Thomas Jefferson Papers
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From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 November 1793

To James Madison

Germantown. Nov. 17. 1793.

I have got good lodgings for Monroe and yourself, that is to say, a good room with a fire place and two beds, in a pleasant and convenient position, with a quiet family. They will breakfast you, but you must mess in a tavern; there is a good one across the street. This is the way in which all must do, and all I think will not be able to get even half beds.—The President will remain here I believe till the meeting of Congress, merely to form a point of union for them before they can have acquired information and courage. For at present there does not exist a single subject in the disorder, no new infection having taken place since the great rains the 1st. of the month, and those before infected being dead or recovered. There is no doubt you will set in Philadelphia and therefore I have not given Monroe’s letter to Seckel. I do not write to him, because I know not whether he is at present moving by sea or by land, and if by the latter, I presume you can communicate to him.—Wayne has had a convoy of 22. waggons of provision and 70. men cut off 15 miles1 in his rear by the Indians. 6. of the men were found on the spot scalped, the rest supposed taken. He had nearly reached Fort Hamilton. R. has given notice that he means to resign. Genet by more and more denials of powers to the President and ascribing them to Congress, is evidently endeavoring to sow tares between them, and at any event to curry favor with the latter to whom he means to turn his appeal, finding it was not likely to be well received2 with the people. Accept, both of you, my sincere affections.

RC (DLC: Madison Papers); unsigned; at foot of text: “Mr. Madison.” PrC (DLC).

In a private letter to the President written a week earlier, Attorney General Edmund Randolph had hinted that he might have to resign because he feared that the yellow fever epidemic would reduce his law practice in Philadelphia and force him to return to Virginia. Randolph also confessed to the President “some difficulty in asking from the Secretary of State access to the public archives” without revealing his plan to write “a history and review” of Washington’s administration (Randolph to Washington, 10 Nov. 1793, DLC: Washington Papers).

1Preceding two words interlined.

2Preceding three words interlined in place of “succeed.”

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