1. This letter has been dated on the basis of GW’s appointment of George Turner as a judge of the Northwest Territory on 11 Sept. 1789.

2. The enclosure has not been identified.

3. William Barton was appointed a judge of the Northwest Territory by GW on 18 Aug. 1789. For Barton’s letter of application for a post, see his letter to GW, 3 Sept. 1789. Barton’s uncle, David Rittenhouse, had also approached Madison in relation to an appointment for him. Barton declined the appointment as judge but hoped to secure a treasury post. See Rutland, Madison Papers, description begins William T. Hutchinson et al., eds. The Papers of James Madison, Congressional Series. 17 vols. Chicago and Charlottesville, Va., 1962–91. description ends 12:286, 357–58. GW had already mentioned Edward Carrington to Madison for a federal appointment in a letter of 9 Aug. 1789. For Edward Carrington’s solicitation for an appointment, see his letter to GW, 11 May 1789. His inclinations, however, did not lie in the direction of the Northwest Territory. As he wrote Madison, 9 Sept., the “Office of District Marshall for Virginia is thought to be important from its extent, & not altogether unhonorary from the powers & Trusts it involves; it is also thought it will be productive of compensation not contemptible. Viewing the subject thus some of my Freinds have expressed a desire that I should signify my readiness to accept the appointment. . . . Any disposition in me to accept, will depend altogether on your opinion. Should you deem the appointment eligible & not derogatory in its Nature upon a view of all circumstances, I shall be willing to accept it. General Knox has written me on this subject—in my answer I have left my choice dependent on the circumstances here mentioned to you. . . . I have not written, nor shall I write to any other person about it” (Rutland, Madison Papers, description begins William T. Hutchinson et al., eds. The Papers of James Madison, Congressional Series. 17 vols. Chicago and Charlottesville, Va., 1962–91. description ends 12:391–92). GW appointed Carrington to the post on 24 Sept. (DHFC description begins Linda Grant De Pauw et al., eds. Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791. 20 vols. to date. Baltimore, 1972–. description ends , 2:44).

4. For George Turner’s application for office, see his letter to GW, 18 Aug. 1789. On 11 Sept. GW appointed Turner one of the judges for the Northwest Territory (DHFC description begins Linda Grant De Pauw et al., eds. Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791. 20 vols. to date. Baltimore, 1972–. description ends , 2:38). A letter to Turner from Tobias Lear, 14 Sept. 1789, informed him of his appointment. “If you accept this appointment, you will give due notice thereof to the President of the United States who will cause your commission to be forwarded to you at Philadelphia, and whose wish it is that you should proceed to the western Territory and enter upon the duties of your Office without delay” (DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters).

5. Later in life Madison inserted an asterisk at this point and wrote “McDougal meant,” a reference to the fact that Alexander McDougall’s daughter Elizabeth married New Yorker John Laurance. However, GW was undoubtedly referring to John Lawrence (1751–c.1799) who had served as a captain during the Revolutionary War and was married to Gov. Arthur St. Clair’s daughter Elizabeth.

6. Madison later inserted an asterisk at this point and wrote at the bottom of the page “Arthur Lee.” For Lee’s application for a position as a justice of the Supreme Court, see his letter to GW, 21 May 1789.

7. GW is referring to the impending legislation on the salaries of members of the Senate and House of Representatives. It had been suggested that salaries for senators should exceed those for members of the House, and Madison had already spoken in the House of Representatives in support of a discrimination, contending that “it had been evidently contemplated by the constitution to distinguish in favor of the senate” in order to induce outstanding men to serve (Rutland, Madison Papers, description begins William T. Hutchinson et al., eds. The Papers of James Madison, Congressional Series. 17 vols. Chicago and Charlottesville, Va., 1962–91. description ends 12:293). For the debates on the bill, see Annals of Congress description begins Joseph Gales, Sr., comp. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and All the Laws of a Public Nature. 42 vols. Washington, D.C., 1834–56. description ends , 1st Cong., 1st sess., 676–84, 701–5, 706–10, 712–14. “An Act for allowing Compensation to the Members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, and to the Officers of both Houses,” approved by GW, 22 Sept. 1789, provided that the members of both houses should receive $6 per day while in attendance and an allowance of $6 for every 20 miles from their place of residence to the capital. After 1795, however, the compensation for senators would be raised to $7 per diem (Stat. description begins Richard Peters, ed. The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, from the Organization of the Government in 1789, to March 3, 1845 . . .. 8 vols. Boston, 1845-67. description ends , 1:70–71).