201To James Madison from Benjamin Rush and Others, 29 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
The Medical Professors of the University of Pennsylvania beg leave to address you upon a Subject highly interesting to the honor, and interest of the United States. It has been the practice of the Professors, ever since the establishment of the University, to give Certificates to the Students who have required them, of their having attended their respective lectures. These Certificates are not...
202To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 7 December 1810 (Madison Papers)
Agreeably to your request I have in conjunction with my friend Dr Physick done every thing that I could for the relief of your nephew, but I am sorry to add—as yet without Success. We have in vain attempted to salivate him. In consequence of the failure of that, and Other remedies, we have concluded in a day, or two to make a small puncture in his breast in order to discharge the Water from...
203To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 24 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
… [Encloses a pamphlet with the request] that you would not suffer it to go out of your hands without guarding against the possibility of its finding its way into a newspaper.… I shall next week send four or five copies of it to Mr. Jefferson. [Also encloses] Dr. Price’s Sermon preached before the Revolution Society in London.… It suggested to me an idea of your house addressing the national...
204To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 6 October 1809 (Madison Papers)
My Son Richard Rush has requested me to beg the favor of you to accept of the enclosed pamphflet upon the Administration of Justice in Pennsylvania. At the same time, receive Dear Sir a copy of three lectures upon Animal life extracted from a new edition of my medical inquiries now in the press, a Mark of the great regard, of your sincere & Affectionate Old friend RC ( DLC ). Docketed by JM....
205To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 30 January 1806 (Madison Papers)
Many years have passed away since I have read a political pamphflet. The Subject, and name of the author of the one which You have done me the honor to send me will force me from my habits of neglect of such publications. My son is now devouring it. It is spoken of in all the Circles in our city with the highest praise and admiration. Connected with our present controversy with Great Britain...
206To James Madison from Benjamin Rush and Others, 12 February 1813 (Madison Papers)
The memorial of the “Pennsylvania Society for promoting the Abolition of Slavery &ca.” Respectfully sheweth. That notwithstanding the Laws which Congress have enacted inhibiting the Slave trade, as well as for the punishment of Citizens who may be concerned in the infraction of them, the inhuman, and unjust commerce, in African subjects, continues in defiance of those Laws, and in violation of...
207To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 28 December 1810 (Madison Papers)
I write to you at the request of your nephew to acknowledge for him the receipt of your letter sent under cover of mine. He is upon the Whole better, but as yet not in a condition to employ his pen. There has been a second discharge of a fluid from his breast induced by a spontaneous opening of the puncture made by Dr Physick. He has been releived by it. We are using remedies to prevent a...
208To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 17 July 1790 (Madison Papers)
Count Andreani is just such a man as you have described him to be in your letter. Is it not disgraceful to our Country to suffer its natural productions to be explored & described only by foreigners? Are we safe in committing so important a part of our history to men who are imperfectly acquainted with our language, and who from receiving their first impressions of us thro’ the Medium of...
209To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 7 April 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Benjamin Rush. 7 April 1806, Philadelphia. “The bearer Captain John McDougall goes to Washington in order to solicit the humanity of our Government. He carries with him ample testimonies of his integrity, and particularly of his innocence in a transaction which has lately endangered the loss of his Ship. I have known him for many years, and have reason to believe him to be a man of high...
210To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 19 March 1813 (Madison Papers)
Permit me to intrude a few moments upon your time, while I address you upon a Subject interesting to humanity. A certain Peter Graham a Scotsman came into this Country about ten years ago. In the month of November 1810 he gave notice to the proper Office that he intended in the time appointed by law to become a Citizen of the United States. He is now married to the daughter of an American...
211To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 3 December 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Benjamin Rush. 3 December 1805, Philadelphia. “To a person acquainted with the great events which characterised the first years of the French Revolution, it might be sufficient barely to say—the bearer of this letter is General Miranda. But much more may be said of him. He is still the friend the [ sic ] liberty, and a beleiver in the practicability of governments that shall have for...
212To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 21 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
Agreeably to your request, I have written to General Armstrong in favor of my friend Dr. Clark. I enclose my letter to you, to be forwarded to him by the first Conveyance that offers to France. I cannot conclude my letter without expressing my sympathy with you in the arduous labors to which the present State of our Country has exposed You, nor can I refrain from communicating to you the great...
213To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 10 March 1790 (Madison Papers)
I once knew a Swedish Clergyman in this city, who told me that when he preached in the Country, he always studied his Congregation first , and Afterwards his sermon. Something like this Should be done by legislators. They should perfectly understand the character of the people whom they represent, and Afterwards suit their laws to their habits and principles. I suspect the present Congress...
214To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 13 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Retired as I live from the political World, and devoted as I am Obliged to be to the duties of my profession, I have not been an indifferent Spectator of the events Which have elevated you to the Chair of the United States. Permit me to express, not only the pleasure I feel in common with a great majority of your fellow Citizens, but to unite my Congratulations with those of your early and...
215To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 20 May 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 May 1809, Philadelphia. His son, Dr. James Rush, visits Washington to make a call upon the Madisons before he departs for Great Britain, where he will continue his medical studies. Asks JM to introduce young Rush to Mrs. Madison. RC ( DLC ). 1 p. Docketed by JM.
216To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 30 January 1811 (Madison Papers)
With sincere Sympathy I sit down to inform you that this evening your amiable nephew expired. His Sufferings from the last Symptoms of his disease were much less than is common in similar Cases. I write this note in great haste, as the post office will close in a few minutes, and with a View that your brother may be stopped on his Way to Philadelphia. From Dear Sir yours truly and respectfully...
217To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 29 October 1810 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to send you herewith the 4th report of the directors of the African institution in London and an adjudication of an appeal connected with the African trade, both of which appear to contain matter highly interesting to the National honor of the United States. Can nothing be done to wipe away the Stain that has been brought upon our moral and national character by the infamous...
218To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 27 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
In answer to your polite letter, I have only to repeat my congratulations to you for the honor you have done to the claims of justice and patriotism by your motion. The small number of the minority that rose to support it, does not lessen its merit. The decision upon that great Question will leave a stain upon our Country which no time nor declammation can ever wipe away. History will decide...
219To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 6 September 1811 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 6 September 1811. Acknowledged in JM to Rush, 20 Sept. 1811 . Forwards a copy of a pamphlet received from the earl of Buchan.
220To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 9 December 1810 (Madison Papers)
I have great pleasure in informing you that the operation I mentioned in my letter of Friday was this day performed upon your nephew, and with the happiest result. I refer you to Dr Physick’s letter for the particulars of it. The only design of this hasty note is [to] comply with my promise, and to inform you that I shall this evening at the request of your nephew communicate the news of the...
221Enclosure: Benjamin Rush to Vine Utley, 25 June 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Did you know how much folly and ignorance cleave to the character of the person, whose history you have required of his Physical habits, you would no t have thought them it of any consequence to know them. It will not be in my power to answer all your questions. I shall bearly inform you, that from necesity I conformed to the Spanish proverb of “being old when I was young, that I might be...
222To George Washington from Benjamin Rush, 14 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
Dr Rush presents his most respectful compliments to General Washington, and has the pleasure of sending him herewith a print of the celebrated Mr Napier, which was committed to the Doctors care, for the General, from the Right Honble the Earl of Buchan of Scotland. AL , DLC:GW . The response from Mount Vernon, dated 28 April, was: “General Washington presents his best compliments and thanks to...
223To George Washington from Benjamin Rush, 25 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I should think myself inexcusable in leaving the army by resigning my commission without informing your Excellency that I was compelled to that measure by the prevalence of an opinion among some people that the distresses and mismanagement of the hospitals arose from a “want of harmony” between Dr Shippen, and myself. next to the conviction of my own mind that this was not the case, I wish to...
224To George Washington from Benjamin Rush, 26 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
I received a small quantity of the mangel wurzel or Scarcity root Seeds a few days ago from Dr Lettsom of London. In distributing these Seeds among the friends of Agriculture in this country, I should have been deficient in duty, and patriotism, to have neglected to send a small portion of them to your Excellency. The pamphflet which accompanies the Seeds will furnish your Excellency with a...
225To George Washington from Benjamin Rush, 13 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have just now learned from General Mifflin that your Excellency intends to take the field in a few days. I hope your Excellency will excuse the liberty I am about to take in Suggesting that your troops will probably suffer from being so early exposed in an encampment. The variable weather of the Spring and fall have always been found much more destructive to the health of an Army than the...
226To George Washington from Benjamin Rush, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have delayed troubling your Excellency with the State of our hospitals, in hopes you would hear it from the Director General whose business it is to correspond with your Excellency upon this Subject. I beg leave therefore at last to look up to you, and through you to the congress as the only powers that can redress our greivances, or do us justice. I need not inform your Excellency that we...
227Morellet’s Translation of “Reflections upon the Life and Death of Edward Drinker”: Résumé, [1783] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft) and press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society In May, 1783, an essay about an uncommonly healthy and long-lived Philadelphian appeared in the Gentleman’s Magazine under the title “Reflections upon the Life and Death of Edward Drinker, of the City of Philadelphia, who died on the 17th of November, 1782, in the 103d Year of his Age. Written by an ingenious literary Gentleman...