1From James Madison to James Monroe, 31 October 1823 (Madison Papers)
I this moment only receive your letter of the 17th. Mine by this mail renders nothing more necessary in answer to it. I understand Mr. Crawford is so far recovered that he hopes to be on the road for Washington in a few days. His weakness I presume will make his journey very slow. Sending this with some other letters by an extra messenger who will hardly reach the P. Office in time I add only...
2From James Madison to James Monroe, 11 December 1819 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for the copy of your Message. The moderation it breathes towards Spain will be approved generally at present, & universally hereafter. The time is passed when this policy could be ascribed to any other than its true motive. The present standing of the U.S. will secure to it a just interpretation every where. It is very satisfactory to learn that the greatest powers in Europe are...
3James Madison to James Wattles, 19 July 1835 (Madison Papers)
I have received Sir, your letter of the 13th. and regret that I cannot find among my papers the letter of Chief Justice Marshall to which you refer. Such a letter was certainly presented to me, and left an impression very favorable to your talent in taking likenesses. As your portrait of Mr. Marshall doubtless exists and his opinion of it can thro’ his family be obtained as well as their own...
4James Madison to James Wallace, 24 June 1828 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed to you by Mr. Benjamin Randolph. He is charged with subscription papers for the Works of his Grandfather Mr. Jefferson, and expects much advantage from the friendly countenance of those most known to & respected by the people of the counties he is visiting. I need not, I am sure, make any apology for recommending him to yours; being persuaded that your personal dispositions...
5From James Madison to James P. Morris, 1 August 1823 (letter not found) (Madison Papers)
¶ To James P. Morris. Letter not found. 1 August 1823. Listed in American Book Prices Current (1968), 1179, as a one-page, third-person letter, “thanking his correspondent for copies of the latter’s oration before the Agricultural Society of Bucks County.”
¶ To James Leander Cathcart. Letter not found. 30 January 1827. Calendared in the lists probably made by Peter Force ( DLC , series 7, box 2).
7From James Madison to James Barbour, 10 February 1826 (Madison Papers)
Col: McKenney supposing that the favorable opinion I formed of him during my long residence in Washington may corroborate the confidence & friendly dispositions he flatters himself you have derived from a more temporary acquaintance, I can not refuse him the justice of saying that I always regarded him as a very intelligent upright & patriotic Citizen: and that his official conduct was...
8James Madison to James Madison Rix, 6 November 1835 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of Octr. 24. and enclose an Autograph of Mr. Monroe. Of Mr. Jay, none remain on my files. Mine is furnished by this answer to your letter. At my great age, & with my rheumatic fingers, it is very different from my ordinary writing at an earlier period, as you will perceive by the accompanying specimen I readily bestow commendation on your Antiquarian pursuit; but a...
9James Madison to James Taylor, 4 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I take advantage, my dear Sir of your permission to adopt the answers of others to your obliging letters, and the rather as my rheumatic fingers have a great aversion to the pen. I will not excuse them however from the service of thanking you for the account you give of our friends in Kentucky which is always interesting to me, and offering my regards & best wishes of every sort to Mrs. Taylor...
10James Madison to James Barbour, 11 June 1828 (Madison Papers)
It has been much the wish of Mrs. Madison & myself to give a call at Barboursville whilst you remain there: but find it will not be in our power. We trust it will be in yours, if not before, to make a stage & pass a day at least with Mrs. Barbour and your family, at Montpellier, on the way to the port of your departures; to whom with yourself, we offer our joint and best salutations. RC ( ViHi...
11From James Madison to James B. Sheys and Peter Ludlow Jr., 22 February 1819 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your letter of the 11th. inst. The unbiassed history you have in view, of the Seminole war & the events growing out of it, is an undertaking of much interest, and I wish you a success which may be satisfactory to yourselves, and to the public. It is not in my power, however to make the contributions which you request. Waving every other obstacle, my time has other appropriations...
12James Madison and Dolley P. Madison: Indenture for Sale of land by Dolley Payne Madison and James Madison to James … (Madison Papers)
This Indenture made this twelfth day of February A. D. 1830, between James Madison of the county of Orange and Dolley P. his wife of the one part, and James Newman of said county of the other part, Witnesseth, that the said James Madison and Dolley P. his wife, for and in consideration of the sum of twelve hundred and sixty six dollars to him the said James Madison by the said James Newman in...
13From James Madison to James Monroe, 6 July 1823 (Madison Papers)
Tho’ sorry to trouble you so often I must ask the further favor of you to let me have from the War Dept. a copy of Genl. Harrison’s letter of Resignation. It bears date the eleventh of May 1814. Also a copy of the letter of the Secy. of war acknowledging its receipt; date May 24. Also copy of the Secy’ letter to Harrison of May 28. accepting the Resignation of Harrison. Yrs. always RC ( DLC :...
14From James Madison to Robert C. Jones, James M. Jeffries, and James P. Henderson, [Post-17 December 1827] (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 17. has been duly recd. My respect for every Institution having in view the culture of the Mind, & for the kind motives of the Society you represent, does not permit to decline the honorary membership conferred on me, however sensible I may be that it cannot be due to any anticipated advantage from it. The Society, I doubt not will, best devise an appropriate motto. In...
15James Madison to James P. Preston, 13 May 1828 (Madison Papers)
I recd. by the last mail yours of the 9th. and comply with its request by a few lines to the President for the mail of today. I could not refuse this evidence of my esteem & regard, tho’ it is an interposition, of which obvious considerations make me as sparing as possible. Being entirely ignorant of the names with which yours will be in competition, I can form no estimate of the result. With...
16James Madison to James Carroll and Others, 23 February 1834 (Madison Papers)
I have received, young gentlemen, your letter of the 16th. inst: informing me that I have been elected an honorary member of the Franklin Literary Society of Randolph Macon College. My respect for the object of the Society, and the motives for associating my name with it, do not permit me to decline the distinction, however sensible I am of the little value that can be attached to its...
17From James Madison to James P. Preston, [19 May] 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. your letter of the 18th. of March with the commission to which it refers; and shall duly attend to the trust which it assigns to me. Very respectfully RC ( Vi : Executive Papers). Undated. Addressed by JM to Preston at Richmond and franked. Conjectural date assigned on the basis of cover marked, “Orange C H Va. 19 May.” Cover docketed by Preston, “Expresident Madisons...
18From James Madison to James Strong, 8 May 1824 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison offers his friendly respects to Mr. Strong with thanks for the copy of his Speech on the Tariff Bill. Less can not be said of it than that it presents with advantage, the particular views taken of the subject by the Author. Draft ( DLC ). James Strong (1783–1847), a Connecticut-born graduate of the University of Vermont, settled in Hudson, New York, and served in the U.S. House of...
19James Madison to James Maury, 29 April 1831 (Madison Papers)
The mail has just brought us information, in one instance under your own hand & name, that you have safely reached the land of your birth. I welcome you to it; and hope at an early day to welcome you at my own domicil, where I shall be able to express all the feelings awakened by your unexpected and gratifying visit. Meantime accept from Mrs. M. & myself all our best wishes. RC ( ViU ); draft...
20James Madison to James Madison Hite, 25 November 1835 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter by Henry. You mistake much in supposing my health to be such as when you last saw me; my debility & the effect of Rheumatism on my limbs scarcely permitting me to walk across the room; and the condition of my fingers obliging me often as in the present case to dictate to another pen, rather than force a use of my own. The appearance of the fly in the Wheat, and the...
21[James Madison] to James C. Fuller, 13 June 1833 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 27th. Ult. accompanying the introductory one from my friend Mr. Joy. It is not probable, had you made your intended visit, that I could have given you as useful advice on the object of your pursuit as may be obtained from other sources, especially as Virginia may not be the State, in which you would prefer an establishment. I may say nevertheless, that the...
22From James Madison to James Monroe, 4 July 1823 (Madison Papers)
To my requests the day before yesterday I forgot to add that of a Copy of As letter to Harrison acknowledging the receipt of his Resignation; the date only being formerly asked for & sent in your last. Yours RC ( DLC : Monroe Papers); draft ( DLC ). RC docketed by Monroe. Minor differences between the copies have not been noted.
23From James Madison to James Breckinridge, 27 November 1827 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed you by Mr. Jesse B. Harison of Lynchburg. He offers himself as Successor to Mr Long, in the Professorship of Ancient Languages: & if satisfied by the concurring opinions of the Visitors separately expressed, that his appointment will take place, intends to embark immediately at his own expence for Germany, in order to avail himself of the peculiar opportunities there found...
24From James Madison to James Monroe, 19 March 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your two letters of Jany. 17 & 22. were duly recd. I hope your health was restored as soon as was promised by the decrease of your fever, and that it continues to be good. I inclose a Circular required by the resignation of Mr. Key, to which I have nothing to add on that subject. Our Colleagues protest against a “Called Board” on any acct. tho’ I fear the Creditors of the university will be...
25From James Madison to James Monroe, 5 February 1824 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Jany. 26. came duly to hand. The information I wish to be obtained from Genl. Jackson is 1st. What was the form & dates of the appointments of Brigadier, and of Brevet Major General, accepted by him in his letter of June 8th. 1814. to the Secy. of war; and what the date of the Secretary’s letter inclosing the appointments. The term “form” refers to the distinction between...
26From James Madison to James Monroe, 22 September 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. a letter from H. Lee dated Nashville Aug. 24. stating that he had corresponded with Genl. Armstrong on the subject of the provisional order to Genl. Jackson of July 18. 1814, authorizing him on certain conditions to take possession of Pensacola; which order was not recd. by the General till on or about the 14th. of March 1815; and then open, and the envelope without post-mark; and...
27James Madison to James Maury, 6 February 1829 (Madison Papers)
On the rect. of your letter inclosing a letter to Mr. Walker, I put the latter into the hands of one of my neighbors who married his daughter. It appears that the old Gentleman died a few days after your letter reached him; but that he recollected the debt, referred to, and expressed a confidence that he had never recd. a payment of it. His long inattention to the subject, is explained by a...
28From James Madison to James Monroe, 18 December 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 10th. and return the correspondence between Col Mercer and yourself. Your letter to him of the 10th. was perfectly a propos, and can not fail I think to answer my purpose as well as yours; the substance of it being applicable to both, and coinciding with the promise of Col. M. in his letter of Novr. 12. to guard me as well as you from the threatened embarrassment. It...
29From James Madison to James Monroe, 11 December 1818 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed is of little consequence, but you will see that it ought to have been addressed to you. Dr. Eustis & his lady having given us a call, it was agreed that he & myself shd. make a short visit to Mr. Jefferson of whose state of health, I had never been able to get any precise information. We found him substantially restored from his indisposition, with good appetite, and in the daily...
30From James Madison to James Barbour, 13 October 1826 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. a letter from Majr Byrd C Willis, of Tallahassee well known to you reminding me that I was the medium of an application for a Cadet Warrant in behalf of his son George, and requesting me to intimate that he has still the same object in view: and that as his son, “is no longer a Citizen of Virga., but hails from Florada,” the former difficulty that the claim of Virginia had no...