To James Madison from David Bailie Warden, 2 July 1809
From David Bailie Warden
Paris, 2 July, 1809.
Sir,
I have the honor of offering, for your acceptance, the life of the Duke of Malborough lately published here by the Emperors’ instructions.1 He has intimated his intention of engaging certain literary Men to write the lives of other distinguished Generals according to the same plan.
I also inclose two brochures2 relating to Mr Barlows’ Poem, and am, Sir, with the greatest respect Your very obedt and very humble Sert
David Bailie Warden
RC (DLC); letterbook copy (MdHi: Warden Papers). Enclosures not found, but see nn. 1 and 2.
1. Nicholas Madgett, Histoire de Jean Churchill, duc de Marlborough, ed. Jean-François-Hugues Du Tems (3 vols.; Paris, 1808).
2. One of Warden’s enclosures was probably Henri Grégoire, Observations critiques sur le poème de M. Joël Barlow “The Columbiad” (Paris, 1809). For a discussion of the critical reception in Europe and America of Barlow’s Columbiad, see James Woodress, A Yankee’s Odyssey: The Life of Joel Barlow (Philadelphia, 1958), pp. 269–71.