1James Madison to Henry Lee, 3 March 1834 (Madison Papers)
private Your letter of Novr. 14. came safely tho’ tardily to hand. I must confess that I perceive no ground, on which a doubt could be applied to the Statement of Mr. Jefferson which you cite. Nor can it I think, be difficult to account for my declining an Executive appointment under Washington and accepting it under Jefferson, without making it a test of my comparative attachment to them;...
2James Madison to Henry Lee, 26 November 1833 (Madison Papers)
I received Sir, on the 9th instant your letter of Sepr. 15th. and enclose copies of such of your father’s letters to me, as are embraced by your request. They are entire with the exception of one from which the conclusion was cut off for an autographic collection. Finding that my files do not contain copies of my letters to your father, as is the case with his files and his letters to me, I...
3James Madison to Henry Lee, 14 August 1833 (Madison Papers)
private I have recd. your letter of June 5th. under cover of one from Mr P A. Jay of New York. I find that you have been misled on the subject of Mr Jefferson’s letter to me of Decr. 28. 1794., by an unlucky misprint of Jay for Joy (G. Joy in London) the writer of the letter to which Mr. Jefferson refers. This letter has no reference to Mr. Jay nor to any thing that could be within the scope...
4From James Madison to Henry Lee, 24 September 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of Augst. 24 was not recd. till a few days ago. I regret that I can not throw a ray of light on the cause and circumstances of the delay which attended the order to Genl. Jackson of July 18. 1814; having no recollections enabling me to do so, nor access to any document if there be any, that could assist them. I can only therefore express my wish that the occurrence may be traced...
5From James Madison to Henry Lee, [16] February 1827 (Madison Papers)
I recd. Sir, some days ago your letter of the 2. Inst: to the object of which I have not been able to give an earlier attention. With your purpose of giving a historical character to the events of a very critical period of the war of 1812, you are very properly anxious to obtain whatever information may contribute to the authenticity and accuracy of the work; and I cannot but wish for your...
6From James Madison to Henry Lee, 29 November 1825 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. Sir, yours of the 19th. instant. I need not repeat my commendation of your purpose to devote your talents to literary pursuits. And the tasks you now mark out for your pen, will doubtless inspire its best efforts. The campaign of Niagara in 1814, and the naval achievements in the Mediterranean, are both of them distinguished by their patriotic & Historic Attractions; and you are...
7From James Madison to Henry Lee, 31 January 1825 (Madison Papers)
The urgency indicated in your last letter as to the request in a former one having quickened my attention to the subject, I have at length looked enough into the evidence that the Movement of the Southern Army from Deep River to the Santee in the Campaign of 1781 was suggested by your father, to be satisfied of the fact; the more readily admitted from the acknowleged traits of his military...
8From James Madison to Henry Lee, 14 January 1825 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. Sir yours of the 6th. inst. and have looked over the printed Sheet inclosed in it. Of the literary character of the paper, I may express a laudatory opinion, without risk of contravening that of others. As a political disquisition, it embraces questions both of magnitude and of nicety, on which opinions may be various, and of which a critical review does not lie within the compass...
9From James Madison to Henry Lee, 4 September 1824 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. Sir your letter of Aug: with a copy of the Address reported by the Committee of a late Meeting at Fredericksburg, for which you will please to accept my thanks. I am not surprized at your purpose of adopting literature as your favorite object. It will always be found a source not only of rich enjoyment, but of public distinction & usefulness also where there is a union of...
10From James Madison to Henry Lee, 25 June 1824 (Madison Papers)
I have received, sir, your letter of the 18th. inclosing the proposal of a new publication under the title of “American Gazette & Literary Journal.” Of the prospectus I cannot say less than that it is an interesting specimen of cultivated talents. I must say at the same time that I think it concedes too much to a remedial power in the press over the spirit of party. Besides the occasional and...
11From James Madison to Henry Lee, 12 May 1824 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison has recd. Major Lee’s note of the 4th in which reference is made to a contemplated new Edition of his Father’s Memoirs. The events embraced by the Memoirs will occupy so large and so important a space in the History of our Independence, that an exhibition of them from such a source cannot be made too full or too free from error. J. M. would accordingly not only feel a pleasure, but...
12From James Madison to Henry Lee, 22 April 1824 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison acknowledges with thanks the receipt of the volume which Major Lee has been so good as to send him. He delays the perusal of it till he can precede it by that of the work which it reviews. If injustice, however occasioned, has been done to the Memory of General Lee, a vindication of it cannot but be acceptable to one whose friendship contracted with him at the earliest date, was...
13From James Madison to Henry Lee, 22 November 1793 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 22 November 1793. Offered for sale in Emily Driscoll Catalogue No. 8 (1949), item 58, which notes that the letter introduces James Makittrick Adair: “I ask your attentions for him … with an assurance that they will be both merited & repaid.” Acknowledged in Lee to JM, 23 Jan. 1794 .
14From James Madison to the Governor of Virginia, 22 July 1792 (Madison Papers)
The Report of which the inclosed is an authentic copy having been made to the House of Representatives, it is possible that the Executive may not have been furnished with it by the Senators of this State. I take the liberty therefore of forwarding it and am with the highest respect & esteem Your most Obedt. hble servant RC and enclosures ( Vi : Executive Papers). The enclosures are clerks’...
15From James Madison to Henry Lee, 22 July 1792 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 22 July 1792. Acknowledged in Lee to JM, 10 Sept. 1792 . A private letter in which JM suggests a meeting with Lee. Requests information on navigation in Virginia, probably in response to Jedidiah Morse’s inquiries (see JM to Morse, 15 Aug. 1792 ).
16From James Madison to Henry Lee, 15 April 1792 (Madison Papers)
I have already acquainted you with the nominations of the President for General Officers. They have all been confirmed by the Senate except Wilkinson who I am told will be tomorrow. The Commander in chief it is said went through the Senate rather against the bristles. The appointment is well relished of course by some, but does not escape already considerable criticism. I am glad to find by...
17From James Madison to Henry Lee, 11 April 1792 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 11 April 1792. Acknowledged in Lee to JM, 18 Apr. 1792 . Reports Washington’s decision to appoint General Wayne as commander of the frontier army.
18From James Madison to Henry Lee, 28 March 1792 (Madison Papers)
No nomination has yet been made of a new commander for the military establishment, nor of any of the Brigadiers authorised by the supplemental act lately passed. I refer to the News papers for the inferior appointments which have taken place. It is understood that St. Clair is not to remain in service. A proposition was yesterday made in the H. of Reps. desiring the President to institute an...
19From James Madison to Henry Lee, 12 February 1792 (Madison Papers)
I have your favor of the 29th Ultmo. The Senate have disagreed to that part of the Military Bill which augmented the regular establishment to about 5000 Men—and will probably send it back with that alteration. They prefer a completion only of the old Regiments & a liberal provision for temporary forces. Nothing has passed from which I can conjecture in the most remote degree whether you may...
20From James Madison to Henry Lee, 29 January 1792 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Marshall called last evening with your favor of the 17th. but not being at home, I have not yet seen him. Our weather here corresponds with that you describe, except perhaps we have less snow and more cold. The snow is 7 or 8 Inches only. Farther North, as well as South, it is said to be much deeper. The Subject of Western defence is not yet over. In relation to it, I have nothing to add...
21From James Madison to Henry Lee, 21 January 1792 (Madison Papers)
On the receipt of your favour of the 9th. I communicated to Mr. Freneau the complaint of his subscribers. He answers me that the papers have been punctually sent under the best precautions allowed by the present mode of conveyance. The post Office bill now depending aims at an admission of newspapers into the mail, which will increase the expense somewhat of the subscribers, but will alone...
22From James Madison to Henry Lee, 8 January 1792 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 8 January 1792. Acknowledged in Lee to JM, 17 Jan. 1792 . Discusses pending legislation in Congress related to the debt funding system.
23From James Madison to Henry Lee, 1 January 1792 (Madison Papers)
I have received your’s of the 22d Dec, and am sincerely sorry that I cannot be as instrumental on the occasion stated in it as My respect for the wishes of the Mr. Marshall’s and particularly for your’s, by which they are seconded, would make me anxious to be. The truth is I am not on any footing of personal acquaintance with Mr. Hammond which would justify me in asking the favor of him in his...
24From James Madison to Henry Lee, 18 December 1791 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of the 8th & handed to Freneau the subscriptions inclosed for him. His paper in the opinion here justifies the expectations of his freinds and Merits the diffusive circulation they have endeavoured to procure it. I regret that I can administer no balm to the wound given by the first report of our western disaster. You will have seen the official account which has...
25From James Madison to Henry Lee, 13 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 4th ult. by Col. Lee was received from his hands on Sunday last. I have since recd. that of the 3d Instant. The anticedent one from Alexandria, though long on the way was recd. some time before. In all these, I discover strong marks of the dissatisfaction with which you behold our public prospects. Though in several respects they do not comport with my wishes—yet I cannot...
26From James Madison to Henry Lee, 1 March 1790 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 1 March 1790. Acknowledged in Lee to JM, 13 Mar. 1790 . Probably relates to the defeat of JM’s discrimination amendment, the assumption debate, and Lee’s Potomac land speculation.
27From James Madison to Henry Lee, 4 October 1789 (Madison Papers)
I Meant to have acknowledged your favor of the 8th Ult. by your brother, but in the hurry of the occasion missed even the pleasure of seeing him after the adjournment. He will give you the details of our proceedings, particularly on the subject of the seat of Government. I am extremely afraid that the hopes of the Potomac do not rest on so good a foundation as we wish. Every circumstance which...
28From James Madison to Henry Lee, 21 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
It was fortunate that a duplicate of your letter to Mr. Jefferson went so soon from Alexandria. The copy in My hands did not find a conveyance fit to be trusted for a very long time—it cannot have reached him yet. I was determined to await a secure opportunity, and the intermission of the French Packet left such an one extremely rare. I was compelled at last to put it into the hands of a...
29From James Madison to Henry Lee, 30 November 1788 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 29th Ult: was received in N. York—the pleasing one of the 19th Inst. found me in this City, whither I had come with a veiw either to return to N. York or proceed to Virginia as circumstances might determine. I have not sooner acknowledged your first favor, because it intimated that the Subject of it admitted of delay, and I did not wish to precipitate a determination on...
30From James Madison to Henry Lee, 23 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of the 11th inst. Having never felt an intermission of my regard for you, I cannot be insensible either to the friendship which it speaks on your part, or the failure of it which it supposes on mine. That the latter sentiment should have resulted from a communication which could have no motive but one that ought to have prevented such a consequence, may well fill me...