1To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 31 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 24th. since which yours of the 20th. is recieved. I must begin by correcting two errors in my last. It was false arithmetic to say that two measures therein mentioned to be carried by majorities of 11. would have failed if the 14. absentees (wherein a majority of 6. was ours) had been present. 6 coming over from the other side would have turned the scale, and this was...
2From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I was informed on my arrival here that Genl. Pinckney’s dispatches had on their first receipt excited in the administration a great deal of passion: that councils were held from day to day, and their ill temper fixed at length in war; that under this impression Congress was called: that the tone of the party in general became high, and so continued till the news of the failure of the bank of...
3From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, [19 April 1798] (Jefferson Papers)
the inclosed was sealed before I recollected that I have mentioned a petition instead of an address to the President, which is to be corrected. a nomination of Govr. Secretary & three judges to the Missisipi territory is sent in to the Senate , four of whom are agents, or interested in the land speculations of that country, two of them bankrupt speculators, & the 5th. unknown. the Senate...
4From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 November 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I omitted in my letter of the 23d to say any thing on the subject of mr Wirt; which however was necessary only for form’s sake, because I had promised it. you know he is a candidate for the clerkship of your house, you know his talents, his worth, & his republicanism; & therefore need not my testimony, which could otherwise be given for him in the strongest form on every point. the desirable...
5To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 February 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 8th. We have still not a word from our envoys. This long silence (if they have been silent) proves things are not going on very roughly. If they have not been silent, it proves their information if made public would check the disposition to arm. I had flattered myself, from the progress of the public sentiment against arming, that the same progress had taken place in...
6To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 22d. since which I have received yours without date, but probably of about the 18th. or 19th. An arrival to the Eastward brings us some news which you will see detailed in the papers. The new partition of Europe is sketched, but how far authentic we know not. It has some probability in it’s form. The French appear busy in their preparations for the invasion of England:...
7To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 23 August 1799 (Madison Papers)
With this you will recieve the IVd. nails desired in your memorandum, that is to say 25. ℔ weighing about 2½ ℔ to the M̶. Probably they yield something more than a thousand to that weight, not being so uniform as they ought to be. We are now working up some remnants of hoops of different breadths till the arrival of a supply of proper size from Philadelphia. They are 1/3 pr. ℔. consequently...
8From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 November 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I have never answered your letter by mr Polk , because I intended to have paid you a visit. this has been postponed by various circumstances till yesterday, being the day fixed for the departure of my daur Eppes, my horses were ready for me to have set out to see you. an accident postponed her departure to this day & my visit also. but Colo. Monroe dined with us yesterday, and on my asking his...
9From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 10th. inst. is recieved. I expected mine of the 14th. would have been my last from hence, as I had proposed to have set out on the 20th. but in the morning of the 19th. we heard of the arrival of Marshall at New York, and I concluded to stay & see whether that circumstance would produce any new projects. no doubt he there recieved more than hints from Hamilton as to the tone...
10To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 February 1798 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 12th. is recieved. I wrote you last on the 15th. but the letter getting misplaced, will only go by this post. We still hear nothing from our Envoys. Whether the Executive hear we know not. But if war were to be apprehended, it is impossible our envoys should not find means of putting us on our guard, or that the Executive should hold back their information. No news therefore is...
11To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 12 February 1801 (Madison Papers)
The H. of R. has been in conclave ever since 2. oclock yesterday. At 10. P.M. 17 ballots had been tried, & were invariably 8. 6. & 2 divided. I have not heard from the Capitol this morning. I can venture nothing more by the post but my affectionate salutations, to yourself & mrs. Madison. P. S. 1. P.M. The H. of R. suspended the balloting from 7. to 12. this morning, & after trying a few more...
12To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 7 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 31st. since which yours of the 27th. of May is received. The alien bill, when we had nearly got through it, on the 2d. reading, (on a report from the commee. of the whole) was referred to a special committee, by a vote of it’s friends (12) against 11. who thought it could be rejected on the question for the 3d reading. It is reported again, very much softened, and if...
13To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 9 November 1800 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed you by mr. Erwin, a gentleman of Boston, with whom I became acquainted last winter on a letter of introduction from old Saml. Adams. He is sensible, well informed & strongly republican, wealthy & well allied in his own state & in England. He calls to pay his respects to you. I inclose you two letters which the Govr. sent me by him for perusal. It is a pity that a part of...
14To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 14 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 7th. since which yours of the 3d. is recieved. Your next (which I shall still be here to recieve) will probably acknolege mine of May 31. and will perhaps be your last as you would see by mine of the 7th. that I should leave this on the 20th. which I still purpose. The new citizen or naturalization bill is past the Senate also. It requires 14. years residence to make a...
15From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 15th. since that yours of the 12th. is recieved. since that too a great change has taken place in the appearance of our political atmosphere. the merchants, as before, continue, a respectable part of them, to wish to avoid arming. the French decree operated on them as a sedative, producing more alarm than resentment. on the Representatives differently. it excited...
16From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 September 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I now send by Bp. Madison the balance which should have gone from our last court by mr Barber: but not seeing him the first day of the court, & that breaking up on the first day contrary to usage & universal expectation, mr Barber was gone before I knew that fact.—is it not strange the public should have no information of the proceedings & prospects of our envoys in a case so vitally...
17To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 21 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 15th. Since that, yours of the 12th. is recieved. Since that too a great change has taken place in the appearance of our political atmosphere. The merchants, as before, continue, a respectable part of them, to wish to avoid arming. The French decree operated on them as a sedative, producing more alarm than resentment. On the Representatives differently. It excited...
18To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 16 January 1799 (Madison Papers)
The forgery lately attempted to be plaid off by mr. H. on the house of representatives, of a pretended memorial presented by Logan to the French government, has been so palpably exposed as to have thrown ridicule on the whole of the clamours they endeavored to raise as to that transaction. Still however their majority will pass the bill. The real views in the importance they have given to...
19From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 5 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 30th. Jan. since which yours of the 25th. is recieved. at the date of my letter I had only heard the bill for the eventual army read once. I concieved it additional to the Provisional army &c. I must correct the error. the bill for the Provisional army (about 10,000. men) expires this session without having been carried into execution. the eventual army (about 30,000)...
20From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 6 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
So much of the communications from our envoys has got abroad, & so partially that there can now be no ground for reconsideration with the Senate. I may therefore consistently with duty do what every member of the body is doing. still I would rather you would use the communication with reserve till you see the whole papers. the first impressions from them are very disagreeable & confused....
21To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 21 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 10th. inst. is recieved. I expected mine of the 14th. would have been my last from hence, as I had proposed to have set out on the 20th. But in the morning of the 19th. we heard of the arrival of Marshall at New York, and I concluded to stay & see whether that circumstance would produce any new projects. No doubt he there recieved more than hints from Hamilton as to the tone...
22To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 29 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 21st. Your’s of the 12th. therein acknoleged is the last recd. The measure I suggested in mine of adjourning for consultation with their constituents was not brought forward; but on Tuesday 3. resolutions were moved which you will see in the public papers. They were offered in committee to prevent their being suppressed by the previous question, & in the commee. on the...
23To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
So much of the communications from our envoys has got abroad, & so partially that there can now be no ground for reconsideration with the Senate. I may therefore consistently with duty do what every member of the body is doing. Still I would rather you would use the communication with reserve till you see the whole papers. The first impressions from them are very disagreeable & confused....
24From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 16th. since which yours of the 12th. is recieved and it’s contents disposed of properly. these met such approbation as to have occasioned an extraordinary impression of that day’s paper. Logan’s bill is passed. the lower house, by a majority of 20. passed yesterday a bill continuing the suspension of intercourse with France, with a new clause enabling the President to...
25From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 2 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 22d. since which I have received yours without date, but probably of about the 18th. or 19th. an arrival to the Eastward brings us some news which you will see detailed in the papers. the new partition of Europe is sketched, but how far authentic we know not. it has some probability in it’s form. the French appear busy in their preparations for the invasion of England:...
26From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I have suffered the post hour to come so nearly over on me that I must huddle over what I have more than appears in the public papers. I arrived here on Christmas day, not a single bill or other article of business having yet been brought into Senate. the P’s speech, so unlike himself in point of moderation, is supposed to have been written by the military conclave , & particularly Hamilton....
27To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 November 1799 (Madison Papers)
I omitted in my letter of the 23d. to say any thing on the subject of mr. Wirt; which however was necessary only for form’s sake, because I had promised it. You know he is a candidate for the clerkship of your house, you know his talents, his worth, & his republicanism; & therefore need not my testimony, which could otherwise be given for him in the strongest form on every point. The desirable...
28From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 19th. it acknoleged yours of the 8th. in mine I informed you of the nomination of Murray. there is evidence that the letter of Taleyrand was known to one of the Secretaries, therefore probably to all: the nomination however is declared by one of them to have been kept secret from them all. he added that he was glad of it, as, had they been consulted, the advice would...
29To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 12 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you two letters on the 5th. inst. since which I have recd yours of the 2d. I send you, in a separate package, the instructions to our envoys & their communications. You will find that my representation of their contents, from memory, was substantially just. The public mind appears still in a state of astonishment. There never was a moment in which the aid of an able pen was so...
30From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Notwithstanding the suspected infidelity of the post, I must hazard this communication. The Minority in the H. of R. after seeing the impossibility of electing B. the certainty that a legislative usurpation would be resisted by arms, and a recourse to a Convention to reorganise & amend the government, held a consultation on this dilemma. Whether it would be better for them to come over in a...
31To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 December 1800 (Madison Papers)
Mrs. Brown’s departure for Virginia enables me to write confidentially what I could not have ventured by the post at this prying season. The election of S. Carolina has in some measure decided the great contest. Tho’ as yet we do not know the actual votes of Tenissee, Kentucky & Vermont yet we believe the votes to be on the whole J. 73. B. 73. A. 65. P. 64. Rhode isld. withdrew one from P....
32From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 10th. since that I have recieved yours of the 5 th. I immediately sent a note to Carey to forward his paper to your brother as you desired. the first vote of any importance on the alien bill was taken yesterday. it was on agreeing to the 1st. section, which was carried by 12. to 7. if all the Senators in town had been present it would have been 17. to 7. the...
33From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 May 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress will rise today or tomorrow. mr Nicholas proposing to call on you, you will get from him the Congressional news. on the whole the federalists have not been able to carry a single strong measure in the lower house the whole session. when they met, it was believed they had a majority of 20. but many of these were new & moderate men, & soon saw the true character of the party to which...
34To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 29 August 1800 (Madison Papers)
Before the reciept of your last favor, mr. McGehee had called on me, and satisfied me that the entry of nails delivered in Aug. & left blank was really of nails charged in July & not then delivered. The misconception on my part arose from imperfect entries made on the reports of mr. Richardson who generally delivered out the nails. I am chagrined at it’s having been the cause of my holding the...
35To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 19th. since which your’s of the 15th. is recieved. I well remember the recieving that which inclosed a letter to Muhlenburg, but do not exactly recollect how I sent it. Yet I have no doubt I sent it by my servant, that being my constant practice. Your note from Baily I shewed to Genl. Van Cortlandt who was going to N. York. On his return he told me he would pay the note...
36To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 September 1800 (Madison Papers)
I now send by Bp. Madison the balance which should have gone from our last court by mr. Barber: but not seeing him the first day of the court, & that breaking up on the first day contrary to usage & universal expectation, mr. Barber was gone before I knew that fact. Is it not strange the public should have no information of the proceedings & prospects of our envoys in a case so vitally...
37From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 19th. since which your’s of the 15th. is recieved. I well remember the recieving that which inclosed a letter to Muhlenberg, but do not exactly recollect how I sent it. yet I have no doubt I sent it by my servant, that being my constant practice. your note from Baily I shewed to Genl. Van Cortlandt who was going to N. York. on his return he told me he would pay the note...
38To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 12 February 1799 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 5th. which acknoleged yours of Jan. 25. the last at hand. Yesterday the bill for 6. 74s. & 6. 18s. passed the H. of R. by 54. against 42. and the bill for a new organisation of the army (into regiments of about 1000.) passed the Senate. The bill continuing the suspension of intercourse with France and her dependencies has passed both houses. But the Senate struck out...
39From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
The Senate have this day rejected their own bill for raising a provisional army of 15,000. men. I think they will reject that for permitting private vessels to arm. The Representatives have thrown out the bill of the Senate for raising artillery. They yesterday put off one forbidding our citizens to serve in foreign vessels of war, till Nov. by a vote of 52. to 44. This day they came to a...
40From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you two letters on the 5th. inst. since which I have recd yours of the 2d. I send you, in a separate package, the instructions to our envoys & their communications. you will find that my representation of their contents, from memory, was substantially just. the public mind appears still in a state of astonishment. there never was a moment in which the aid of an able pen was so...
41To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 December 1800 (Madison Papers)
All the votes are now come in except Vermont & Kentuckey, and there is no doubt that the result is a perfect parity between the two republican characters. The Feds appear determined to prevent an election, & to pass a bill giving the government to mr. Jay, appointed Chief justice, or to Marshall as Secy. of state. Yet I am rather of opinion that Maryland & Jersey will join the 7. republican...
42To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 25 March 1800 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of the 15th. is safely recieved. I percieve by that that I had by mistake sent you Ramsay’s Eulogy instead of Cooper’s smaller pamphlet, which therefore I now inclose, merely for the last paper in it, as the two first were in the copy I first sent you. I inclose also mr. Nicholas’s amendment this day proposed to the bill concerning President & V. P. formerly sent you. We expect it will...
43To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 26th since which yours of the 22d. of April is recieved acknowleging mine of the 12th. so that all appear to have been recieved to that date. The spirit kindled up in the towns is wonderful. These and N. Jersey are pouring in their addresses offering life & fortune. Even these addresses are not the worst things. For indiscreet declarations and expressions of passion may...
44To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 1 June 1797 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you on the 18th. of May. The address of the Senate was soon after that. The first draught was responsive to the speech & higher toned. Mr. Henry arrived the day it was reported. The addressers had not as yet their strength around them. They listened therefore to his objections, recommitted the paper added him & Tazewell to the committee, and it was reported with considerable...
45To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 June 1797 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 1st. inst. You will have seen by the public papers that the amendment for putting France on an equal footing with other nations was clogged with another requiring compensation for spoliations. The objection to this was not that it ought not to be demanded, but that it ought not to be a sine qua non, and it was feared from the dispositions of the Executive that they...
46From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
All the votes are now come in except Vermont & Kentuckey, and there is no doubt that the result is a perfect parity between the two republican characters. the Feds appear determined to prevent an election, & to pass a bill giving the government to mr Jay, appointed Chief justice, or to Marshall as Secy. of state. yet I am rather of opinion that Maryland & Jersey will join the 7. republican...
47To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 January 1798 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of Dec. 25. came to hand yesterday. I shall observe your directions with respect to the post day. I have spoken with the Depy. Post. M. Genl. on the subject of our Fredericksburg post. He never knew before that the Fredsbg. printer had taken the contract of the rider. He will be glad if either in your neighborhood or ours some good person will undertake to ride from April next. The...
48To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 October 1798 (Madison Papers)
The day after you left us, I sat down and wrote the petition I mentioned to you. It is not yet correct enough, & I inclose you a copy to which I pray your corrections, and to return it by the next post, that it may be set in motion. On turning to the judiciary law of the US. I find they established the designation of jurors by lot or otherwise as now practiced in the several states ; should...
49To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 June 1797 (Madison Papers)
My last was of the 8th. inst. I had inclosed you separately a paper giving an account of Buonaparte’s last great victory. Since that we recieve information that the preliminaries of peace were signed between France & Austria. Mr. Hammond will have arrived at Vienna too late to influence the terms. The victories lately obtained by the French on the Rhine were as splendid as Buonaparte’s. The...
50From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 14 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 7th. since which yours of the 3d. is recieved. your next (which I shall still be here to recieve on the 19th) will probably acknolege mine of May 31. and will perhaps be your last as you would see by mine of the 7th. that I should leave this on the 20th. which I still purpose. the new citizen or naturalization bill is past the Senate also. it requires 14. years...