. The third page of the letter is docketed, “Virginia Delegates to Govr of Virginia Augt 19. 1782.” The cover is franked by “A. Lee,” addressed to “His Excellency The Governor of Virginia,” and docketed, “Lr. f’m Virga. Del. August 19. 82.” The dates on these two dockets should have been “9”...
34Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 13 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Theodorick Bland, except for the signatures of JM and Arthur Lee. The last (fourth) page of the letter is docketed, “Letter from Delegates Augt 13th 1782.” Filed with the letter is its enclosure—a copy of a letter of 12 August from Secretary at War Benjamin Lincoln to Bland. This and the delegates’ letter were placed, after receipt, in a paper wrapper...
35Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [ca. 20] August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Theodorick Bland, except for the signatures of JM and Arthur Lee. Lacks cover and docket. Both the contents of this letter and the delegates’ practice of writing weekly to the governor on Tuesday, the post day, make it probable that 20 August is the correct date. We have been duely hond. with your Excellys of the 8th Inst. Since our last such a dearth of...
36Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 27 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (New-York Historical Society). Written by Theodorick Bland, except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “Lr. f’m Virginia Delegates August 27th.” We were yesterday Hond. with your Excellys letter by post dated Augt. 16th. together with the resolution of the Assembly 2d. July 1782. we shall pay due attention to your desire concerning the Resolution and in our next transmit your Excelly. an account...
37Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [3 September] 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed extract (Parke-Bernet Galleries Catalogue No. 2124 [20 September 1962], p. 30). The letter is described as follows: “ Madison, James ; Theodoric Bland, and Arthur Lee. A.L.s. by Bland, signed also by Madison as ‘ J. Madison Jr .’ and by Lee as ‘ A. Lee ’; 2 pp. 4to, integral blank leaf docketed on verso; Philadelphia, 3 Sept. 1782; with an erroneous pencil note suggesting that the...
38Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 3 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
Yesterday’s Post arrived without any letter from your Excellency. We laid before Congress the resolution of the assembly, relating to the emission of the 18th. of March 1780, and the destruction of the old Continental money by Commissioners within the states, which was refer’d to the Superintendt. of finance to report generally upon—as the steps to be taken on the Resolution of our Assembly,...
39Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 10 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand, except for the signatures of Bland, Lee, and Jones. Addressed by JM to “His Excelly. Govr. Harrison.” Docketed, “Lr. f’m Virga. Delegates Sept. 10. 82.” The cover is missing. Your Excellency’s favors of the 23. and 30. Ulto. were recd. yesterday. Not recollecting that any resolutions of Congress declaratory of their ultimate sense with regard to...
40Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [ca. 17] September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Pierpont Morgan Library, New York City). In JM’s hand, except for Arthur Lee’s signature. Addressed to “His Excelly. Governor Harrison.” Cover missing. The copy of sundry late resolutions of Congress herewith inclosed will inform your Excellency of the necessity they have been under of enlarging their requisitions on the States. This necessity has resulted in part from the perseverance of...
41Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 24 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (American Philosophical Society). In JM’s hand, except for signatures of Joseph Jones, Arthur Lee, and Theodorick Bland. Cover missing but contents make certain that the letter was addressed to Governor Harrison. Yesterday’s post brought us no letter from your Excellency. That of the 5th. instant which had not arrived at the date of our last was received a few days after. By the two...
42Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 1 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand, except for the signatures of Joseph Jones and Arthur Lee. Addressed by JM to “His Excelly. Govr. Harrison.” Docketed, “Lr frm Virga Delegates Oct. 1. 82.” Your Excellency’s favor of the 20th. of Sepr. was recd. yesterday. Whatever curiosity or wonder might be excited by the letter in the post office addressed to you from Sr. G. Carlton with an...
43Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [8 October] 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In Joseph Jones’s hand, except for JM’s signature. Although the top of the manuscript is torn so that the date is missing, the docket reads, “Lr f’m Virga Delegates Oct. 8. 82.” The mutilated condition of the bottom of the manuscript obliged the bracketed insertions of words and letters which may have been there originally. The cover is missing. We are honoured...
44Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [15 October] 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed copy ( Burnett, Letters Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). , VI, 507). The contents of the letter and the fact that the dates of the Virginia delegates’ letters of 1 , 8 , and 22 ( qq.v ) are established permit little doubt that the present dispatch was dated on 15 October, the Tuesday post day. The original manuscript...
45Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 22 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand. Addressed to “His Excelly Govr. Harrison.” Cover missing. Docketed, “Lr f’m Virginia Delegates inclosg Memorial of S. Nathan 1782 Oct 22d.” Your Excellency’s favor of the 12th. instant came duly to hand yesterday. A Vessel lately arrived at Boston brought Congress a letter from Mr. Adams dated Hague Aug: 18th. 1782. The paper No. 1. herewith inclosed...
46Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 29 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed copy ( Burnett, Letters Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). , VI, 527–28). Addressed to “His Excell’y Govr. Harrison.” Around 1930 Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia owned the manuscript. Judging from the style of the letter, it was written by JM, except for Bland’s signature. We yesterday recd. your Excellency’s favor of...
47Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 5 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed copy ( Burnett, Letters Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). , VI, 532). Another copy of the letter, which omits its date line, salutation, first sentence, and complimentary close, is in Samuel T. Freeman & Co. (Philadelphia), Catalogue, 1947, Peck Sale, Part I, item 151. Except for these omissions, the text of the two...
48Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 19 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Virginia Miscellaneous Collection, 1773–1789). In JM’s hand, except for Joseph Jones’s signature. Addressed to “His Excy. Govr. Harrison.” We had the honor yesterday of your Excellency’s letter of the 8th. inst. 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...
49Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 26 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand. Docketed, “Letter f’m Virga Del—Nov. 26. 82.” In answer to your Excellency’s letter of the 8th. as far as it relates to Capt: Pierce, we inclose the late Acts of Congress making further reductions in the army, with the remarks of the Secy at War on the operation of those acts in the case of that officer. In the latter will also be found such...
50Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 3 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand. The cover is franked by “J. Madison Jr.,” addressed to “His Excellency Benjamin Harrison Esqr. Richmond,” and docketed, “Letter from Virg Dels Decr. 3d. 82.” The words italicized in the letter are those written by JM in the official cipher. From a consultation with the Secy at War we concluded that it would be fruitless, and therefore unadvisable to...