1James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 8 March 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. a letter from Col. Storrow in answer to an inquiry from me, which shews that he has still in his hands the packet put into them by Mr. Sparks. I am sorry that his inattention caused you & Mr Coolidge the trouble indicated in your favour of Feby. 22. The delinquent is so penitent for not even dropping me a line on the subject, that, in the consciousness of our own...
2James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 29 May 1832 (Madison Papers)
Whilst reflecting in my sick bed a few mornings ago, on the dangers hovering over our Constitution and even the Union itself, a few ideas which, tho’ not occurring for the first time, had become particularly impressive at the present. I have noted them by the pen of a friend, on the inclosed paper, and you will take them for what they are worth. If that be anything, and they happen to accord...
3James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 6 June 1829 (Madison Papers)
If I have not sooner thanked you for the considerate present in the Box of fruit referred to in your letter of , the apology will I am sure have occurr’d to you. A delay which the Box met with on the way lessened the value of a part of its contents, but not the obligat<ion> felt for the kindness wch prompted <...> the favour. I am regaining, tho’ not rapidly, my health, & strength. I hope the...
4James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 5 April 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two letters of Mar. 30. and Apl. 1. the letter inclosing a copy of the contract with Mr. Long; to which I must ask the favor of you to add a copy of the power of attorney to Mr. Gilmer to enter into such engagements. I ought to have done this in the first instance. I feel the greater regret in imposing the trouble, now that I learn the new calls on your time in which it will...
5James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 2 January 1832 (Madison Papers)
Will a holograph Will without Witnesses , convey real estate in Washington according to the law in force there? Mr. Trist will oblige his friend J. M by an answer. RC (DLC : Nicholas P. Trist Papers).
6James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 16 February 1830 (Madison Papers)
I return the paper enclosed in yours of the 6th I have found in it the proofs of ability for such discussions which I should have anticipated. As I understand your discriminating view, (and it seems to be clearly expressed) of the Virginia documents in -98-99, it rescues them from the hands which have misconstrued & misapplied them. The meaning collected from the general scope, & from a...
7James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 31 October 1829 (Madison Papers)
Yours of Octr. 7. was duly recd. and with every disposition to befriend the object of it. Being precluded by a rule forced on me, from doing it in the usual mode, it was my purpose to avail myself, of Mr. V. Buren’s expected visit here, by incidentally turning his attention to your aptitudes for official services. It now appears that he has declined the trip altogether, which leaves me unable...
8James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 4 December 1832 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 28th. Ult: with the accompanying newspaper came duly to hand. I had noticed the "Friend to truth," and was quite at a loss for an author uniting all the qualifications for the task. Your name did not escape me, but I took for granted that your occupations wd. not admit such an avocation. I was impressed also by some remark of the Enquirer, that there had been an interview with the...
9From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 31 October 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 28th has come to hand with less delay as you may see than happened to mine of the 23. I consider the appointment of Docr Jones as decided. The account of him from Mr. Short was favorable; and Docr. Patterson, in declining himself, recommended Dr. Jones. I had been led to think well of Mr. Walker, when the Visitors were last assembled, but the supposed immaturity of his...
10From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 4 August 1827 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 30th. was recd. yesterday. I am sorry for the trouble you have taken in searching for the morceau in question. Having observed that the whole of Franklin’s Works published, were in the Library of the University, I took for granted that it might be easily sought for; and, if there, found either in the biographical part, or under the miscellaneous head. It now occurs, that the...
11James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 12 July 1831 (Madison Papers)
Your 2 letters of the 7 & 8 have been duly recd. I have complied with the suggestion in the first by a few lines to Mr. Cabell. The communication in the 2d is important, but being simultaneous with an unwelcome resignation, may derive a tincture from that source I have been detained from the University by Rheumatism & an inflamation in my eyes. The latter is leaving me; not so the former. My...
12James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 2 September 1830 (Madison Papers)
On the receipt of yours of July 29, I forwarded the Book intended for Mr. Davis, and take for granted it got safe to hand. He met with the ready concurrences of the Board in making him the successor to Mr. Lomax for one year, with a prospect of the permanency, to which I doubt not the probation will recommend him. I need not say that whatever be the future change of Theatre meditated by...
13From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 26 January 1828 (Madison Papers)
Your favours of the 18th have been duly recd. I am sorry you thought an apology necessary for the delay in sending me the residue of my letters to Mr. Jefferson, and rather surprized that you should be scrupulous of reading them. I took for granted that you would regard them, as on his files equally open tho less entitled to inspection than his to me. In forwarding the parcels, you are so...
14From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 27 December 1826 (Madison Papers)
I leave the inclosed open that you may see the papers relating to the Hotel Keepers. Should Genl. Cocke, unexpectedly at this season, be in Charlottesville, be so obliging as to have the letter put into his hands; in the contrary event, into the proper mail. I inclose for you Mr. Brokenboroughs report to be assorted with the other documents accompanying that to go from the Rector; on which I...
15From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 5 November 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. from Mr. King the inclosed letter with an account of the fund placed by Mr. Jefferson under the controul of his father. From this it appears, that on the 24th. of June 1826. a balance remained in the hands of the Barings of £986.18.4. Sterling. Whether the fund has been further reduced by subsequent drafts may perhaps be gathered from the Invoices & information arrived with...
16From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 24 July 1826 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to Mr. Trist, and commits to his attention, the inclosed papers for Mrs. Randolph forwarded to J. M. by the unknown author. RC ( DLC : Nicholas P. Trist Papers). Addressed and franked by JM to Trist at Monticello; docketed by Trist. Enclosures not found, but see Simeon Hubbard to JM , 12 July 1826 , and JM ’s reply, 25 July 1826.
17From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 1 November 1826 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 28th. having met with delay at our post office, I recd. it too late to look into the papers of accts. &c you were so good as to inclose. I can not but think it will be well that a Statement of what relates to the particular work done since the last Report; and yet to be done, should be made out by the Proctor in a simple form; to be referred to in the report, rather than to...
18From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 3 January 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your indisposition mentioned in yours of the 30th. ult: just come to hand gives me the more concern as I fear it has been increased, if not occasioned by an overexertion to hasten the Report for Richmond. The delay is sufficiently explained by the tediousness of the preparatory task, to say nothing of the obstacles in the severity of the season: and were despatch, of more importance than it...
19From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 3 November 1827 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Sparks having in his hands some papers he was to forward to me, I requested him to avail himself of the opportunity by Col. Peyton, who had mentioned to me his intended trip to Boston. I find by a letter from Mr. Sparks that he put the packet into the hands of Mr. Coolidge, for Col. Peyton, and by a letter from Col. P. that owing to the state of the weather, & the circumstances of his...
20James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 12 October 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. the inclosed letter, under cover of one from Mr. Clay to me. Be your decision on the subject of it what it may, it gives me pleasure that an option is afforded. It appears to be an expectation that in the event of your becoming a resident in Washington a removal of Mrs. Randolph thither would take place. But I know not that such a condition could be implied if her personal...
21From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 12 June 1827 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 8 th. is just come to hand. I send you the letter of Mr. Coolidge to me referred to in his to you, and with it a paper giving a sample of Mr. Grund’s professional Exhibitions. I send also the answer of Mr. Farrar recd. since you saw that of Mr. Bowditch. Tho’ favorable to Mr. G. it is cautious. These papers may remain with you till the meeting of the Visitors. It may not be amiss...
22James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 5 June 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 30th. Ult. and given attention to the passage relating to the Statement of Dr. Watkins. I feel certainly every proper motive to comply with your request, especially under the reserves you annex to it. But I happen not to have the means of doing so which you take for granted. After a lapse of more than 20 years, without intervening occasions, for recurring to the...
23James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 17 July 1828 (Madison Papers)
We are very sorry for the cause that detains you from the From the attendance you wished not to omit, but it is the request of us all that you consult your health as the first duty. With best wishes RC ( DLC : Nicholas P. Trist Papers).
24From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, [ante 10] April 1827 (Madison Papers)
The explanation you give of Mr. Key’s determination to leave us, surprizes me. I had taken for granted that it had its origin very much with Mrs. Key, and had a sanction at least from the opinion of his friends in England. Were his views less fixed, it might be hoped that if the advice of his friends, from whom it seems he is yet to hear, should press his stay where he is, it might, when...
25From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 23 October 1827 (Madison Papers)
The time is come when I ought to recollect that a Report from the Visitors of the University will soon be due to the General Assembly: and for which my materials as well as my memory are deficient. I must recur therefore to your aid in behalf of both. It is the more needed, as my sickness at the last Session of the Board prevented the participation in its proceedings which would have left me...
26James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 9 August 1833 (Madison Papers)
I am much obliged by your favor of the 6th. just red. I find I possess the cypher for the period to which that enclosed belongs—I have also the letter of Mr J. from Tuckahoe May 7. 1783, in another cypher, with the words interlined. The paper of Mr Hamilton is the same with that printed in the Journals of the Convention. I shall with pleasure welcome Mr. Davis should he favor me with a call. I...
27James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 1 December 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. your favor of the 26 Novr. with the communications relating to the university for which I thank you. I had written to the Bursar & Proctor, and recd answers, but that of the Bursar has I believe < > overlooked the period which your letter to him will probably lead him to attend to. His compliance with your request will probably reach me by the next mail from Charlottesville....
28From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, [5] October 1826 (Madison Papers)
The Board of Visitors have decided that a Secretary be appointed to it, and you have been selected for the service. The salary allotted is $200 payable quarterly. If you think proper to accept the place, it will desirable that you be present at the meeting of the Board tomorrow. Friendly respects $50. has been voted in consideration of yr. service in relation to the Catalogue for the Library....
29From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 18 March 1827 (Madison Papers)
It being always somewhat uncertain whether Genl. Cocke will be found at Bremo, or at Charllle; whither he is so often called I trouble you agn. with a letter for him to be properly disposed of as the case may be. The letter being left open for your perusal, you will see that Mr. Key has decided on a return to Engd. & that we have to encounter the difficulty of providing a Successor. His letter...
30James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 13 August 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. the enclosed letter from Mr. Lawrence; the last paragraph of which may be communicated to Mr. Bonnycastle Has he written yet to Mr. Barlow for a full report of the transactions committed to him, by Mr. Jefferson? I lost no time in apprizing Mr L. that the Chair of N. P. was provided for by the accepted appt. of Docr. Patterson. I beg pardon for my error in supposing that the...
31James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 15 May 1832 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter with the book referred to, and dictate the acknowledgement of it to a pen that is near me. I will read the work, as soon as I may be able; When that will be, I cannot say. I have been confined to my bed many days by a bilious attack. The fever is now leaving me, but in a very enfeebled state, and without any abatement of my Rheumatism; which besides its general...
32James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 26 July 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. from a Mr. A. ____ Wigfall, of S. Carolina, who appears to have been a Student at our University, a letter which I can the better answer, after some knowledge of his character & conduct whilst there. Be so good as to collect it for me, as soon as may be convenient. I send you a few London Gazettes, which after looking into, you can hand to Dr. Dunglison. We got home the day we...
33From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 21 December 1826 (Madison Papers)
I send you the commencing paragraph for the Report of the Board of Visitors, which in a more hasty draft had a sanction at the moment of our separation. I thought it best, to lose no time in enabling you to compleat the Report, that none may be lost in forwarding it to its destination, and I trust I shall have the pleasure of receiving it from your own hand rather than thro’ the mail. Health &...
34James Madison to [Nicholas P. Trist], 15 February 1830 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your favours of and have looked over the remarks enclosed in them, meant as an introduction to an explanatory comment on the proceedings of Virginia in -98-99. occasioned by the Alien & Sedition laws. It was certainly not the object of the member, who prepared the Documents in question, to assert, nor does the fair import of them, as he believes, assert a right in the parties to...
35From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, [ca. 18 September 1826] (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 16th. What relates to the University will be subjects for our conversation. I can not so far avail myself of your liberal dispensation from giving answers to your letters, which I am sure will always merit them as not to make my acknowledgment for the kind indulgence, and to express the pleasure which will be afforded by the promised visit of Mr Terrell &...
36From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 18 January 1827 (Madison Papers)
As English newspapers seemed to be acceptable to you, I inclose a few which came to hand before their contents appeared in our own. The mail of to day may bring even later dates, but probably not at full length, the interesting, and it may be added very adroit speech of Mr Canning. Without drawing the sword agst. Ferdinand, he flourishes it in the scabbard over his head, and gives notice to...
37James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 29 September 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 24th. I hope your letter to Mr Monroe will have corrected his error as to the day for the meeting of the Visitors, in time for his attendance. I have heared nothing from him on the subject since his letter asking for information, my answer to which was I thought sufficiently guarded agst. misapprehension. I relied still more on the letter I presume you wrote to him,...
38From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 25 November 1826 (Madison Papers)
Your letter & communications of the 18th. having remained a day or two at our post office, I have been obliged to give in some haste, the final extent & shape to the Report for the Legislature; and after all, to leave a couple of blanks, which I must ask the favour of you to fill; and then forward the Report directly to Richmond. In filling the blanks, the guide will be the paper of the Come....
39James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 7 February 1829 (Madison Papers)
Do me the favor to hand the inclosed letters to Mr. Brent, with a request that he will be so good as to let the letters go from the Department with the first dispatches for England We have had no information from Edgehill since Mrs. Randolph & Mrs. Trist left us. We hope the accounts you have are all of them favorable. I take for granted you have not omitted a provision for the copies of Mr....
40From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 6 July 1826 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 4th. A few lines from Doctr Dunglison had prepared me for such a communication; and I never doubted that the last scene of our illustrious friend would be worthy of the life which it closed. Long as this has been spared to his country and to those who loved him, a few years more were to have been desired for the sake of both. But we are more than consoled for the...
41James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 25 August 1834 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 20th. and inclose a fair copy of so much of Mr. Jefferson’s letter to me as relates to the resolutions of 98-99. The letter is dated Augt. 23d. not 28th but is so identical with the printed letter to Mr. W. C. Nicholas as to prove that one of the dates is erroneous. I return the letter of Mr. W. C. N. which I found in the letter of Mr. J. I find no letter from Mr. J....
42From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 16 October 1826 (Madison Papers)
Since I asked the favor of you to sketch a report from the Visitors of the University such as would embrace the topics and statements which the Board appeared to have in view, it occurred that the occasion required, and the members of the Board would approve, some tribute to the memory of Mr J. With this view I prepared an introductory paragraph, as you will see; and that the Report might be,...
43James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 16 June 1830 (Madison Papers)
I return with thanks the papers in manuscript, and the printed ones also, wch. belong to your files. My health has been a good deal interrupted for some days, and makes me the more readily avail myself of your kind dispensation from the use of the pen. With Cordial salutations Have you ever met with the "Address of the H. of Delates" which passed the Resolutions of -98– explaining the occasion...
44From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 27 March 1827 (Madison Papers)
I trouble you with another letter to Genl. Cocke, for reasons which I need not repeat. Be so good as to look at Mr. Jeff——n’s instructions to Mr. Gilmer, and observe whether they do not suggest a better explanation than is given in the letter to Mr. Gallatin of the terms he is to hold out, as inviting a successor to Mr. Key, and if so, drop me a line, unless you favour us with a more agreeable...
45James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 29 July 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 26th. The effect of the failure to provide for such cases as that of Mr Lomax is much to be regretted. I was under an impression that a resolution, adapted to them, was among those drawn up by Mr. Johnson. As you will perhaps see at your Court on Monday next, Genl. Cocke & Mr. Rives; & Mr. Cabell also, be so good as to state the occurrence to them, & obtain their...
46James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 23 December 1832 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 19th. inclosing some of the S. C. papers. There is in one of them some interesting views of the doctrine of secession; one that had occurred to me, and which for the first time I have seen in print, namely that if one State can at will withdraw from the others, the others can withdraw from her, and turn her, nolentem, volentem, out of the Union. Until of late, there...
47From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 24 December 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your letter containing the information from Mr. Cooledge on the subject of Mr. Walker, was duly recd.; and as the opening for the Chair of Nat: Phil: seemed to be not closed by the correspondence relating to Docr. Jones & Mr. Renwick, I forwarded the information to Mr. Johnson, from whom, at Richmond, it will emanate to other Visitors. It appears that a majority of the Visitors decline a...
48James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 27 March 1828 (Madison Papers)
I am sorry to take up my pen, when the only object is to impose a tax on yours. Be so good as to let me have, from the University papers left by Mr. Jefferson, a copy of the contract made by Mr. Gilmer, with the Professors, engaged in England. Affectionate salutations. RC ( DLC : Nicholas P. Trist Papers).
49James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 2 August 1828 (Madison Papers)
Since my last I have recd. a letter from Docr. Patterson notifying his acceptance of the Chair of Nat: Philosy. which "he founds on the supposition that the Pavilion occupied by Mr. Long, will be assigned to him". This he was led to believe, when at the University, was intended, in the event of his becoming a Professor; and he seems, now to make a point of it, as materially important to his...
50From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 2 March 1827 (Madison Papers)
I recd. in due time your favor of the 21. Ult: and have looked over the lucubrations of Regulus now returned to your files; but with an attention less close than the subject of them would require. I concur entirely in the distinction made between the authority of a Constitution, and that of public opinion. The former is the record of the national Will, and no evidence however specious or true...