661Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 May 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
As the measures which were adopted at the last meeting of our visitors were of a very leading character I have thought it proper to inform our absent colleagues of them; and have delayed the communication only until I could add what has been done under the resolutions of the board . as this latter information has not been received by you, I inclose you my letter to General Taylor for perusal...
662To James Madison from Mason Locke Weems, 18 May 1820 (Madison Papers)
I send by the stage a copy of what the Critics in these things call “A very interesting history of the Great French War” —in all its ramifications, I presume, of numbers, moods, Cases &c &c! This Copy belongs to your modest & worthy Son P. Todd Esqr who subscribd to me for it, last winter. I can’t conclude without adding my fond hopes that Doctr. Hunter has had the honor to amuse yourself &...
663From James Madison to Benjamin Silliman, 26 May 1820 (Madison Papers)
I owe many apologies for not sooner recollecting that I was a subscriber for the first year of your Scientific Journal. I now inclose $5. which can not be more than I ought to pay for the numbers I have recd. of that valuable publication. Should it be less, be so good as to let me know. I sincerely wish you success in the prosecution of the work, and regret that the considerations which...
664To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 2 June 1820 (letter not found) (Madison Papers)
¶ From Thomas Jefferson. Letter not found. 2 June 1820 . Enclosed in Dolley Madison to Lewis J. Cist, 4 July 1842 ( DLC : Dolley Madison Papers).
665To James Madison from Benjamin Silliman, 9 June 1820 (Madison Papers)
I learned with some mortification that my printed circular relative to the Journal of Science had been forwarded to you—which was contrary to my intentions. I beg leave however to return my thanks for your very handsome treatment of the subject & to acknowledge the receipt of the 5$ enclosure. I hope you will not think me presuming if I take the liberty of forwarding the 1st. No of Vol 2...
666To James Madison from Thomas Sumter Jr., 9 June 1820 (Madison Papers)
Having by chance obtained in this distant part of the World from the Artist who took it 20 years ago, a portrait of Mr. Jefferson which is said by conoisseurs to be admirable for its execution, and which I think is the best likeness I have ever seen of him; I am convinced, if neither they nor I are mistaken on these points, that there are many persons in the U. States who have higher claims to...
667From James Madison to John Quincy Adams, 13 June 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have received and return my thanks for your polite favor accompanying the copy of the printed Journal of the Federal Convention transmitted in pursuance of a late Resolution of Congress. In turning over a few pages of the Journal, which is all I have done, a casual glance caught a passage which erroneously prefixed my name to the proposition made on the 7th. day of September for making a...
668To James Madison from Levett Harris, 15 June 1820 (Madison Papers)
After having spent fourteen years of my life in the Service of my Country, and having had so distinguished a Share in the establishment of our Relations with the Emperor of Russia, I returned to the US under a full conviction of enjoying, as I felt I deserved, the countenance & Confidence of my Government at home, as I had done abroad. But I had not been long here, before I was apprized by Mr....
669To James Madison from William Maury, 19 June 1820 (Madison Papers)
I received, & thank you for your very friendly letter to me at Charleston last year, which set my mind at ease, as you would accept no apology for a Merchants interference with Agriculture. This letter relates only to my proper department, it is to ask you to ship your Crop (which I am informed is now in Fredericksburg), on board the Arethusa, a remarkably fine coppered Ship, now loading at...
670To James Madison from George Alexander Otis, 20 June 1820 (Madison Papers)
The translator of de Pradt’s Europe for 1819. hopes it may find acceptance as an apology for addressing So distinguished a fellow Citizen as the twice elected Chief Magistrate of the only free Nation. The writer also begs permission to offer the first Volume of his translation of Botta, which if it should be so fortunate as to meet the approbation and merit the high patronage of the late...
671To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 21 June 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving your Letter of the 13th. instt. The error in the printed Journal of the Convention, by which the motion on the 7th. of September for the establishment of a Council of State, is ascribed to you, is in the original list of yeas and nays, taken at the time by the Secretary, who probably in the hurry of writing made the mistake which you suggest of your name...
672From James Madison to Levett Harris, 21 June 1820 (letter not found) (Madison Papers)
¶ To Levett Harris. Letter not found. 21 June 1820 . Offered for sale in John Heise Autographs, Catalogue A (1921), item 26. This letter was probably the one listed for sale in Stan. V. Henkels Catalogue No. 836 (2 Feb. 1900), item 4, as to an unidentified correspondent.
673To James Madison from Frances Wright, 28 June 1820 (Madison Papers)
The Tragedy of Altorf, a copy of which I presume to request your acceptance, was favourably received, some time since, in the Theatres of New York and Philadelphia. The kindness which, as a young and unknown Author, I then experienced, has added sentiments of heartfelt gratitude and affection to that admiration which I had previously conceived for the people of America, from the consideration...
674To James Madison from Levett Harris, 29 June 1820 (Madison Papers)
I return You my acknowledgments for Your very kind Reply of the 21st inst to the Letter I had the honor to address You on the 15th. I purpose leaving here in All next Week for Monticello, on a Visit to Mr Jefferson, whose Stay there, he writes me is limited to about two Weeks, and I shall thence Repair to pay my Respects at Montpellier. I beg You to Accept in Advance the Renewed Assurances of...
675From James Madison to James Maury, [ca. July 1820] (Madison Papers)
I send you by the present Conveyance 8 Hhds of Tobo. as noted in the Margin. The greater part is I believe of prime quality notwithstanding the season which was remarkably unfavorable. The rest, tho’ inferior is better probably than the generality of the shipments this year. The whole is reported by the Inspectors, as put up in the best order & neatest manner. Out of the proceeds Be pleased to...
676To James Madison from Joseph Wheaton, 1 July 1820 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed copy of a Statement (correctly made,) is some evidence of the truth of the memorial presented to the House of Representatives United States in N. York when you was a member of it, and which with your aid gave me the appointment of Sergeant at Arms to that Honorable Body, with that memorial and the enclosed Statement, and your personal knowledge of me for thirty years past, with...
677From James Madison to George Alexander Otis, 3 July 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of June 20. & with it the translated Copies of Pradt’s Europe for 1819, and of the 1st. vol. of Botta’s History of our war of Independence. Be pleased to accept my thanks for both. The literary reputation of the latter Author, with the philosophic spirit & classic taste allowed abroad to this historical Work justly recommended the task in which you are engaged, of...
678From James Madison to Joseph Wheaton, 6 July 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. your letter of the 1st. instant. Your wish that your descendants shd. possess a just & favorable view of their ancestor is natural & commendable. There are others whose knowlege of your character & public services being more special may enable them to do more justice to your object than I can do. What I can say with truth & with pleasure is that in originally favoring your...
679To James Madison from Peter Cardelli, 19 July 1820 (Madison Papers)
J’ai expedie deux bustes pour Votre Exellance au potomac crik dans le memme endrois que j’avais envoye; les Autres—Un c’est celui de Mr. Jefferson —et l’Autre de Mr. Clay ils ont une preparation que l’on peut toujour les laver. Je suis pret a partir bien tot; mon intention est de faire un grand tour jusque à la nouvelle Orleans et eax Quantoqui en debitent mes Ouvrajes; mes forses sont bien...
680To James Madison from Lafayette, 22 July 1820 (Madison Papers)
I Have not Had for a Long time the pleasure to Hear from You, and Beg You not to Leave me in this painful privation of Your Correspondence. It Has been Lately my fate to be entangled in a Long, boisterous Session; where much has been Said in favour of liberty, but much Has been perpetrated against it. Yet upon the whole I do not know whether the talkers Have not Had the advantage of the doers....
681From James Madison to Reynolds Chapman, 24 July 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 20th. I shall be content with whatever arrangements may be made with Ambrose Madison on the subject of Milly. Yrs Affe. Draft ( ViU : Special Collections). Reynolds Chapman (1778–1844) was clerk of the Hustings and Superior courts of Orange County, Virginia. He married JM’s niece, Rebecca Conway Madison, the daughter of William Madison and Frances Throckmorton...
682To James Madison from George Watterston, 4 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
I beg you to accept the accompanying copy of a little work of mine, published a few winters ago. With most of the characters delineated in it, you are, I believe, well acquainted & will therefore be enabled to judge of the truth & correctness of the Sketches. I have it in contemplation to undertake a history of your administration, which I conceive to be the most interesting period, except the...
683To James Madison from Andrew Ramsay, 5 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
Mr. John Graham arrived at my house on the 23d. ultimo from Rio de Janeiro, in extreme ill health, and is now greatly worse—indeed, becoming weaker and weaker every day. His liver is seriously affected, and with it, a severe bowel complaint, which has reduced him to a mere skeleton. We are under the most serious apprehensions as to the result, and unfortunately, his brother Mr. George Graham...
684To James Madison from Jacob De La Motta, 7 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
The services of those who have acted well for their Country, can never be requited; and in a government like ours, the retirement of the first magistrate and relinquishment of his exalted station; does not lessen the respect that the people should, at all times entertain for him. Under this impression, and believing that you have ever been, and still continue to be, liberal in Your views of a...
685From James Madison to Jacob De La Motta, [post–7] August 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 7th. inst: with the Discourse delivered at the consecration of the Hebrew Synagogue at Savannah, for which you will please to accept my thanks. The history of the Jews must for ever be interesting. The modern part of it is at the same time so little generally known, that every ray of light on the subject has its value. Among the features peculiar to the...
686From James Madison to George Watterston, 10 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 4th. accompanied by a copy of “the letters & sketches &c.” I had seen & read these as they successively issued from the press. I thank you for the collected form in which they now appear. Not venturing to pronounce on the likenesses of the portraits, particularly those of which the originals are least known to me, I can only pay a just tribute to the apparent...
687From James Madison to Richard Rush, 12 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
In acknowledging your favor of Sepr. last, an interval between that date & this, presents itself which would call for apology, were I less sure that you would put no misconstruction on it. The truth is, I well know your time must be so engrossed with objects more important than my correspondence, that I am unwilling to multiply its interferences; notwithstanding the temptations I feel in the...
688From James Madison to Andrew Ramsay, 13 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 5th. did not come to hand till yesterday. The same mail brought the melancholy event for which it wd. have prepared me. I had so high an esteem & so true an affection for the friend who is no more that I partake deeply in the grief felt for his loss. Mrs. Madison was equally sensible of his great worth, and joins in my feelings as she does in cordial regards for the most...
689From James Madison to Thomas Todd, 13 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have just been favored with yours of July 26: & thank you much for your kind attention to the subject of the Legislative Journals of Virga. The copy borrowed from Mr. Littell to whom you will be so good as to make my acknowlegements, shall be carefully preserved & returned; as shall be your fragment for 1788 ; if desired. I have myself a part of the Journal for 1777 viz from May 5. to May...
690To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 13 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
I recieved yesterday the inclosed Letter proposing to me an interposition which my situation renders impracticable. The gentlemen of my family have manifested at times some opposition to mr. Nelson’s elections: which has produced an intermission of intercourse between the families: and altho’ I never took the smallest part in it, and nothing but what is respectful has ever passed between mr....