James Madison Papers
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To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 17 February 1788

From Joseph Jones

Richmond 17th. Febry 1788.

Dr. Sr.

Col. Heth came to Town and proceeded on his journey sooner than I expected and before I had an opportunity of seeing Mr. Harris. After calling upon him and geting the survey of the Canal I found little information could be collected from it and inserted on the map. I have therefore sent what Mr. Lambert had executed by Col. Henley1 who I understand means to go on Tomorow and has promised to deliver it safe to you. Some notes respecting the canal obtained from Mr. Harris’s information I send inclosed. They may be usefull if any thing beyond the labour of Mr. Lambert is intended.

We anxiously wait for the decision of the Masstts: convention—turn as it may the deliberations of the States yet to meet will be greatly affected by what shall be determined by that Body. Davis’s next paper will I expect contain another publication under the signature of Cassius agt. R H. L.2 You shall have it if printed. The plain dealer is suspected from the manuscript to come from essex R——ne.3 Pray do not fail to keep me informed from time to time of the proceedings of the States in the important business of the new government as they shall come to your knowledge. Yr. friend & Servt

Jos: Jones.

PS. I am well informed Col. Pendleton and Col. James Taylor will come from Caroline.4 H——y is preaching to the people in some of the Southern Counties.

RC (DLC). Docketed by JM. Enclosure not found.

1David Henley, one of the commissioners appointed to settle the accounts between Virginia and the U.S. (Turberville to JM, 8 Jan. 1788, n. 1).

2Three letters of “Cassius” addressed to Richard Henry Lee were printed in the Richmond Va. Independent Chronicle description begins Virginia Independent Chronicle (Richmond: Augustine Davis, 1786–90). Beginning on 13 May 1789 entitled, Virginia Independent Chronicle, and General Advertiser. description ends on 2, 9, and 23 Apr. 1788. No earlier publication under that signature has been found. This “Cassius” should not be confused with the northern “Cassius” (James Sullivan), whose essays appeared in the Boston Mass. Gazette between September and December 1787 (reprinted in P. L. Ford, Essays on the Constitution, pp. 5–48).

3That is, Spencer Roane of Essex County, son-in-law of Patrick Henry. The essay of “Plain Dealer,” a critique of Edmund Randolph’s letter on the Constitution, appeared in the Richmond Va. Independent Chronicle description begins Virginia Independent Chronicle (Richmond: Augustine Davis, 1786–90). Beginning on 13 May 1789 entitled, Virginia Independent Chronicle, and General Advertiser. description ends of 13 Feb. 1788 (reprinted in P. L. Ford, Essays on the Constitution, pp. 389–92). See also Randolph to JM, 29 Feb. 1788.

4Edmund Pendleton and James Taylor were elected delegates to the convention from Caroline County (Grigsby, Virginia Convention of 1788, II, 362).

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