251From James Madison to James Monroe, 25 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
Mr Hary Grant was some years ago appointed Consul for Leith; but it is understood that he has spent but little of his time at that place and that he is now most probably in France. The President would before now have superseded him had a suitable successor been found. It is however deemed improper that he should longer hold the Office and you will accordingly signify to the British Government,...
252From James Madison to James P. Preston, 27 May 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. your letter of the 20th. requesting such information as I may [be] able to give with regard to the qualifications of Mr. F. R. Hassler, for the place of Principal Engineer, to the Board of Public Works. I have but a slight personal knowlege of Mr. Hassler; but I have sufficient reason to believe, that he possesses, in an eminent degree, every scientific requisite for such an...
253James Madison to James Monroe, 21 April 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. yours of the . I considered the advertisement of your estate in Loudon as an omen that your friends in Virginia were to lose you. It is impossible to gainsay the motives to which you yielded in making N. Y. your residence, tho’ I fear that you will find its climate unsuited to your period of life and the State of your health. I just observe and with much pleasure, that the...
254From James Madison to James H. Blake, 4 March 1817 (Madison Papers)
I am much indebted to the Citizens of Washington, in whose behalf you speak, for the expressions of regard and respect addressed to me. These sentiments are the more valuable to me, as my long residence among them has made me well acquainted with their many titles to my esteem, at the same time that it has enabled them to mark more particularly the course of my public and personal conduct....
255From James Madison to James Sullivan, 8 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
I recd in due time your favor of the 8th. Ulto. No apology was necessary for its exercise of the right of every Citizen to intimate to his Govt. the result of his patriotic reflections, which ought to be welcome to every Govt. in proportion as the source is enlightened from which it proceeds. The President’s message of this day to Congress will best shew the posture & prospect of our affairs...
256From James Madison to James Monroe, 10 April 1824 (Madison Papers)
Your favors of Mar. 27. & April came duly to hand. You know already that I submit the recommendations which I can not sometimes decline, in entire subordination to your view of the comparative merits & pretensions before you. I think you perfectly right in not allowing locality to give exclusive claims to offices of general concern. I did not forget the name of Dr. Torrey, when in...
257From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 18 November 1785 (Madison Papers)
I rcd. yrs. by Capt. Barbour who I hope will enquire as to Turpin in the land office. I wish you rather to confide such business to friends coming here who can be relied on than to refer it to me. I am so little Master of my time, and the Office is removed so far out of the way that I cannot be relied on. I will endeavor to get the Journals for you soon. The price of Tobo. forbids the sale of...
258From James Madison to James Leander Cathcart, 7 July 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To James Leander Cathcart. 7 July 1806, Department of State. “I have received your letter of the 1st. of July, and have caused four thousand dollars to be remitted to you at Boston, for which you will apply at the Branch Bank. The whole two thousand dollars allotted for the Prime Minister may be laid out by you in purchases of presents. I hope your wishes will be speedily gratified, as the...
259From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, 18 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
The reasonable and friendly views with which you have been instructed by the President to enter into negociations with the French Government justify him in expecting from them an issue favorable to the tranquillity and to the useful relations between the two Countries. It is not forgotten however that these views, instead of being reciprocal, may find, on the part of France, a temper adverse...
260From James Madison to James Breckinridge, 8 January 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of Decr. 23. The difficulty I fear will be as great as the importance of providing as [ sic ] successor to Mr. Long. You know his anxiety to secure the appointment given him in the London university; to which is to be added the necessity he states of his returning to England on other accounts, at the expiration of his stipulated term; so that there is no chance of his...
261From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 17 November 1791 (Madison Papers)
My last informed you of the articles procured & forwardd. in consequence of my several commissions. I now send the key of the trunk in which some of the articles are contained. I forgot to mention that the Tea in the Dressing boxes belongs to my brother Ambrose. You will see by the inclosed papers that the number of future representatives in Congress has been a subject of discussion, and is...
262From James Madison to James Monroe, 12 [11] August 1786 (Madison Papers)
I called at Hunts at Trenton but he had come a few days before to this City. On my arrival last night I sought him out and find that he has disposed of two of the Horses belonging to the Sett on which you relied. The fourth horse he had never actually procured, but had him within his reach in case a bargain had been concluded with you. One therefore of that Sett only remains. His price would...
263From James Madison to James Monroe, 13 August 1823 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the inclosing papers from the war office. The path I am endeavouring to trace is so dark & tortuous and the official lights left by the Ex-functionary behind him so scanty, that I find it difficult to do justice to the subject. It may be of some use perhaps to understand precisely in what cases usage may have sanctioned “letters of appointment,” instead of regular...
264From James Madison to James Monroe, 28 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
Your dispatch of the 11th. of Sepr. has been duly received. Altho’ the tenor of the discussions which it recites does not exhibit on the part of the British Commissioners the readiness in yielding to the justice of our claims and to the energy of your statements, which might be wished, yet the general spirit of conciliation with which they profess and appear to have met you, cherishes a hope...
265From James Madison to James Monroe, 16 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
If I did not misunderstand you when in Washington the Gardener Beza, was not now engaged or wanted for your service, and would not, probably, be unwilling to undertake a job for me. Should this be the case, I would ask the favor of you to send him down as soon as possible. I wish to employ him, & 2 or 3 hands under him, in preparing a piece of ground for a Garden, and to have it executed in a...
266From James Madison to Alexander James Dallas (Abstract), 29 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
29 May 1805, Department of State . “I had the honor to lay your communication of the 13th. inst: [not found] before the President, who thinks it expedient that you take the proper steps to have the decision in the case of the Mercator brought before the Supreme Court of the U:States, in order that the proper decision may have the highest judicial sanction.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL ,...
267From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 30 March 1792 (Madison Papers)
I have procured & inclose with the two last Natl. Gazettes, the 1st. No. which compleats your sett. If any that I send from time to time shd. miscarry, I wish you to let me know it and I will supply the loss. The Representation-bill has passed the two Houses, in the unconstitutional form proposed by the Senate, and is now before the Senate. It fixes the number at 120 members & distributes them...
268From James Madison to James A. Buchanan, 27 February 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 February 1804, Department of State. “Your letter of the 15th. inst. has been duly received together with the papers it enclosed, respecting the capture of the Brig Lear and the proceedings exercised against her at Antigua. Should the event of a condemnation take place, it will be advisable for you to appeal to England, since the doctrine of the blockade of Martinique is [ sic ] announced by...
269From James Madison to James Monroe, 30 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I am just favored with yours of the 23d. It gives me much pleasure to learn that your health is so firmly re-establishing itself. I hope there may never be an occasion for subjecting it again to such severe trials. I have myself experienced much benefit from a change from Washington to my farm, altho’ the business going on at the former place, has occupied me so much at the latter, that I have...
270From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 27 November 1784 (Madison Papers)
Having a moments time to drop you a line I inform you that the Bill for confirming surveys agst. subsequent entries has been negatived by a large majority, rather on the principle that it was unnecessary & retrospective, than that it was unjust in itself. On the contrary all the principal gentlemen were of opinion that it was just, but already provided for by the law. Mr. Innes the late Judge...
271From James Madison to James Monroe, 1 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
I commit to your care the inclosed letters & papers for Genl. Fayette which are left open for your perusal. We have just recd. the Message of his B. Majesty which is represented as the signal of a certain rupture with France. From the positions taken by the parties, both diplomatic & military, such an event seems scarcely avoidable. I hope we shall be wise enough to shun their follies, and...
272From James Madison to James Monroe, [2 December] 1799 (Madison Papers)
Several of your friends here wish us to possess the document of Dr. Edwards procured by Mr. Dawson. Send it by the next post if you please with any observations you wish to make. L. Smith is appointed our Speaker by a majority of 80 odd vs. 50 odd—& Wirt Clerk by one of 90 odd vs 40 odd. Communicate this to Mr. J. & tell him I have recd. his letter by Mr. R. but cannot answer it now—it being ½...
273From James Madison to James Leander Cathcart, 15 July 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To James Leander Cathcart. 15 July 1806, Department of State. “Beside the four field pieces, the Secretary, bureaux and rice, which could not, for want of room, be received on board the Franklin, it has unfortunately happened that 80 barrels of loaf sugar and ten tons of log-wood, belonging to the Ambassador have, from the same cause, been left at Baltimore. They have however been ordered...
274From James Madison to James Monroe, 5 February 1828 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 29th. Ult: was recd. by the last mail. I have not yet heard from Judge Brook, but may perhaps do so by the mail of this evening. The task imposed on us by the Convention is of so delicate a nature, that with their foreknowledge of our purpose, it ought to have been forborne. Your idea of alluding to the advantage of having the experienced Counsel of Ex. Presidts. in trying...
275From James Madison to James Monroe, 30 October 1786 (Madison Papers)
I drop you a few lines rather as a fulfilment of my promise than for the purpose of information, since they go by Mr. Jones who is much better acquainted with the politics here than myself. I find with pleasure that the navigation of the Misspi. will be defended by the Legislature with as much zeal as could be wished. Indeed the only danger is that too much resentment may be indulged by many...
276From James Madison to James P. Preston, 1 March 1817 (Madison Papers)
Having received, through you, the address of the General Assembly of Virginia, of February 10th, I have to request that you will take charge of the enclosed answer to it. I must tender you my acknowledgments at the same time, for the friendly and flattering manner in which you have fulfilled the resolution of the General Assembly. I should express my feelings very imperfectly, if, in recurring...
277From James Madison to James Monroe, 9 January 1827 (Madison Papers)
I recd. by the last mail a letter from J. H. Causten, accompanied by a huge volume of Documents, and a stout pamphlet of arguments, with a printed letter to him from Mr. Pickering, on the mercantile claims agst. France, and the release of her from them by the U.S. All these articles have been doubtless sent to you also, as I am requested by Mr. C. to forward the inclosed Certificate of Agency,...
278From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 27 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have not yet recd. a single line from Orange since I left it. The letter from my brother when at Alexa. is the only written information that I have had the pleasure of, A few lines from Mr. Hite excepted. These gave me an account of my sisters marriage, and added that about that period my mother was better. I am anxious to hear more on that subject, and indulge my hopes that her health will...
279James Madison: Indenture for Sale of land by Dolley Payne Madison and James Madison to Coleby Cowherd, 9 March 1830 (Madison Papers)
This Indenture made this 9th. day of March 1830, between James Madison of the county of Orange and Dolley P. his wife of the one part and Coleby Cowherd 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 seven thousand dollars to him the said James Madison by the said Coleby Cowherd in hand paid, the receipt...
280From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 October 1823 (Madison Papers)
The friends of Mr. Geo: Conway now of Alabama, who are among my near & much respected Neighbours, understanding that an Office of Register of land is become vacant by the election of its holder to Congress, are anxious that I should name him for consideration in appointing a successor. Notwithstanding the claim they think they have to my favorable attention, I yield to their wishes with a...
281From James Madison to James Monroe, [24 September] 1800 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 9th. inst: never arrived till sunday last. I cannot account for your having heard nothing of the letter of Mr. M. & the copy of yours to Mr. D. According to your request when you inclosed them, they were returned by the ensuing mail, addressed to you & to be left at Milton, where they must have arrived on thursday morning, the day on which I presumed you would set off for Richd....
282From James Madison to James Monroe, 23 November 1818 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for the “Message” put under cover to me. The topics which it embraces are well presented to public attention. None of the Documents have reached us. Those relating to S. America, are I find objects of much curiosity. The inference you draw from them, leaves no doubt however as to their general complexion. I can not learn the precise state of Mr. Jefferson’s convalescence. I fear it...
283From James Madison to James Monroe, 25 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
In the postscript of 18th. to my letter of the 15th of April, you were requested to suspend your departure from London for Madrid until you should be informed of the President’s views as to your destination after closing your mission to Spain . I am now enabled by the return of the President to signify to you that he yields to the reasons assigned by you for declining the appointment on this...
284From James Madison to James Monroe, 15 April 1793 (Madison Papers)
Since sealing the inclosed I have a letter from Mr. Jef—son of Aprl. 7. He says war is certainly declared between Engd. & F. & inclosed a newspaper which gives the acct. The decln. commenced on the part of the latter, and seems to be grounded on its alledged actual existance on the part of the former. “An impeachment (says Mr. J.) is ordered here agst. Nicholson the Comptroller, by a vote...
285From James Madison to James Monroe, 6 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
On perusing your letters to Mr. DeNeuville, and Mr. Gallatin, some ideas occurred which induced me to put them on paper for your consideration. Those relating to the first letter are interlined with a pencil. Those relating to the 2d. are partly so, & partly penned on a separate sheet. In the communication to Mr. G. I thought it might be not amiss to suggest the several topics which he may...
286James Madison to James Monroe, 29 June 1829 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment recd. yours of the 25th., and having a casual oppy. to the P. O. this evening shall get an answr. into the mail tomorrow morning. The 10th. of July is as you suppose the day for the Meeting of the Visitors, and I shall look for you here in due time. It ought to be on the 8th. at the latest. I am glad to find you so successful in overcoming the successive attacks on your...
287From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 8 November 1795 (Madison Papers)
We arrived here on friday and are to go forward this morning. I went yesterday to Mr. Dunbar & had the satisfaction to learn from him that he had applied to the forge for the Mill Irons & that the whole Bill wd. be executed according to your orders. I gave him a memorandum of the articles I wanted for my negroes, which he said should be laid by for the arrival of Collins, with liberty to him...
288From James Madison to James Monroe, [ca. 3 October] 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have your favor of yesterday, & we shall expect the pleasure of seeing you with Mrs. Monroe tomorrow or next day. There is no mail from Fredg. today owing probably to high waters North of it. Inclosed is a paper or two recd. by that of yesterday. Would it be amiss to send to the press, the English papers forwarded to you. They contain sundry articles not uninteresting. I wonder that Genl....
289James Madison to James B. Reynolds, 20 March 1831 (Madison Papers)
I recd. in due time your friendly favour of Decr. 15, and owe for the long delay in acknowledging it, the apology which many of my friends have kindly accepted, of bad health through the year past; to which might be added the plea of my great age. I congratulate you on your having exchanged your bachelorship for a wedded state: and from the picture of your private life, I may do the same, that...
290From James Madison to James Monroe, 17 August 1786 (Madison Papers)
I have your favor of the 14th. inst. The expedient of which you ask my opinion has recd. as it deserved all the consideration which the time & other circumstances would allow me to give. I think that in the present State of things, such an arrangement would be beneficial & even pleasing to those most concerned in it; and yet I doubt extremely the policy of your proposing it to Congs. The...
291From James Madison to James Monroe, 23 May 1814 (Madison Papers)
I return the papers relating to Moss. If the Treasury Department has no objections to the pardon recommended by the district Judge, and the Attorney Genl. thinks it legal under such modifications, let an instrument for the purpose be made out. The high waters continue to obstruct the mails. 2 from NY. and 1 from places South of it, are left in arrears by the arrival this morning. The English...
292From James Madison to John and James De Wolf, 30 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 18th. has been received stating that the board of Commissioners sitting in London under the British Treaty had refused your claim for further compensation on account of the capture and condemnation of the Snow Sukey, grounding their refusal on a mistaken conception, that the slave trade, in which she was engaged, was contrary to our laws at the time of capture. If you recur...
293From James Madison to James Bowdoin, 10 December 1804 (Madison Papers)
The President of the United States being desirous of availing the public of your services as Minister Plenipotentiary to His Catholic Majesty, I have the honor to enclose your commission . As in many respects it would be desireable, that we should have the pleasure of your presence at the seat of government, before your departure for Spain, if it can be reconciled with your private...
294From James Madison to James Pleasants Jr., 11 March 1824 (Madison Papers)
In the latter part of June or first of July 1783. a letter was written by the Virga. Delegates in Congs to the Govr: giving an acct. of the Meeting of Soldiers which was followed by the removal of Congs. from Philada. It is not certain whether the letter was signed by all the Delegates, or proceeded from Mr Mercer alone as was one of them. As the letter is probably on the files of the Ex. may...
295James Madison to James Cornick, 31 January 1832 (Madison Papers)
I have received Sir your letter of the 27th and am sorry I can give no information on the Subject of it. I have no recollection that the case of your father was at any time made known to me. Having never been a practitioner of law, that consideration could not have led him to place his papers in my hands. The Services which it appears your father rendered were certainly meritorious Mr. Maury...
296From James Madison to James Monroe, 10 November 1798 (Madison Papers)
You will have this from Mr. Reuben Chuning, who wishes to consult with you on the subject of your Housebuilding. He is one of the Workmen whom I recommended to you, and will I am persuaded justify all I have said in his favor. He has not yet put the last hand to my work, but will probably be ready as soon as you are for commencing yours. I have met with some mortifying delays in finishing off...
297From James Madison to James Monroe, 18 September 1813 (Madison Papers)
Will you have such an answer given Mr. Chandler, as will accord with precedents, which I presume may admit of his communicating through a flag, shd. one be sent to Bermuda for other purposes and in the mean time to make an expert: on the ships here. The indulgences given to others who have lost Negroes, either by the Genl. or State authorities, have probably encouraged this application....
298From James Madison to James Monroe, 5 March 1817 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ your personal and official acquaintance with Mr. J Graham, be well known to me, I can not, on the occasion of my final departure fr⟨om⟩ the public service, satisfy myself, without expressing my sense of his great merit. Mr. Graham, recommended by my knowlege of his public Agency abroad, and of his private virtues, was invited into the Department of State, as the Chief under the Head of...
299From James Madison to James Monroe, 29 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
I returned to this City on the 24th. The President arrived the day after. General Dearbourn was here before. Messrs. Gallatin & Smith are daily expected. We have reassembled a little earlier after our full vacation than usual, in order to be the more prepared for the earlier meeting of Congress. The last letter recd. from you was of the 11th. of Augst by Mr. Baring who forwardd. that with the...
300From James Madison to James Monroe, 27 March 1815 (Madison Papers)
I now return the papers sent with yours already acknowledged. They are well worth perusing & preserving. As Dr. Eustis will soon embark for Holland, you will not forget to put him in possession of what has passed with Changuion on the subject of a Commercial Treaty. It may be proper also that he should be apprized of the condescention of the Sovn. Prince to the B. Govt. in forbidding Dutch...