To James Madison from Peter H. Wendover, 30 January 1815
From Peter H. Wendover
New York January 30th. 1815
Esteemed Sir
With an apology for the intrusion, permit me to solicit your favorable reception of a small Volume the contents of which I heard from the pulpit last autumn when this part of our beloved Country was menaced with danger from the Common foe, believing the work calculated to produce good at this important crisis, I have taken the liberty, through my friend the Hon William Irving to forward you a Copy.1 I esteem the Author one of the best friends to the rights [sic] of our Common Country, and the liberties of mankind; and by all to whom he is known, he is acknowledged to be a man of a clear mind, and great abilities, Joined with fervent piety. With my best wishes for your personal Health and public usefulness I have the honor to be with the Greatest Respect Your Huml. Servt
Pr: H: Wendover2
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. Wendover evidently sent JM a copy of Alexander McLeod’s A Scriptural View of the Character, Causes, and Ends of the Present War (New York, 1815; 35168). The title page noted that McLeod was pastor of New York’s Reformed Presbyterian Church.
2. Peter H. Wendover (1768–1834), a sailmaker by trade, served as a public official in New York City, a member of the state legislature in 1804, and a representative in Congress, 1815–21. Under his leadership there, the U.S. flag was redesigned to its still-current format of thirteen stripes and a star for each state. Wendover was also among the founders of the American Colonization Society (Looney et al., Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series, 8:229).