To James Madison from Charles P. Howard, 8 March 1818
From Charles P. Howard
March 8th. 1818
Dr. Sir,
Mr. Macon1 some time since inform’d me that he heard you say that you wishe’d to see Franklins News-papers prior to the 1740. I send by Paul a File from Jany. 1734 to Deco. 1738 inclusive.2 I do not know that they are regular, or entire, but suppose there are not many wanting, they were taken from the Press by my Grand-Father who had them put in the form they now are. They are not, or ever will be of any use to me—they may be to you and hope you ⟨w⟩ill accept them from—Your Sincere Friend
C. P. Howard3
RC (DLC). Addressed by Howard to JM at “Mont-peliere” and marked “Paul.” Docketed by JM. Damaged by removal of seal.
1. Thomas Macon (1765–1838) was JM’s brother-in-law. He married Sarah Catlett Madison in 1790 and lived at Somerset in Orange County, Virginia (, 2:362 n. 2).
2. During the years mentioned, Benjamin Franklin was editor and publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette (Brigham, History of American Newspapers, 2:933–34).
3. Charles Pitt Howard (1765–1856), formerly of Philadelphia, resided in Orange County, Virginia (Ralph Dornfeld Owen, “Howard, An Early Philadelphia Family,” Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 21 (1959), 211; , 3:241 n. 2).