1From John Adams to Edward Everett, 2 September 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have received within this hour, the Inclosed letter from Mr. Jefferson—Which, as it is infinitely too Learned and scientifical for my dull Genius, and poor attainments to grapple, I send to you—who are, or will be, equal to all these things—If any Man is, or is like to be—I send it especially, as it has relation, to the North American Review—As I have barely read it over, and not yet...
2From John Adams to Edward Everett, 4 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
It is high time that I should thank you for your kindness and civility to my Grand Children and for your politeness in sending me a Ticket to your lectures. It would have given me more pleasure than any entertainment I can imagin, if I could have attended them. They have been heard with attention and delight by my Son, and by all my friends who have been so happy as to hear them. My more...
3From John Adams to Edward Everett, 11 February 1826 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with your request, I am directed by the President to return the enclosed letter. As relates to the Letter of General Lafayette, it is his intention to address you as soon as a moment of leisure will permit. Your’s very respectfully MHi : Edward Everett Papers.
4From John Adams to Edward Everett, 24 May 1826 (Adams Papers)
Having after much persuasion prevailed upon my Cousin to remain still longer with us, we were again nearly disappointed by discovering that the Vessel which conveys your things had sailed before her box could be recovered. Our difficulties were now renewed and we could secure an acquiescence in our wishes only by promising that we would make one more call upon your kindness, and request of you...
5From James Madison to Edward Everett, 9 March 1822 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. with your letter of Feby. 14. the volume on “Europe” for which I am indebted to the politeness of your brother and yourself. I have run thro’ it with pleasure, and return my thanks to you both. The interior view which the writer takes of the Institutions and situations of the several Nations of Europe furnishes more information of the valuable sort than I have any where found....
6From James Madison to Edward Everett, 18 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favour of the 9th. inst: and with it the little pamphlet entitled “Notes &c.” forwarded at the request of your brother; for which you will please to accept and to make my acknowledgments. The pamphlet appears to have very ably & successfully vindicated the construction given in the Book on “Europe,” to the provision article in Mr Jay’s Treaty. History, if it should notice...
7From James Madison to Edward Everett, 19 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
I recd. on the 15th. your favor of the 2d. instant; with the little pamphlet of remarks on your brothers work on Europe. The pamphlet would have been much improved by softer words and harder arguments. To support its construction of the 18th. art: of the Treaty of 1794. the writer ought to have shewn that there are cases in which provisions become contraband according to the Law of Nations;...
8From James Madison to Edward Everett, 26 November 1823 (Madison Papers)
I recd. several weeks ago your favor of Ocr. 30 accompanied by the little treatise on population analysing & combating the Theory of Malthus, which till within a few days I have been deprived of the pleasure of reading. Its reasoning is well entitled to the commendation you bestow on its ingenuity, which must at least contribute to a more accurate view of the subject; and on its style which is...
9From James Madison to Edward Everett, 20 September 1824 (Madison Papers)
[James Madison] presents his respects to Mr. Everett with many thanks for the eloquent and not less instructive Oration with which Mr. E. was so good as to favor him. Fragment of draft ( DLC ). In JM ’s hand and docketed on verso by him. Third-person greeting clipped. Edward Everett, An Oration Pronounced at Cambridge, before the Society of Phi Betta Kappa, August 26, 1824 (Boston, 1824;...
10From James Madison to Edward Everett, 26 February 1825 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. the copy of the late anniversary Oration delivered at Plymouth kindly sent me: and I thank you for the pleasure its perusal has afforded. You have been very successful in the difficult task of avoiding, in so trodden a path, the footsteps which preceded you. And the value of the publication is not a little enhanced by the notes annexed to it. Be pleased to accept with my thanks...
11From James Madison to Edward Everett, 22 April 1825 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter informing me that I have been elected an honorary member of the Bunker Hill Monument Association. The Event which is to receive the Monumental commemoration, holds so distinguished a place in our Revolutionary History, itself so distinguished in the Annals of Liberty, that the Object of the Association can not be too highly commended; nor the honorary relation to it...
12From James Madison to Edward Everett, 19 July 1825 (Madison Papers)
I have duly received the copy of your Oration at Concord on the 19th. of April last; and have derived much pleasure from the excellent ideas with which it abounds, & the elegant language in which they are conveyed. You have given it particular value, by making it a record of interesting details which might otherwise have passed into oblivion. With great esteem & cordial respects RC ( MHi :...
13From James Madison to Edward Everett, 9 April 1826 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. your favor of Mar. 29. accompanied by the two copies, one, of your speech on a proposed amendment of the Constitution of the U.S., the other, of a Report on the Mission to Panama. The documents contain very able & interesting views of their respective subjects, and belong to the select class of Materials for an instructive history of the discussions & proceedings of the...
14From James Madison to Edward Everett, 18 December 1826 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 3d. inst: having come to hand whilst I was at our University, whence I have just returned, I had an opportunity of making its contents known at once to Mr. Long Professor of Ancient Languages. It appeared that he had thoughts of employing a Tutor, to assist him in his duty to a Class which had become so numerous as to make one useful; and that but for the youthfulness of...
15From James Madison to Edward Everett, 3 June 1827 (Madison Papers)
I offer for your brother and yourself the thanks I owe for the copy of his work on “America.” It well sustains the reputation for talents and learning acquired by his former work on “Europe.” I have found in the volume many proofs of original as well as enlarged views, and not a few passages of glowing eloquence. With this just tribute I must be allowed to combine the remark, that my trains of...
16James Madison to Edward Everett, 1 June 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. the Copy of your Speech on the 1st. of Feby. which led you into the subject of our Foreign Intercourse. It is justly observed that there are no subjects within the circle of our Federal transactions, on which the Public Mind is more susceptible of erroneous impressions, than the arrangements & provisions for diplomatic Missions. The explanatory views you have given of the policy &...
17James Madison to Edward Everett, 28 March 1829 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty of enclosing a letter for Mr. Sparks, which you will oblige me by having delivered to him on his arrival at Boston, or forwarded under the proper direction in case he should end his voyage elsewhere, & not be soon expected there. The object of the letter is to spare him the trouble of fulfilling a promise, which since his departure for Europe, has been found to be...
18James Madison to Edward Everett, 8 April 1830 (Madison Papers)
I consult the wishes of Mr. Sparks in making you a channel of communication with him. Should he not have arrived at Washington, be so good as to retain the inclosed letter till you can deliver it in person, or till otherwise advised by him or by me. I take this occasion, Sir, to thank you for the copies of Mr. Webster’s and Mr. Sprague’s late speeches. They do honor, both of them, to the...
19James Madison to Edward Everett, 17 April 1830 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 11th. was duly recd. I had noticed the stress laid in a late debate, on the proceedings of the Virga. Legislature in. 1798-9. as supporting the nullifying doctrine so called; and the frequent references also to my participation in those proceedings. But altho’ regretting the erroneous views taken of them, and making no secret of my opinions, I was unwilling to obtrude any...
20James Madison to Edward Everett, 5 August 1830 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison with his best respects to Mr. Everett, thanks him for the Copy of his "Address on the Centennial Anniversary of the Arrival of Governour Winthrop at Charlestown" The theme, interesting as it is, in itself, derives new attraction from the touching details and appropriate reflections woven into the Address. J. M takes this occasion of thanking Mr. E. for the copy heretofore forwarded,...
21James Madison to Edward Everett, 20 August 1830 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 11th. inst: & wish I could give the information it asks with the desired particularity and certainty. I believe, though I may possibly be wrong, that no answers to the Virginia Resolutions of -98, were given by States, other than those enumerated in the pamphlet you have. I have not the means of ascertaining the fact. If any instructions were given by the Legislature...
22James Madison to Edward Everett, 28 August 1830 (Madison Papers)
I inclose the letter promised. You will perceive that some of the topics deserved more development, than the state of my health, and the limited time would permit. The right of the States collectively to hold the States individually to a bargain, a breach of which by a single one would throw the whole into confusion, and essentially affect the interests of some of them, merits an illustration,...
23James Madison to [Edward Everett], 28 August 1830 (Madison Papers)
I have duly received your letter in which you refer to the "nullifying doctrine" advocated, as a Constitutional right, by some of our distinguished fellow citizens; and to the proceedings of the Virginia Legislature in -98 & 99, as appealed to in behalf of that doctrine; and you express a wish for my ideas on those subjects. I am aware of the delicacy of the task in some respects, and the...
24James Madison to Edward Everett, 31 August 1830 (Madison Papers)
In the letter inclosed by the last mail, I omitted to insert in the margin, the extract from the "Federalist" referred to in the text. Be so good as to supply the omission by subjoining in the margin the following transcribed passages from No. 39.* *No. 39. "It is true, that in controversies relating to the boundary between the two jurisdictions, the tribunal which is ultimately to decide, is...
25James Madison to Edward Everett, 10 September 1830 (Madison Papers)
Since my letter in which I expressed a belief that there was no ground for supposing that the Kentucky Resolutions of -99 in which the term "nullification appears, were drawn by Mr. Jefferson, I infer from a manuscript paper of his, just noticed, containing the term, that altho’ he had, probably no agency in the draft, nor even any knowledge of it at the time, yet that the term was borrowed...
26James Madison to Edward Everett, 7 October 1830 (Madison Papers)
I return my thanks for your favour of the 28. ult. with a copy of the Chapter from the N. A. Review for this month. I have read the review of the Debates with great pleasure. It must diffuse light on the subject of them every where; and would make an overwhelming impression where it is most needed, if the delirious excitement were not it would seem, an overmatch for reason & truth. The only...
27James Madison to Edward Everett, December 1830 (Madison Papers)
It occurs that the notions prevailing here agst. any subordination in the highest Judicial Authy of the State to that of the U. S. & the spirit of Criticism of which there have been examples, may render the word concurrent , preferable to that of co-ordinate as applied in one of the paragraphs of my letter of —Be so good therefore as to erase the latter & insert the former. The change seems to...
28James Madison to Edward Everett, 5 December 1830 (Madison Papers)
The copy of your Lecture on the Working Men’s party was duly recd; and presuming you to be now at Washington, I address thither my thanks for the pleasure afforded by the judicious interesting and well-timed observations, which you availed yourself of the occasion to inculcate. With cordial esteem RC ( MHi : Everett Collection); draft (DLC) .
29James Madison to Edward Everett, 14 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
I return you many thanks for the copy of your late address to the "American Institute of N. York." It is as beautiful in some of its features as it is instructive in its general character. I have read it with the greater pleasure, as it goes back to times and scenes in which I was often an actor, always an observer; and which are too much overlooked in discussing the objects & meaning of the...
30James Madison to Edward Everett, 21 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
In my letter thanking you for the Copy of your address to the American Institute of New York I took occasion to remind you of the little pamphlet addressed by the Virginia Assembly of 98 to its Constituents and of the other containing the report of a Committee of the legislature of South Carolina in 28. They were enclosed to you at or about the date of my letter published in the North American...