From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 4 February 1828
To Nicholas P. Trist
Montpellier Feby. 4. 1828
Dear Sir
Since mine of the 26. ult: which I hope got safe to hand, I have recd. yours of the 29th.: since which that of the 30th. with the bundle of letters has been handed to me by Mr Randolph. I am very sorry for the trouble it cost you to take advantage of that conveyance. I return, as you desire, the extracts you made from some of the letters.1 I return also the copies of two letters, inclosed in yours of the 1st. inst: just brought by the mail; tho’ not desired; making of one [of] them, however an extract only, by lopping from it a paragraph irrelative to the subject.
I have noticed in the “advocate” your thoughts on the law question lately started.2 Whatever be the final decision of it, none will deny, the investigating & argumentative merits of the publication. With Affece. respects
James Madison
RC and enclosure (DLC: Nicholas P. Trist Papers); draft (DLC). RC addressed and franked by JM to Trist at Monticello; cover docketed by Trist: “recd. Feb. 9. 1828.” Draft in Dolley Madison’s hand, except for salutation and date in JM’s hand. For surviving enclosure, see n. 1.
1. The enclosure (1 p.; with Trist’s note: “The above extracts were made from original letters from James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, By N. P. Trist, Monticello Jan. 1828”) contains extracts of three letters from JM to Jefferson: 23 Mar. 1795 from Philadelphia; 14 June 1795 from Orange; and “Dec. 5. (doubtless 1795[)]” [1796] from Philadelphia (, 15:493–94, 16:19–20, 422–23). A parenthetical note at the bottom in Trist’s hand reads: “(See Mr. M’s letter to me Feb. 4. ’28).”
2. See Trist to JM, 18 Jan. 1828, and n. 3.