301To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 11–13 April 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed, “Apl. 11th. 1782,” by JM. The cover is missing, and the letter is unsigned. The handwriting of the letter is Randolph’s, and its contents permit no doubt that JM was the recipient. We announced to you from Bush-town the difficulties, which we had encountered on our journey. Whether the roads were really better, as we advanced southwardly, or seemed so from...
302To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 29 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed by him to “The honble James Madison jr. esq. of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “March 29th. 1783.” I have just returned from Wmsburg, the seat of a majority of the keenest pursuers of my father’s estate. Nothing, I believe, will content them, but a fair experiment at law: and to guard against this is my object...
303To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, [16] November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. JM’s erroneous docket of “Novr. 10. 1782” may signify that he added it some years later, after the date line had become illegible. The contents of the letter permit no doubt that 16 November was the date when it was written. JM acknowledged it as of that date in his own letter of 26 November to Randolph ( q.v. ). The assembly have at...
304To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 12 July 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Addressed by him to “The honble James Madison jr. esq of congress Princeton New Jersey.” Docketed by JM, “July 12. 17[83].” Your flight to Princeton has, I presume, been the cause of the post of thursday bringing no letter from you. The proclamation, issued by the executive last week, has occasioned much uneasiness in the minds of...
305To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 26 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed by him to “The honble James Madison jr. esq of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “Apl. 26. 1783.” For four weeks past I have been so hurried by the general court, that I have not had leisure to write a page, irrelative to law. Indeed the calmness of our times cuts off almost every thing worthy of communication....
306To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 5 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned letter in Randolph’s hand. Addressed to “The honble James Madison jr. of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “July 5th. 1782.” If before the receipt of your favor of the 25th. Ulto. I could have doubted concerning the policy of the act against British merchandize, the artifices of the enemy and the parricidal villainies of some of the citizens of...
307To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 9 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Docketed by JM, “May 9th. 1783.” Cover addressed by Randolph to “The honble James Madison jr. esq of congress Philadelphia.” The right margin of the second of the three folios comprising the letter was trimmed so carelessly as to excise portions of the text. The due arrival of your friendly attention by every post has not been...
308To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 26 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed by him to “The honble James Madison jr. esq of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “26. 1782.” Your favor by the last post was duly received, and enabled me to counteract a rumor, which Carleton’s letter had excited, of a thorough disposition and fixed resolution in Great Britain to close the war by the expected...
309To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 24 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Undocketed. Cover missing. I fear much from the insidious views of the enemy in the overtures of peace, communicated in your favors of the 12th and 13th. instant: both of which came to hand on the same day. Most people here flatter themselves with the hope of an immediate peace. To me it does not seem to be hastened an iota by the...
310To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 22 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Parts of the manuscript are hard to read. Besides revising a few words by writing over rather than above them, he used a porous paper. This caused the ink to spread, thereby blotting several adjacent letters together. He posted the letter on 1 March. See Randolph to JM, 1 Mar. 1783 . I easily conceive the difficulty if not...
311To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 22 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed by Randolph to “The honble James Madison jr. esq of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “March 22. 1783.” Your favors by the post and the express reached me at the same time with a letter from Dr Lee, dated on the 11th. of decr. (I presume it should have been march). 1783. Having read his first, I was astonished at...
312To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 20 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Docketed “Decr 20th 1782” by JM. Cover addressed to “The honble James Madison jr. esq of congress Philadelphia.” Randolph may have written this letter, or the greater part of it, on 19 December and then postdated it. See n. 12, below. The journal of the house of delegates from Saturday last to this day includes the following points,...
313To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 20 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned letter, in Randolph’s hand, addressed to “The honble James Madison jr. of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “June 20. 1782.” To the left of this date and at a right angle to it, he also wrote “Rept. on Instruction.” This jotting apparently bears no relation to the contents of the letter. The italicized words are those written by Randolph in the...
314To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 29 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed to “The Ho[n?]ble James Madison.” Docketed by JM, “Novr. 29th. 1782. Secy. F. A. Mr. J. Jay.” For a probable explanation of these notations following the date, see Notes on Debates, 28 November ; JM to Randolph, 2 December 1782 . The italicized words are those written in the Randolph code. I yesterday saw Mr....
315To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 1 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed by him to “The honble James Madison jr. esq of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “March 1st. 1783.” Being here on business, I can not inspect your figures of feby. 18. The drift of them is, however, seen, and I have already met the sentiments half way, by an adherence to my opinion of the necessity of reviving...
316To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 15 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Letter unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Addressed by Randolph to “The Honble Jas. Madison jr. esqr. of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “Jany. 15. 1782,” a misdating by a year. The extreme badness of the weather prevented me from sending a letter from hence to Richmond for the post of last week. As I am really uneasy, at a little seeming omission on my part to...
317To James Madison from William Sharpe, 25 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by JM, “Sharpe Wm. May 25. 1782.” Your very obliging letter of the 21st. Jan’y did not come to hand until late last month We have at length had a session of the General assembly, Messers. Nash, Hawkins, Blount & Docr. Williamson are appointed delegates for this State. I expect two of them will be with you in a few days. I am deeply impressed with the...
318To James Madison from Samuel Stanhope Smith, 15 September 1778 (Madison Papers)
I have read over your theoretical objections against the doctrine of moral liberty; for practically you seem to be one of its disciples. I remember the manner in which you have formerly expressed yourself upon that intricate subject. And indeed they express the difficulties that occured to me in attempting to resolve it. I reasoned without hopes that the solution I have given it is at least as...
319To James Madison from Samuel Stanhope Smith, [November 1777–August 1778] (Madison Papers)
This is the first time I have had an opportunity to write to you since your election to your new & honourable office. I rejoice that your country has been able, in spite of all your modesty, to discern your merits; & that she has had virtue enough to place you in a station where your talents will not be useless to her. Altho I could wish you had the same opinion of yourself that others have, &...
320Virginia Treasurer’s Office Receipt, 22 January 1778 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
22 January 1778. JM receives for the use of Isaac Zane the sum of £180 for the county of Frederick. Ms ( Vi ). Entry in Treasurer’s Office receipt book. Signed by JM.
321To James Madison from John Walker, ca. 21 May 1781 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 21 May 1781, Charlottesville. Mentions forced withdrawal of the Virginia legislature, owing to the threat posed by advancing British troops. “Charlotte[s]ville is now to be our metropolis. The Assembly will meet here on Thursday next.… I fear we shall have a red-hot campaign of it in this quarter; but our people appear to be firm and spirited.” The two-page letter is...
322From George Washington to James Madison, 27 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I accept very kindly the Address of the President & Professors of the University of William & Mary. The Reduction of the British Force in this State for which I feel myself highly indebted to the Noble Exertions of our Brave and Generous Allies, is a Circumstance which gives me great pleasure, not only as it affords a Return of peaceful Security to many of my fellow Citizens, but as it will, I...
323From George Washington to James Madison, 22 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
Major McHenry—formerly an assistant Secretary to me, & afterwards Aid de Camp to the Marqs de la Fayette, informs me that Congress are about to appoint Official Secretaries for their Ministers abroad, & expresses a wish to go in that character to the Court of Versailles—or London. Justice, if I could divest myself of the inclination to serve this Gentleman, would compel me to represent him as...
324To James Madison from George Washington, 22 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Princeton University Library: Andre deCoppet Collection of American Historical Autographs). Cover missing. In the hand of Washington and addressed by him to “The Honble Mr. Maddison.” Docketed by JM, “G. Washington Newburg. April 22. 1783.” Variations between the draft of this letter ( LC : Washington Papers) and the recipient’s copy are noted in nn. 2 and 3, below. Except for a brief note...