James Madison Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-02-02-0660

To James Madison from John Graham, 10 September 1810

From John Graham

Private

Dept of State 10th Sepr 1810

Dear Sir

I have the Honor to send you inclosed the proceeds of your Check in my favor—in such notes as you requested1 that is to say—

6 of 50 = 300.
10 20 = 200
10 10 = 100—600 in all.

The Eastern end of the City is represented to be sickly; but the West end and George Town are not at all so.

On Saturday we received from Mr Pinkney a Packet of News Papers; but no Letters. The News Papers you will find under Cover with this.

Something has already been said in the National Intelligencer about Mr Pinkneys supposed Speeches.2 I have handed the News Papers you returned, to Mr. S H. Smith who will cause the correct version of Mr Pinkneys speech to be published—and add to it some Editorial Remarks—in which the Story of the Diamonds will be contradicted, as it is understood that even that is doing Mr. Pinkney some injury in the Public estimation.

I beg to be presented to Mrs Madison and to renew to you the assurances of my most Respect⟨ful⟩ attachment

John Graham

RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.

1No letter from JM to Graham making such a request or enclosing a check has been found.

2Throughout the summer of 1810 William Pinkney was frequently attacked in press accounts of his conduct as minister to Great Britain. Among the episodes receiving the most unfavorable notice were the award of a doctorate of civil laws to Pinkney from Oxford University, a version of an address to the Society for the Relief of Foreigners in London in which Pinkney was alleged to have used the words “filial piety” to describe the proper relationship between Great Britain and the U.S., and a rumor that his wife had worn diamonds on the occasion of her last appearance at court. The National Intelligencer, on 7 Sept. 1810, had already denounced many of these stories as “flagrantly incorrect.” It took up the matter again on 12 Sept. to print fuller versions of Pinkney’s remarks in their proper context and to deny that his wife had worn diamonds at court.

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