1From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., [ca. 12] February 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Years later, JM docketed the letter, “Madison Js Feby 1782.” Following the signature at the close of the letter, JM’s father added, “This letter was wrote about the 12th. of Feby. 1782.” A conveyance by a waggon returning to your neighbourhood this moment presenting itself I make use of it to forward you a collection of papers which have accumulated since the last...
2To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 15 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover missing. Docketed, “Rev. J. Madison (Wmsburg.) to J M. Jr. Apl. 15. 1783.” By a Letter from Mr. Jefferson 31. March. he has the Expression, speaking of Peace, “tho there can scarcely be a Doubt.” I hope by this Time you have official Accts of its Certainty: for tho’ no one indeed can scarcely doubt, yet every one wants the fullest Confirmation. I am sorry to...
3To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 4 June 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by JM: “Madison Js Revd June 4. 1783 June 4 1783. Presidt. Madison. inclosing Ret. from Scott for engraving seal.” Cover addressed to “The Honb. James Madison Esqr Member of Congress Philadelphia or In his Absence To The Hon J. F. Mercer Esqr.” I recd. the Seal by Mr. Jones & am much obliged to you for the Trouble you have given yourself relative to it. The...
4To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 3 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by JM, “Madison Js Revd. Oct. 3. 1782.” Cover missing. I recd. your last, wherein you tell me of the Remembrance of some of my French Acquaintances. I really thought many of them Men of distinguished Merit, tho’ my Acquaintance with them, from our Trip to the Mountains was but short. Does Peace really retire, or are we too sanguine in our Hopes. Is it not...
5To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 16 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by JM, “Madison Js. Revd Jany. 16. 1783.” I recd yesterday your’s of the 24th. Ulto. and am much obliged for the part you have taken in both the affairs mentioned. As the Price is so high, I am not very much disappointed at the Want of Ingredients: As to the Seal, we shall take it very kind of you to forward it as soon as convenient. The Money shall be paid...
6To James Madison from Reverend James Madison, 3 August 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I recd. your last of ye 18th. July, as well as ye preceeding, enclosing ye European Intelligence. I hope at last ye Blessings of peace cannot be far from us. If Russia adheres to her Memorial, and ye. Dutch have not lost their antient spirit, if ye Irish too proceed in their reasonable & just Demands, wh. I have no Doubt they will, because they are reasonable & just,...
7To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 15 January 1782—Misdated (Madison Papers)
Letter misdated. 15 January 1782[3]. The contents of this manuscript in the Madison Papers of the Library of Congress make certain that Randolph inadvertently dated it one year before he wrote it.
8To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 18 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by JM, “Madison Js. Revd Sept. 13. 1782.” Someone other than JM wrote “Chastellux” under this date. The Reverend James Madison plainly dated his letter 18, not 13, September. The two last posts disappointed me. I had a Letter ready to acknowledge your Favours of the 13 & 14th. of last Month, which afforded us so much Consolation; but it would be as easy to...
9To 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...
10From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 20 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed to “Col: James Madison Orange County Virginia[.] Favd. by Capt M. Walker.” Probably late in his life, JM, or John C. Payne, whose handwriting greatly resembled JM’s, wrote “(Biographical.)” above the salutation and “Madison, Jr” above the date line on the first page. Having written a letter and inclosed with it a large collection of Newspapers for you which...
11To James Madison from Reverend James Madison, 18 January 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I intended to have sent you a Letter by ye. last post, but failed of an oppy. and by this Time I suppose you have heard thro’ many Channels of ye. Loss of our Capitol, & ye Disgrace of Virginia. True it is that Arnold with not more than 1500 men landed at Westover, marched within 24 Hours after ye Time of landing to Richmond, destroyed whatever was considered as...
12From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 30 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The cover is missing, but JM, Sr., docketed the letter, “Madison Js. cop. March 30. 1782.” Mr. J. Walker has safely delivered to me three letters from you attended with the money therein specified. He has also been so obliging as to undertake the conveyance of the several articles of Medecine you wanted with a Gallon keg filled with good Port: wine, to all which I...
13To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 2 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed: “The Hone. James Madison Esqr. Member of Congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM: “Revd J. Madison Aug 2. 1782 Mahmouth-Opossum.” At right angles to this and in a darker ink, JM also wrote, probably at a much later time, “Aug. 2. 1782.” Above the date is penned “Madison Js Revd” and below it “Natural history,” in an unknown hand. I recd. your Favr. with the...
14To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, [ca. 2] March 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Letter has an appended note by Carlo (Charles) Bellini. Docketed by JM, “Madison Js. Revd. Mar. 1782.” After so long a Silence, my Friend, where shall I begin? Like Cain, I have been a Vagabond, since August last. But have at Length returned to this Place, for little else indeed, than to be a Spectator of Misery & Ruin. Our Friend Bellini, who has withstood all the...
15To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 27 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by JM, “Madison Js Augst. 27. 1783.” Cover missing. I have not written to you, my good Friend, for some Time past, because I expected you would have been in Virga. soon after the last I recd. from you; but as I have not heard of your Arrival, suppose you to be still in Congress. If so, I shall continue to tax you even without your Consent. Is there the least...
16To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 15 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed: “The Hone. James Madison Esqr. Member of Congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM: “Revd Js. [?] Madison June 15. 1782 Mahmouth-Opossum.” I shd have been more expeditious in acknowledg your Favr. of 22d April, had I not expected an Answer to a Short Letter I wrote you from the Attorny’s by Mr. F. Webb, who intended then shortly to set out for Phila. We have...
17To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 26 April 1789 [1783] (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 26 April 1789 [ 1783 ] , Richmond . Misdated by a cataloguer. The correct date is assigned by internal evidence. “News of the Peace. Objections to the impost. Virginia elections.” Noted in the list probably kept by Peter Force (DLC: Madison Miscellany).
18From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 1–2 August 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed to “Col James Madison Orange County Virginia Favd. by B. Bradburn.” I recd. your letter by Mr. Randolph and this morning have a verbal information from you by B. Bradburn. I shall send by him a Barrel of Sugar and a bag of Coffee, which I wish to be retained for your own use as far as necessary, & the residue divided between my brothers Fr. & A. This...
19To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 4 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). No docket or cover. The last post brot. me a Letter from the Treasurer which determines my visit to Congress. He informs me he has bills to the amount of upwards of twelve hundred pounds on Philadelphia which he wishes to apply to the use of the Delegation and had written to you and also to me informing us of it, that our Correspondents, and those of the other...
20To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 9 March 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed to “James Madison Esqr. Member of the Hon the Congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “Revd. J Madison March 9. 1781.” I rec’d. your Letter by C. Kelly and was much rejoiced at the agreable Intelligence, nor do I doubt, but the Member of Parliament will find that the delenda est Carthag [ o ] is not so easily effected as he wd. fain hope. I rejoiced at the...
21To James Madison from Jacquelin Ambler, 24 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by JM, “May 24. 1783.” The Auditors have at length found the Accot. and are now satisfyed that I did not exceed the mark when I assured them the Bal. due to you on the 1st. Jany last was upwards of £800. in consequence of which they have given Mr. Webb a Warrt. on your Accot. for £100. which he will transmit you in addition to the £200. sent last Post. I...
22To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 9 June 1783 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). In the left margin at the top of the transcription, Peter Force’s clerk wrote “MSS. McGuires.” See Papers of Madison William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al ., eds., The Papers of James Madison (7 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). , I, xxii, xxiii. In answer to yr favr of the 27th past, I should be glad to give you a full detail of the Sentiments of the...
23To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 6 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). My friend Mr Griffin left me this Morning by whom I sent you my best Wishes for yr health which he told me was low. I hope the Approaching Cold Season may brace up yr Nerves. I judged from yr Account of the number of the Enemy embarked from New York, that they were in pursuit of something to eat; we now hear they have pick’d up a quantum suffici[en]t to load their...
24To James Madison from Jacquelin Ambler, 5 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by JM, “Octr. 5. 1782.” Cover missing. The Sheriffs having supplied us with a little more Money I was enabled to make a dividend among the Officers of Government— £120.. —.. for each of the Gentlemen of the Delegation. one half of this I just had time in the hurry of business to send you Mr. Harrison’s drft on Mr. Holker for last week; and should have sent...
25To James Madison from Jacquelin Ambler, 12 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by JM, “Octr. 12. 1782.” Cover franked by Ambler and addressed in his hand to “The Honobl. James Madison of Congress Philadelphia.” The Auditors are at present out of Town; as soon as there is a Board I will lay your Account before them. it is probable they must wait for the Scale of Depreciation from you before they can adjust it. In addition to the £60....
26To James Madison from Jacquelin Ambler, [ca. 3 August] 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Between the opening two lines of the message appears “1782 Ambler J,” in the hand of William C. Rives, JM’s first major biographer. Lacking a superscription by Ambler, the manuscript is likely the final page of a longer letter. It seems to have been written on 3 August, as explained in n. 6, below. I waited on the Auditors yesterday and am informed they grant Warrts....
27To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 11 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
Summary ( LC : Madison Miscellany). The summary is copied from a calendar, probably prepared about 1850 by Peter Force’s clerk He noted that the letter was addressed “To James Madison” and the manuscript consisted of “2 pages 4°.” Williamsburgh as a seat of Government. Some seat on the Potomac. The jurisdiction of Congress over the territory aquired for a seat of Government. For the...
28To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 13 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). I have yr favr of the 31st past & am pleased to hear the former Account of the Arrival of the Cork fleet proved premature, since we are so bad Christians as to be gratified with the distress of our Enemies. It was probably the transports with their new levies which were mis taken for the others. The Enemy here have collected a handsome recruit of Provisions, but...
29To James Madison from Alexander Hamilton, 29 June 1783—Note on Letter (Madison Papers)
FC ( LC : Hamilton Papers). Lacks salutation and the signature has been excised. Dated by Hamilton, “Princeton June 29. 178[3],” and docketed by him, “1783 29 June—To Mr Madison abt. the removal of Congress.” 29 June 1783. Several circumstances appear to warrant the belief that Hamilton did not post this letter: (1) the RC is not among the Madison Papers in the Library of Congress; (2) in his...
30From Alexander Hamilton to James Madison, [6 July 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
On my arrival in this city I am more convinced than I was before of the necessity of giving a just state of facts to the public. The current runs strongly against Congress and in a great measure for want of information. When facts are explained they make an impression and incline to conclusions more favourable to us. I have no copy of the reports in my possession, which puts it out of my power...