31From James Madison to James Breckinridge, 6 August 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your letter informing the Visitors that you could not join them at their late meeting, was recd. by all of them with the particular feelings of regret excited by the cause of the disappointment. I hope the indisposition was transient, and that your health is now in a satisfactory State. You will have understood that Mr. Key persisted in his resignation, & that Mr. Bonnycastle has taken his...
32James Madison to James Maury, 13 May 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of March 31st. and hasten to give the information you request. Mr. John Walker the lawyer to whom you allude, is still living in the adjoining County at a very advanced Age. He has long been well known to me as he was to my father, and has always been regarded as of the strictest probity, and in every respect a most worthy character. He is not affluent, but in very...
33From James Madison to James Monroe, 29 October 1827 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 3d. instant, with copies of your two letters to Judge White now returned, were not received till they had made a trip to Montpellier in Vermont; as happened at the same time to three letters from our co-visitors of the University. The letter to you from Mr. Ringold, referred to as inclosed, was omitted. Your explanatory communications to Judge White are very important, and I hope...
34From James Madison to James Monroe, 23 December 1823 (Madison Papers)
A most distressing picture has been presented to me of the condition of Mr. Cathcart and his numerous family, in the hope that as his official services which have had such a termination, were rendered whilst the Executive administration was in my hands, I might be induced to say something in his behalf. It is impossible to learn his actual distress and alarming prospects without sympathy; but...
35From James Madison to James Barbour, 13 April 1825 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. a letter from Mr. Byrd Willis manifesting great anxiety to obtain a Cadet appt. for his son George, who he says has long been on the list of Candidates. The father derives encouragement from the descent of consanguinity of the son, connecting him with the Military merit of the revolution. Notwithstanding my general forbearance to intermeddle in such cases, I cannot well...
36From James Madison to James Monroe, 4 November 1823 (Madison Papers)
In the hurry of acknowledging yours of Ocr. 17. recd. at the last moment of the opportunity for the post office, I did not advert to the passage relating to enquiries to be made of Genl. Jackson. I hope you have not delayed your intended letter to him on that account. I should suppose it might be quite proper to ask from him copies of the documents appointing him Brigadier or Majr. General by...
37James Madison to James Monroe, 15 December 1830 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 7th. You will not doubt that our sympathies have been fully with you during the afflictions which have befallen you. I think you have done well in chusing your present situation, & for the reasons you express. I hope you will experience from it all the improvement which your health needs, and every advantage promised by it. My fear is that the Winter may be too rude...
38From James Madison to James Monroe, 13 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
I have rcd. your favor of the 3d. I am much obliged by the kind manner in which you speak of my Nephew. I hope you will always consider expressions of my good will in such cases as perfectly subordinate to public considerations, and superi[o]r pretensions. In the present case I am not sure that the appt. of my nephew to the place in question ought to be desired even by himself, unless Col:...
39From James Madison to James Maury, 20 February 1821 (Madison Papers)
Your favor enclosing Act. Sales & invoice came safe to hand. The articles sent are liable to no objection except that some of them are rather of a superior sort & of course, price, than was in view. I have arranged with Mr. Mackay, the balance due from me so as [to] stand debited in his books for it. The sales of the Tobo. did not fully meet expectation. That of the best quality it was thought...
40From James Madison to James P. Preston, [ca. 12] March 1819 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of Feby. 27. inclosing the appointment of me as a Visitor of the University of Virginia. However indisposed to public trusts, for which I am aware that every day is unfitting me, I can not decline a participation in the care of an Institution so honorable to the Public Councils of the State, and so auspicious to the coming generations of its Citizens. Should the...
41From James Madison to James Monroe, 16 February 1822 (Madison Papers)
A letter from Mrs. Dallas has just come under my eye, by which I find she is subsisting on very scanty resources, and is under impressions that two of her sons particularly, are not as well off as the public services of their father, and their own personal worth had promised. The elder one belonging to the Navy has, it seems, been a considerabl⟨e⟩ time without a ship. The other, George, tho’...
42James Madison to James B. Longacre, 27 August 1833 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. your letter of the 21 inst I am aware of the wish you naturally feel for such a biographical sketch of me as will preserve a uniformity in your Gallery; and I am glad that you are sensible of the controul I may feel in supplying materials for it. A friend will attempt a brief chronicle of my career, with perhaps a few remarks & references, and will forward the paper when...
43From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 October 1817 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 18th. was handed to me by your servant, at a moment & place which did not permit me to acknowlege it by him. We regretted very much the circumstances which deprived us of the expected pleasure of seeing you all on your way to Washington. I inclose the copy of your letter to Gen: Jackson. Your reasonings on the singular step taken by him can scarcely fail to convince him of...
44From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 September 1826 (Madison Papers)
Inferring from the silence of the Newspapers, since they announced your appointment as a visitor of the University, that your answer did not require a replacing one, I take for granted that you will be with your colleagues at the legal place & period. Allow me to count on your being thus far on your way in time for us to proceed hence together: I propose to set out on saturday after next: and...
45From James Madison to James Monroe, 2 October 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. yours of the 27th. Ulto. I am very sorry that I shall not be able to have the pleasure of joining you at the Meeting of the Visitors. We must await therefore that of seeing you & Mrs. M. on your way to Washington; and hope you will set out in time to spare us some days. The communications from Mr. Rush are very interesting. G. B. seems so anxious to secure the general trade...
46From James Madison to James Monroe, 26 February 1828 (Madison Papers)
Your two letters of the 13 & 15th. inst came together by the last mail (sunday evening) too late to be answered by its return on monday morning. I had recd. the printed circular of Judge Brooke notifying our Electoral nominations, on thursday last, but in the night, & not to be answered by the return Mail, which passes our post office, between 5 & 6 miles distant, by day light. The printed...
47James Madison to James Monroe, 20 March 1828 (Madison Papers)
Yours of Feby. 23. was not recd. before the last mail tho’ having the Aldie post mark on the day of its date. Whether it was not duly forwarded, or was so long overlooked at the office here is not known. The latter was probably the case. We hope the agreeable information you gave of Mrs. Monroe’s convalescence has been justified by, her entire recovery. I need not now say that I recd. at the...
48From James Madison to James Francis Madison Shepherd, 8 December 1825 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 20th. Ult. was not recd. till yesterday afternoon. I find on recurring to my files and my memory, that I can afford no evidence of the fact in question. I have nothing from the pen of Docr. Shepherd that alludes to it. In a letter of april 7th 1821. He says “A family of the negroes that belonged to my brothers Estate have been taken back for the benefit of Betsy Shepherd: if...
49From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 December 1822 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. from Mr. Lear engaged in settling the accounts of General Hull, a request of what I may recollect on the question, whether there was a stipulation or understanding, that the General was to receive his salary as Governour, as well as his military pay. I have simply answered that my memory does not furnish any evidence which ought to influence the decision of the question. As the...
50James Madison to James Monroe, 15 September 1829 (Madison Papers)
I recd. yours of the 10th. with a full sense of your kindness in taking so much interest in my health. Subsequent to your call on me, I had a return of fever which reduced me to a state of greater weakness than I had before experienced. For several weeks passed, have been on the recovery in strength as well as health; and if no relapse takes place, I may be able to give my attendance at...
51From James Madison to John Taylor and James Garnett, 10 September 1819 (Madison Papers)
I am requested by Mr. Elkanah Watson of Albany to forward to each of the Presidents of Agricultural Societies in Virginia, a blank Copy, such as is inclosed, of “a certificate of Honorable Testimony”; apologizing for the indirect transmission, by his not knowing the gentlemen for whom the copies are intended. The request is accompanied with information, that the Publishers Rawdon & Balch being...
52James Madison to James Leander Cathcart, September 1834 (Madison Papers)
I recd. in the due time your letter of Aug. 11. But in my present condition I have been obliged to spare the use of the pen as much as possible, especially when an answer was not pressing, and I could give none that could be of much importance. It may well be supposed that at my age, and after a lapse of nearly 30 years, my memory must be a very fallible resort for information as to...
53From James Madison to James Riley, 28 December 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 19. and have looked over the printed Statement of Mr. Simpson which it enclosed. I leave to the files of the Dept. whatever information may concern the facts of his case, as more to be relied on than my memory. I say very cheerfully however that during the periods of my public service at Washingto[n] Mr. Simpson was always regarded as a faithful and very useful...
54From James Madison to James Monroe, 9 June 1823 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Morris who was employed for several years on a confidential Mission to Spain, observes to me that in executing the trust, he incurred expences, particularly in being transferred from Cadiz to Madrid, and during his residence at the latter place, which in the then circumstances of Spain were great beyond foresight, and moreover in providing a Clerk for whose services he had occasion: and he...
55From James Madison to James Hamilton Jr., 30 December 1826 (Madison Papers)
About the close of the last Session of Congs. I recd. from you a Copy in pamphlet form of your Speech on the Panama Mission. It being for some time thereafter uncertain where you would be found, my acknowledgments for the favor were neglected. If not too late, I beg leave now to offer them. The subject appears to have been very ably discussed on both sides; and your views of it, are to be...
56From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 June 1819 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Ths. Lehré of S. C. is a candidate for the vacant Collectorship of Charleston, and writes that I shd bear some testimony to you in favor of his pretensions. Not having any personal knowlege of him this can relate only to his political sentiments and conduct as they were from time to time communi[ca]ted to me, and to the general standing which I have understood him to possess with his...
57From James Madison to James Monroe, 16 April 1823 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. did not come to hand till the evening before the last. From a communication just had with my nephew, I find that he is anxious not to lose the chance of the Secretariship to the Board under the Treaty, and seems to be encouraged in his hopes by his friend Col: Barbour. It will be agreeable to him therefore, if not objectionable, that his appt. to the other place you...
58From James Madison to James Breckinridge, 12 January 1820 (Madison Papers)
Having heard nothing of Gordon or the Clover seed, and an opportunity offering, I have guarded agst. the uncertainty by supplying myself with as much as will be essential. I shall of course not wish to extend my want from you beyond ten bushels, and would prefer declining that much, if my doing so should be no disappointment to you. Whatever quantity may yet be brought by Gordon, I shall...
59From James Madison to James Barbour, 15 December 1825 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed speaks for itself. Should there be an opening at West Point, the pretensions of young Lewis are certainly very respectable, and, as you know, respectably vouched. I do not trouble the President, because your communication as far as the occasion may require will be sufficient. Health & prosperity RC (owned by Henry N . Flynt, Greenwich, Conn., 1961); draft ( DLC ). RC addressed by...
60From James Madison to James Breckinridge, 15 March 1821 (Madison Papers)
An alarm has been communicated from Richmond that you think of refusing to return thither at the next Session of the Legislature. I trust it has proceeded more from the anxiety of those who feel the necessity of your co-operation, than from any real danger. I well know the sacrifice you have already made, and readily conceive the just repugnance you may feel to a renewal, perhaps increase of...