James Madison Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-05-02-0449

To James Madison from Richard Rush, 1 January 1813

From Richard Rush

January 1. 1813.

Sir.

Mr Ingersoll has sent me on the enclosed letter1 from Philadelphia, which, for the sake of the sentence it contains about impressment, I venture to enclose for your eye.

Mr Ingersoll is not, as Mr King supposes, engaged in any publication upon this subject. He is investigating it, with others, preparatory to his congressional career, which I please myself with the hope will be prominent and useful.2 With the most respectful attachment, I have the honor to be your obt. Servt.

R. Rush.

RC (MiU-C). Docketed by JM.

1Enclosure not found, but it was probably a letter from Rufus King to Charles Jared Ingersoll. Rush added in a postscript to his letter to Ingersoll of 7 Jan. 1813: “I wrote you the enclosed last night, and forgot to mention that I received Mr King’s letter. I sent it to the President. When he returns it you shall have it again” (Letters and Papers of Richard Rush [microfilm ed.], reel 2).

2In his letter to Charles Jared Ingersoll of 28 Dec. 1812 (ibid.), Rush wrote: “I am glad to hear you say you have been investigating more thoroughly the question of impressment. I went farther last July than any body had ever gone publickly up to that period, I mean placing the matter on a more footing [sic] of natural, abstract, eternal, moral, damnable, enormity, without introducing papers, documents, or the long list of principles from international law. But you may doubtless go much farther than I did on all the points.”

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