1To James Madison from Richard Rush, 28 December 1823 (Madison Papers)
Your very acceptable favor of the 13th of November reached me yesterday. I am not able at this time to do more than barely acknowledge its safe arrival, but this I do with my grateful thanks. It will be, under many views, extremely valuable to me. I remain dear sir with devoted attachment and respect Your obliged and affectionate friend P. S. Your kind acknowledgement of the cheese I also...
2From Richard Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 24 May 1817 (Adams Papers)
The President yesterday received a letter from Mr Adams, in which he mentions his acceptance of his late appointment, and that he expected to embark in the course of the present month. The letter is dated on the 19th of April. In the possible event of this information not having reached you by the same vessel, I hasten to communicate it, offering my renewed congratulations to yourself and Mr...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Rush, 13 June 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I received two days ago by Mr Gilmer your highly interesting favor of April the 26 th respecting the University of Virginia, and lose no time in saying how happy I shall be in paying every attention to it. It merits, indeed, under all views, my very best attention. The great publick results that hang upon the well-being of this University, bind me as a citizen of our country to look anxiously...
4To John Adams from Richard Rush, 26 February 1822 (Adams Papers)
I must insist upon it, notwithstanding the authority of your veto, that the subject is truly a noble one for the painter. A great patriarch, one of the chief founders of his country’s liberties, the steady advocate of her rights at the courts of foreign potentates as well as in all departments at home, is permitted by a kind Providence to live as it were into posterity, beholding the vast...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Rush, 22 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I yesterday received from Mr Bowring the enclosed letter and packet to your address, which I have great pleasure in forwarding. Mr Bowring, with whom I have had much intercourse in this country, is a man of talents and attainments, of liberal opinions in government, and of good feelings towards the United States. He has a connexion with the Westminster Review, a new periodical work established...
6To James Madison from Richard Rush, 20 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
We have latterly had no papers from abroad. Mr Adams seems to have ceased sending them, probably from his preparations to come home. His last letter to the department stated his expectation to embark before the first of June. As to the French papers they come to us but seldom, and amount to but little when they do come. With Russia, France and Spain, our relations continue, I believe, just as...
7Richard Rush to Thomas Jefferson, 11 December 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 20 th of October , enclosing a bill of exchange on drawn by Joseph Marx and son , for 40 pounds sterling. It got to hand this day. The list of books enclosed , it will afford me very great satisfaction to procure in the best manner in my power. I shall hope for the pleasure of writing to you again respecting them, and beg permission to...
8To John Adams from Richard Rush, 4 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
Out of the circle of your own family, there are none who can feel more sorrow at the heavy affliction that has fallen upon you than we do here. We heard the melancholy news two days ago. “What exalted and long-tried excellence, exclaimed my wife, has gone to the tomb.” “As soon as my confinement was over,” she continued, “I had intended that my first letter, after one to my own mother, should...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Rush, 17 July 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have heretofore acknowledged your favor of the 26 th of April, and a few days ago that of June the 5 th reached me. The enclosure which it contained for Mr Gilmer I immediately forwarded to him at Cambridge, where he now is prosecuting his objects, yours, those of Virginia, and I will add of our common country. This I know from himself, and I also heard of him accidentally a couple of days...
10To James Madison from Richard Rush, 18 April 1817 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to send you, enclosed, a few English newspapers. I have not been able to look over them myself, but perhaps you may be able to glean an hours amusement from them. They are the latest we have in the office. I shall have great pleasure in sending you others that arrive. Our last letters from Mr Adams are to the 29th of January. He takes no notice of the report of 19 ships of war...
11Richard Rush to Thomas Jefferson, 23 October 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was on the 9 th of this month in reply to your favor of the 14 th of August , and encloset enclosed copies of two notes from Mr Blatterman . I have now the pleasure to mention, that the books, as by the enclosed bill and receipt from Mess. Lackingtons
12To James Madison from Richard Rush, 14 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have great pleasure in sending you by a conveyance, which I hope will prove a safe one, Eustace’s tour and Malthus on population. In place of the most approved answer to the latter work, which, as yet, I have not been able to ascertain, I send the 34th number of the Quarterly review, which you will find to contain a more full notice of its doctrines than, I believe, has heretofore been taken...
13To John Adams from Richard Rush, 2 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
An old Scotch woman, in North-Shields, signing herself Ann Hewison, has sent me a manuscript Quarto of what she calls extracts from the diary of William Langborn, an American officer, kept during his travels through several parts of Europe. I copy, word for word, the following passages. London July 18. 1786. “Saturday—Did myself the pleasure, agreeably to yesterdays invitation, of dining with...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Rush, 8 September 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Owen, of New Lanark, in Scotland, well known by the exertions which he has long been making to meliorate the condition of society in this country, being about to take a trip to ours, I presume to give him this line of introduction to you. I am not able to pronounce upon the feasibility of his plans in all respects; but that they are full of benevolence all admit, as well as that they have...
15To James Madison from Richard Rush, 28 June 1823 (Madison Papers)
Not for the value of the article, but as a little token of remembrance, I beg you will allow me to ask your acceptance of, (sent by the vessel in which this letter goes,) an English cheese. Joining my wife in kind compliments to Mrs Madison, I remain, dear sir, with unalterable attachment and respect your devoted friend and servant RC ( PHi ). Enclosed in James Maury to JM , 3 July 1823 . Here...
16From Richard Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 29 July 1817 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favor of the 14th of this month, was very gratifying to me. Nothing can be more interesting then the account which it gives of the Presidents visit to Boston and the vicinity. The letter from Mr Adams which you were so good as to enclose, I have to apologize for not returning sooner. I desire to thank you for the opportunity afforded me of perusing it. There is an impressive wisdom...
17From Richard Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 2 April 1817 (Adams Papers)
I am to thank you for the kind wishes contained in your favor of the 24. of last month. You have often, indeed, gratified and flattered me by similar ones, and I feel how much I owe to your over partiality. The appointment of Mr Adams gives, as far as I can ascertain, the highest satisfaction. If ever a citizen of our country owed his elevation to the solid merits of his own character, your...
18To James Madison from Richard Rush, 8 September 1824 (Madison Papers)
Mr Owen, the eminent philanthropist of New Lanark, in Scotland, being about to visit the United States, I beg leave to put into his hands this letter to you. Without giving an opinion on the feasibility of all his plans for improving the condition of human society, I can only say that all agree that they are full of benevolence, and that good has already resulted from them in some places. By...
19Richard Rush to Thomas Jefferson, 22 May 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote on the 14 th of March , mentioning the circumstances under which I had purchased the books, and now it gives me pleasure to say, that they have been shipped on board the ship Henry Clay , Thomas Potts master, which sailed from this port a few days ago, for Richmond . By the accidental omission of our consul to inform me of the sailing of the ship, until after she had gone, this letter...
20To James Madison from Richard Rush, 25 June 1821 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 21st of April reached me a few days ago, and I have great pleasure in sending you herewith, a copy of Hones new testament, which I hope will be in time for the return of the packet. I have no account of the price, it having been just left at my house without a bill. It is but a trifle, and can be thought of at a future day. There is no other account between us. I have also to...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Rush, 17 November 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 13 th of October got to hand yesterday. The letter which it enclosed for Mr Gilmer, I beg to return, Mr G. having left England early in October for the U. States. I did myself the pleasure to transmit to you, in October, a letter which he confided to my care, previously to his embarkation. The visit of La Fayette to our country, speaks too much in favor of his deserts and our...
22To James Madison from Richard Rush, 25 September 1821 (Madison Papers)
The last number of the Edinburgh Review having just come out, I have great pleasure, whilst making up my despatches for the October packet, in sending it to you. It may probably be the means of putting you in possession of it rather sooner than you would otherwise see it, and I know the interest you will take in casting your eye over the article on Godwin’s work. These great northern criticks,...
23Richard Rush to Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Received and forwarded by R. Rush , who begs at the same time to renew to M r Jefferson the assurances of his faithful and highest respect. RC ( MHi ); endorsed by TJ as received 8 Sept. 1822 and so recorded in SJL . RC ( DLC ); address cover only; with Dft of TJ to Thomas Leiper, 6 Dec. 1824, on verso; addressed: “
24From Richard Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 4 May 1817 (Adams Papers)
Some time in the early part of last month, I had the pleasure to write you a letter in answer to your favor of the 24th of March. The mail is so true that it never occurs to us to doubt the safe arrival of a letter when we know that it has been safely lodged in the post office; nor did that which I wrote leave any thing suspended leading me to look for an answer. My only reason for thus...
25To John Adams from Richard Rush, 9 February 1821 (Adams Papers)
Since I read in the newspapers the address which you delivered in November to the convention of Massachusetts, as President of that body, the scene has been so often before my eyes, that I can no longer remain silent. As a political incident, its character is memorable. If I could forget the scene of general Washington surrendering up his sword at Annapolis, I should say that it was the finest...
26To John Adams from Richard Rush, 30 September 1821 (Adams Papers)
Your life will never cease to be useful to your country. In spite of yourself, in spite of your years, you will always belong to it. The incident, from alluding to which I could not refrain in my letter of February, has been followed up by another scarcely of less interest, and which perhaps may one day produce effects still more worthy to be noted. I mean, Sir, the address to the cadets,...
27From Richard Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 19 May 1817 (Adams Papers)
I am very happy that you have favored me with a letter respecting Mr Smith. It increases the interest that I before took in his situation. I will not permit myself to believe that any recollections are cherished to his disadvantage, on account of that portion of his conduct as a youth to which you have alluded. It would not be simply unkind, but unjust. It would be cruel. I took great pleasure...
28Richard Rush to Thomas Jefferson, 1 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot permit the letter which you did me the favor to write to me by Mr Ticknor , to remain unacknowledged, if it be only to express the gratification which I felt at receiving it, and the sincere pleasure I derived from the testimony it afforded of your recovery from the illness with which, shortly before its date, you had been afflicted. I have one other motive. The world knows, that...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Rush, 23 April 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Blaetterman called upon me a few days ago, to make some inquiries relative to the University. I told him that I believed its operations had been suspended for a while, through some unfortunate causes, but that I was under a like belief that its prospects were again as good or better than ever. He asked me if I thought he might write to you on the subject, and if I would forward his letter,...
30To James Madison from Richard Rush, 30 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
The Mr Keilsall to whom the enclosed letter is addressed, I have not, by all the inquiries which it has been in my power to make since I came to London, been able to find out. I therefore return it, not without regret at my disappointment, which however is lessened by the excuse which the act of returning it affords me of writing to you. The last time I had that pleasure, was, if I recollect...
31To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Rush, 8 October 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I received from Mr Gilmer, on the eve of his embarhation from Cowes, the enclosed letter, with a request that I would forward it to you. I am detained here contrary to my expectation until the spring, having written for my recall last year. Permit me hence to say, that if when Mr Gilmer shall have got back to you, it should be found that any thing has escaped his activity and zeal regarding...
32Richard Rush to James Madison, 25 March 1831 (Madison Papers)
It gave me the greatest pleasure to receive your favor of the 15th instant, as well from the assurance it affords of your being in good health, having lately heard that you were indisposed, as from the kind evidence it brings of your continued and ever valued regard. It was a disappointment to us that we cease not to regret, that we did not accomplish our long cherished purpose of visiting...
33To James Madison from Richard Rush, 5 August 1825 (Madison Papers)
It afforded me the greatest pleasure to receive your kind letter of the first instant. Encompassed at present by duties equally laborious and new to me, I am unable to say when I shall be able to break from them; but a visit to Montpelier is among the highest gratifications that I have ever promised myself on getting back to our happy country, and one that I shall be sure to realize when the...
34To James Madison from Richard Rush, 18 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
When it became my lot to superintend for a short time, the business of the department of state, I little imagined, that among the foreign ministers, the Abbe Correa was the one with whom my official relations were to be the least smooth. Having imbibed a veneration for his character and genius, struck with the engaging simplicity of his manners and liberality of his principles, I had, on the...
35Richard Rush to James Madison, 10 January 1829 (Madison Papers)
I cannot longer abstain from expressing the deep interest with which I read your two letters on the power of Congress to lay duties on foreign manufactures, with a view to the encouragement of our own. To you, dear sir, I cannot say all that I think of them. They are like the voice of reason, suddenly interposed to still jarring elements. They have made a powerful impression upon the public....
36Richard Rush to Thomas Jefferson, 9 October 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I received on the 26 th of last month your favor of the 14 th of August , and have had great pleasure in attending to the commissions which it entrusted to me. Law books being very costly, Thomas ’s edition of Coke Littleton is set down at £4.4, though but three volumes. Rapins history, in fifteen, may be had for £2.12. It is therefore my intention to send you for the present, only these two...
37To James Madison from Richard Rush, 6 March 1822 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 20th of November got to hand in January. The letters which it enclosed for Mr Keilsall and Mr Joy, were both delivered, no difficulty having occurred this time in finding the former. I had equal pleasure in procuring his book, which was sent to Liverpool in January with directions to be forwarded in the regular packet from that port on the 1st of February. I hope it will have...
38To James Madison from Richard Rush, 15 March 1821 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the fourth of December came safely to hand, and with it the letter for Mr Joy, and one for Miss Wright, both of which have been delivered. Mr Smith into whose hands I put the latter, informs me that there was no difficulty in forwarding it to its destination. I have to beg, dear Sir, that you will without scruple commit to my care whatever letters you may have occasion to write...
39To James Madison from Richard Rush, 15 November 1820 (Madison Papers)
Your acceptable favor of the 12th of August, reached me about a month ago. I fear that this government will continue deaf to every expostulation that can be addressed to it on the subject of the West India trade. In the negociation of 1818, when Mr Gallatin was here, we made the attempt with all earnestness to prevail upon them to give up their narrow doctrines, but to no effect; whilst...
40To James Madison from Richard Rush, 6 September 1817 (Madison Papers)
Considering the struggle that is now going on in Pennsylvania, as not wholly local, I have been led to dip my pen in it. A month ago I threw together some remarks for one of the newspapers. They unexpectedly came back to me a few days since in the form of a two-penny pamphlet. I venture to enclose you one of them for the amusement of a leisure moment. Although no official promulgation has yet...
41To James Madison from Richard Rush, 13 December 1818 (Madison Papers)
Your esteemed favor of the 24th of July came safely to hand, with the bill which it enclosed, the amount of which was obtained from the Mess: Barings. I send by this conveyance the anecdotes of the life of bishop Watson in two volumes, and a little posthumous work of Horace Walpoles, which has lately come out. These two books, coupled with Doddington’s diary, (to which I remember you first...
42To James Madison from Richard Rush, 20 September 1824 (Madison Papers)
I have lately got through the extensive, and I believe I must add, very difficult, negociations, in which I have been engaged with this government, without concluding any treaty or other arrangement upon any one of the many subjects which they embraced. As regards the West India and commercial intercourse between the two countries in our hemisphere, Britain refuses to give us any other terms...
43To James Madison from Richard Rush, 2 May 1818 (Madison Papers)
I received through Mr Brent, in January, the favor of your few lines, accompanied by the letter for Mr Keilsall which was forwarded to my care. I am sorry to say that all my efforts to find him out, have, thus far, proved fruitless. I will not give them over, and hope that this instance of ill success in the beginning will not deter you from calling on me again whenever you have occasion. Your...
44To James Madison from Richard Rush, 8 September 1819 (Madison Papers)
I beg to offer my best thanks for your acceptable favor of the tenth of May and the very interesting views which it held up of our home affairs. The enormous abuses of the banking system, seem at last to have roused our people to a just sense of the resulting dangers, and we shall henceforth, it is to be hoped, not witness so excessive a multiplication of these institutions, whilst those which...
45Richard Rush to Thomas Jefferson, 14 March 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I have heretofore acknowledged, by a line , your much-esteemed favor of the 20 th of October , since which that of the 27 th of December has got to hand. The latter enclosed a letter for Mr Roscoe and one for Mrs Cosway , both of which I was happy to be the means of forwarding. The residence of Mrs Cosway was found out without difficulty. The list of books , I have had great pleasure in...
46Richard Rush to Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
Your acceptable favor of June last , reached me safely. The letter which it enclosed for Sir John Philippart , was immediately sent. I beg to say, that whenever you will use my instrumentality towards forwarding your correspondence either with this country or France , opportunities by the route of England being always most frequent, I shall feel honored and gratified. The just epitome of the...
47To James Madison from Richard Rush, [10 September 1823] (Madison Papers)
particularly proposals for abolishing all private war upon the ocean. And 6th. the Russian ukase of September 1821, relative to the North West coast of America. It is not yet ascertained if this government will consent to embark in negociation on all these points; and still less dare I promise, that she is prepared to come into our liberal views respecting them. It is with much hesitation that...
48Enclosure: Invoice of Books from Lackington, Hughes & Company, 14 March 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
To Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Lepard . Grammatica Anglo Saxonica ex Hickesiano Thesauro excerpta 8 o } 7. 6 Institutiones Grammaticæ Anglo-Saxonicæ et Mœso-Gothica Hickesii 4 to } 1. 16. Benson’s Saxon Vocabulary 8 o br. calf 1. 8. Thwaites Saxon Heptateuch 8
49Enclosure: Invoice of Books from Lackington, Hughes & Company, 10 October 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
R. Rush Esq r To Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Lepard . Oct 10. 1821— Rapin ’s Histy of England 15 Vol 8 o neat } 2. 12. 6 Coke ’s Institutes by