James Madison Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-08-02-0050

To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 1 July 1784

From Thomas Jefferson

Boston July 1. 1784.

Dear Sir

After visiting the principal towns through Connecticut, Rhode-island, this state & N. Hampshire in order to acquire what knowlege I could of their commerce & other circumstances I am returned to this place & shall sail the day after tomorrow in the Ceres bound for London: but my purpose is to get on shore in some boat on the coast of France & proceed directly to Paris. My servant being to set off to-day, & much on hand to prepare for my journey I have no time for any particular communications. Indeed there are few I should have to make unless I were to enter into a detail which would be lengthy as to the country & people I have visited. The lower house of this state have passed a bill giving Congress the powers over their commerce which they had asked: it has had two readings with the Senate & meets with no opposition. I find the conviction growing strongly that nothing can preserve our Confederacy unless the band of Union, their common council be strengthened. I inclose you a letter from mrs. Trist & a new pamphlet.1 Since I came here I have received from mr. Harrison a bill of John Pirkman on John J. Bogert Philadelphia for 333⅓ Dollars. This being for part of the money included in my draught on the Treasurer in your favor, and which at the time of that draught I did not know had been forwarded for me, I now inclose the bill to mr. Saml. House in Philadelphia & desire him to receive & lodge the money in the bank in your name, and to give you advice of it that you may know when it may be safely drawn for. You shall hear from me as soon as I reach the other side the Atlantic. In the mean time I am with truth Dr. Sir Your affectionate friend & sert.

Тн: Jefferson

P.S. I inclosed you by Genl. Gates from N. York Deane’s letters which I could not get in Philada.2

RC (DLC). Cover missing. Docketed.

1Eliza House Trist’s letter was written ca. 13 Apr. 1784. The “new pamphlet” Jefferson sent was Brian Edwards’s Thoughts on the late Proceedings of Government respecting the Trade of the West India Islands with the United States of North America (London and Boston, 1784). JM acknowledged the arrival of this 32-page work on 20 Aug. 1784.

2Gates seems to have been in New York in a futile quest for the hand of the widow of Brig. Gen. Richard Montgomery. He was returning to Virginia to attend a meeting with former comrades of the Virginia Line (Samuel White Patterson, Horatio Gates, Defender of American Liberties [New York, 1941], pp. 348–51).

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