To James Madison from James Burn, 23 February 1824
From James Burn
Baltimore 23d. Feby. 1824.
A stranger to Mr. Madison, personally, tho’ by no means a stranger to his virtues, would most humbly and respectfully beg leave to solicit the honour of Mr. Madison’s friendship in aiding to effect the object of the inclosed letter.1
My son James Madison is tall for his years, straight, and well proportioned. Besides the recommendation from the highly respectable gentleman, Jas. H. McCulloch Esqr., the following honourable, and highly respectable gentlemen, have also address’d the honourable Secretary in behalf of my son, Vizt. General Samuel Smith of the Senate, Colo: Peter Little,2 and Major Isaac McKim3 of the house of Representatives of the U. S. With perfect respect and esteem Your most humble servant
James Burn4
RC and enclosure (DLC). RC cover sheet docketed by JM. For enclosure, see n. 1.
1. The enclosure (filed after Charles Yancey to JM, 9 Jan. 1823) is James H. McCulloch to John C. Calhoun, 18 Jan. 1823 [1824], recommending James Madison Burn for a place at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
2. Peter Little (1775–1830), of Freedom, Maryland, was a veteran of the War of 1812 and served in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1811–13, and 1816–29.
3. Isaac McKim (1775–1838) was a Baltimore merchant and veteran of the War of 1812. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1823–25, and from 1833 until his death.
4. James Burn (d. 1832), a Scottish-born merchant, was an official in the customhouse at Baltimore from before 1793 to 1828 (Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine 2 [1832]: 409; Alexander Mc-Caskey to George Washington, 19 Aug. 1793, Abbot et al., Papers of George Washington: Presidential Series, 13:499–500; United States, Department of State, A Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States … 1827 … [Washington, 1828], 49).