701To James Madison from James Monroe, 23 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
The question as to the admission of Missouri into the union, which is still depending, will probably not be decided untill after the holydays, & the decision is then quite uncertain. You have I presume seen a proposition of Dr Eustis, for admitting her, after a certain day, provided, in the interim, the obnoxious clause in her constitution shall be stricken out. Should this fail, it is...
702To James Madison from Edmond Kelly, 24 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
My last letter concluded my thoughts on the necessity of creating national manufactories of all the articles Imported from England—of puting them into operation, & of substituting a revenue for that pernicious one they Yeild so as not to injure or Embarrass the public service, as the only measure that can avert Impending national Insolvency—Expell foreign (british) influence & destroy the...
703From James Madison to Ebenezer H. Cummins, 26 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. Sir your favor of the 13th. with a copy of the American Edition of Baine’s Hist: of the late war, to which I have given a hasty perusal. The work does not bespeak historical talents of the highest order, but it is a respectable performance; and merited a republication here, by the degree of research & candor appearing on the face of it. That it contains errors, some very gross...
704From James Madison to James Monroe, 28 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two favors of the 18 & 23 inst. The prospect of a favorable issue to the difficulties with Spain, is very agreeable. I hope the ratification will arrive witht clogs on it; and that the acquisition of Florida may give no new stimulus to the spirit excited by the case of Missouri. I am glad to learn that a termination of this case also is not despaired of. If the new State is...
705To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 28 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
I should have replied sooner to your last favor, but I had hoped to find some of the debates &ca, for the ten years, which you do not possess. I am sorry I have not yet succeeded, and I fear the rarity of them and the constant purchases by young & rising public men, foreigners, libraries &ca. may disappoint me. I will however keep your wishes constantly in view. The Missouri case has...
706To James Madison from Thomas Mann Randolph, 28 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
My Brother in Law Mr Hackley informs me that he will shortly be in the neighbourhood of your Country Seat, and I ask of him to wait upon you with my homage, which it has, for such a number of years, been my pride to be allowed to pay. His long residence in the Peninsula, and his excellent understanding, and habit of observation, may perhaps enable him to afford you interesting conversation for...
707To James Madison from William Davis Robinson, 28 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty of sending you by mail a volume of my memoirs of the Mexican Revolution, which I request you will do me the honor to accept, and I shall be much gratified to learn that any thing containd therein compensates for the trouble of perusing it. My career in life has not afforded me many opportunities of exploring the walks of literature, hence the style of the volume in question...
708From James Madison to Mackay & Campbell, 29 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 18th. & have delayed the answer a few mails hoping for a letter from Messrs. M. & L. of a like date with their last to you. The last to me was of Sepr. 13, at which time the whole of my Tobo. had not been sold, and the invoice of the goods sent me not inclosed. Perhaps a letter for me may be in the Country & you can give me some account of it. The Tobo. seems to have...
709From James Madison to George Alexander Otis, 29 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 5th. came safe to hand, with the 2d. vol: of the translation of Botta’s History, for which I am ⟨anew to offer⟩ my thanks. Without a more careful reading of the two volumes, and comparison of them with the original, than has been permitted by other demands on my time, I could not express any opinion as to the merits of the translation that would be worth your acceptance. Of...
710To James Madison from George Alexander Otis, 4 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your respected letter of the 29th Ulto. and to return my grateful acknowledgements for the honour you have done me in naming my enterprise to Mr. Stephenson; to whom I shall request my Agent in Richmond to deliver a Set. I pray you to accept Sir my Sincere thanks for the permission to make your letter of 5th July public, and for your benevolent wishes of...
711To James Madison from John H. Wood, 5 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
Permit me to thank you for your polite and friendly Answer to my letter. My application was certainly predicated on the presupposition that whatever relief you cou’d grant me consistently with engagements & obligations (of which we all are surrounded) wou’d have been done with willingness. On addresses for pecuniary aid I shou’d always be entirely indisposed to afford any, cou’d I suppose the...
712From James Madison to James Monroe, 6 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Hackley called on me a few days ago on his way to Washington. I found him very intelligent and of agreeable manners. He observed a commendable delicacy in the part of his conversation, which touched his personal hopes from the Government; but it was not concealed that he aspired to some provision under its patronage. He will doubtless be, if he has not already been, more explicit &...
713From James Madison to William Davis Robinson, 6 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of Decr. 28. accompanied by a Copy of your “Memoirs of the Mexican Revolution.” As I can not at present find leisure to go thro the volume, I make an offer at once, of my thanks for your obliging attention. So little is known of the late events & of the actual State of things in Mexico, which well deserve to be known, that accurate information as to both must be...
714From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 7 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
In The inclosed you will see the ground on which I forward it for your perusal. In the late views taken by us, of the Act of Congress, vacating periodically the Executive offices, it was not recollected, in justice to the President, that the measure was not without precedents. I suspect however that these are confined to the Territorial Establishments, where they were introduced by the Old...
715From James Madison to Robert Mackay, 7 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
An accident to the Saw of my Sawmill requires a new one immediately, the season being now favorable for using it. Will you be so obliging as to have a good one chosen, & held ready for the application of Mr. Howard’s waggoner, who will be down very quickly after this reaches you. If he shd fail, I will authorise some other waggoner to bring up the Saw. The sickness in my family and other...
716To James Madison from James Barbour, 8 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I understood when at your house that you were in want of a good riding horse. In consequence when I returned here, having found the one I had bought of Mr Johnson the writer of the within a very fine one I mentioned to him your wish. In answer he returned me the enclosed note. If you think proper to avail yourself of his offer and should choose either of the horses and signify which to me I...
717To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 8 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have heard of a collection of the debates in Congress between 1790 and 1800, which are to be shewn to me and will at least direct my searches and attention. Perhaps want of money, which exists in the case, may occasion a sale. If it should I shall make the terms known to you. Our state after 41 years, and with only 700 to 800 slaves in 1810 are about to pass a final abolition act, paying...
718To James Madison from Andrew Stevenson, 8 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 10 ulto I recd in the course of the mail, & owe you an apology for not answering it sooner; but the truth is that what with personal indisposition, & professional & Legislative duties, I have not had an opportunity of doing so, until today. Since I last wrote you Mr. R. & myself have made the promised search amongst his father’s papers, for yr. letters, & I am pleased to say,...
719To James Madison from William S. Cardell, 12 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
The literary institution on which I before had the honor to address you has become organised with very encouraging prospects. The enclosed circular which is in part an amplification of my former letter explains the outlines as far as it was thought proper to form them by anticipation. The officers elected are His Ex. J. Q. Adams President. Judge Livingston, Judge Story Hon. William Lowndes, V....
720To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 13 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I return you mr. Coxe’s letter without saying I have read it. I made out enough to see that it was about the Missouri question, and the printed paper told me on which side he was. Could I have devoted a day to it, by interlining the words as I could pick them out, I might have got at more. The lost books of Livy or Tacitus might be worth this. Our friend would do well to write less and write...
721From James Madison to Joseph M. Sanderson, 15 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of Decr. 9. with a copy of Vol. I of the Biographical work in your hands, for which I return my thanks. The Object of the work is such as must be highly interesting to the public; and the undertaking it at an early day is necessary to do justice to the memories of the men who signed the immortal act which made us a nation. Not having found it convenient as yet to...
722To James Madison from Peter Stephen Chazotte, 15 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour of sending to you, a Pamph[l]et, containing Facts and Observations, on the policy of immediately introducing the rich culture of coffee, cocoa, vines, olives capers, almonds, &a &a in East Florida, and in the southern States, and which, I flatter myself, you will do me the honour to accept, and give to it a moment’s perusal. On a subject of such national, importance, the...
723To James Madison from Lynde Walter and Others, 15 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
At a meeting of a number of Gentlemen friendly to a Bankrupt Act, it was voted that you shd. be respectfully requested to use your influence, with your friends in Washington, to obtain its passage, at the present Session of Congress; & we were appointed a Committee to convey to you the sense of the Meeting, of the great influence which your exertions, either by letter or in any other way, in...
724From James Madison to Tench Coxe, 17 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I recd. a few days ago your favor of the 8th. inclosing a paper signed Phocion. Your own papers inclosed in your two preceding letters have been forwarded according to your suggestion. I have looked over the paper of Phocion. It indicates intelligence and acuteness in the writer, and no inconsiderable fairness, in facing, at every point, the subject he discusses. In his charges against me of...
725From James Madison to George Alexander Otis, 17 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I received some days ago your letter of the 4th. instant. However favorable my general opinion may be to the History of Botta, I could not undertake to vouch for its entire exemption from flaws, such as are charged on it, without a more thorough examination of the work than I have made, or than other calls on my time will now permit me to make. It is indeed quite presumable, that at the early...
726To James Madison from Thomas B. Parker, 18 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
Permit me, though personally a stranger to you, respectfully to solicit your opinion, if I am not too intrusive, on two important political questions, which, at present, agitate the publick mind in massachusetts. You, doubtless, have heard, Sir, that the people of this Commonwealth, deemed it necessary, on the seperation of Maine, to amend their state constitution. Accordingly delegates were...
727From James Madison to William S. Cardell, 19 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your letter of the 12th. inclosing a copy of your Circular one, on the subject of the “American Academy of Language & Belles Lettres.” It informs me at the same time that the Society has been pleased to put [me] on the list of its honorary members. I request Sir, that they may be assured of the respectful impressions with which I receive this mark of distinction. Having heretofore...
728To James Madison from James Monroe, 19 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
Mr Lawrance & Mr Jones of New York, young gentlemen of merit, well connected there, expressing a wish to visit you & Mr Jefferson, I have felt it due to the introduction they have presented me, to make them known to you. They intend to visit Europe in the Spring, & will I am satisfied, take much interest in bearing any letters from you, or being in any respect useful to you. With great respect...
729To James Madison from Nathan Sanford, 19 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
William Beach Lawrence and John Q. Jones Esquires of New York, are about to travel through Virginia; and if they should pass near your residence, they will do themselves the honor to visit you. I beg leave to introduce them to you, in this manner. They are young gentlemen of great personal merit, and of the most amiable dispositions. Their parents and friends, are among the most respectable...
730To James Madison from William Thornton, 20 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have just heard that Mr. Charles Todd, of Kentucky, is returning from the Republic of Columbia, & as another Agent will most probably be appointed, I am exceedingly desirous of succeeding him. I had been very highly recommended to the President before Mr: Todd was appointed, by the honorable Colonel Johnson, & some other respectable Senators, & the Colonel & many other Friends are desirous...
731From James Madison to Thomas B. Parker, 24 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of Jany. 18. & thank you for the 2 papers containing very interesting parts of the debates & proceedings of your Convention. I am very sensible Sir of what I owe to the respect & confidence marked by your request of my opinions on 2 great points in the articles of amendment proposed to the State Constitution. But I must appeal to the same friendly dispositions for an...
732From James Madison to Lynde Walter and Others, 24 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. your letter of the 15th. instant; and I cannot be insensible to the marks of respect & confidence contained in it. But besides that it attaches a very undue weight to my opinion on the subject of a Bankrupt act, I am not sure that the interference you suggest would be received in the light you anticipate. Candor requires also an acknowlegement, that though sincerely anxious...
733From James Madison to Reynolds Chapman, 25 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I recd. yours of the 16th. some days ago. Particular engagements have prevented an earlier answer. Different plans for reading history have been recommended. What occurs as most simple & suitable, where the object is such as you point out, is to begin with some abridgement of Genl. History. I am not sure that I am acquainted with the best; late ones having been published wch. I have not seen....
734To James Madison from Ethan A. Brown, 26 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
To Mr. Madison, long considered the ablest expositor of the principles of the federal Constitution, the accompanying report is transmitted, by his obedient Servant RC ( DLC ). Docketed by JM. The enclosed report (not found) was probably a copy of the Report of the Joint Committee of Both Houses of the General Assembly, on the Communication of the Auditor of State, Upon the Subject of the...
735To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 28 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
My neighbor, friend and physician, Doctr. Watkins, being called to Philadelphia, is desirous to pay his respects to you en passant, and asks me, by a line to you, to lessen his scruples on doing so. You will find my justification in his character when known to you. His understanding is excellent, well informed, of pleasant conversation and of great worth. As a Physician I should trust myself...
736From James Madison to Henry Wheaton, 29 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to Mr. Wheaton, with thanks for the copy of his “Anniversary Discourse,” which is well calculated to attract attention to a subject deeply interesting to the U.S. by the views under which it is presented, and the lights thrown on it by his valuable researches & investigations. RC ( NNPM ). Henry Wheaton (1785–1848) was a graduate of the College of Rhode Island...
737From James Madison to Peter Stephen Chazotte, 30 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have recd & thank you for your little tract on the culture of vines Olives &c. Its practical views of the several articles derived from long personal experience, with the apparent aptitude for them of soils & climates in a certain portion of the U. States justly claim the attention of those particularly living within its limits. Experiments for introducing these valuable productions are...
738To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter to mr. Cabell so fully explains it’s object, and the grounds on which your signature to the paper is proposed if approved, that I will spare my stiffening & aching wrist the pain of adding more than the assurance of my constant & affectte. friendship. We the subscribers, visitors of the University of Virginia being of opinion that it will be to the interest of that...
739To James Madison from George Alexander Otis, 31 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I feel very sincerely obliged by your letter of 17th instant, and by the general benignity with which you have deigned to view my undertaking. I now have the honor of transmitting you the last volume of the Translation, which if honored with your approbation will reward me for all my toils in a task, which if it does not yield me reputation I fear will yield me nothing. The venerable J. Adams,...
740To James Madison from Lynde Walter and Others, 3 February 1821 (Madison Papers)
Accept our particular thanks, for the kind expressions contained in your esteemed favor 24 Jany, & for the candor with which you have given us a frank exposition of your views. Whatever Bankrupt system may at first be adopted will, we fondly hope, receive such beneficial amendments, as experience may show to be necessary, to render it worthy of your support. Receive the renewed assurance of...
741To James Madison from George W. Featherstonhaugh, 6 February 1821 (Madison Papers)
I had the honour to receive your very obliging Letter of December last, and now request your acceptance of the Volume accompanying this: being with the most unfeigned respect Sir Your very faithful humble St. RC ( ICN ). Docketed by JM. JM to Featherstonhaugh, 23 Dec. 1820 . Memoirs of the Board of Agriculture of the State of New-York (Albany, N.Y., 1821; Shoemaker 6251). This volume included...
742To James Madison from Edmond Kelly, 6 February 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have just read the 2 last acts of Congress for the future protection of the US Bank which I consider insufficient—there is no clause to anull any fraudulent or collusive Conveyances from delinquent bank officers or agents and their securities—nor is the vesting of the property of such persons in the Bank Corporation on their admission to office required—as summary a remedy against disguised...
743To James Madison from Richard S. Hackley, 9 February 1821 (Madison Papers)
Presuming, on the letter of Introduction, from Governor Randolph, which I had the honor to deliver to you, some short time since, The friendly dispositions, expressed towards me, and evinced, in your recommendation of me, to the President, I beg permission to State, That I yesterday, solicited the appointment of Collector of the Port of St. A[u]gustine, in East Florida, whenever the Executive...
744To James Madison from George Joy, 9 February 1821 (Madison Papers)
You shall have no cause to complain of a tardy rejoinder to your favour of the 25th Novr. last, altho’ in that war of recrimination I was long since offered the Alliance of my friend Jeremy Bentham; and it was literally the fact that at the hour of receiving your Letter last Evening and from that to the present, I have had more of Correspondence to attend to than for any week together in the...
745From James Madison to Robert H. Rose, 10 February 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your letter of Jany. 21. with a Copy of your address to the Agricultl. Socy. of Susquehanna County, for which I return my thanks. I offer but a just tribute to the Address, in saying that it contains very judicious observations presented in the best form, & apparently very appropriate to the rural circumstances of the new County. The multiplication of these Societies is among the...
746From James Madison to Thomas Todd, 11 February 1821 (Madison Papers)
We learn by a letter from Mrs. Cutts with much pleasure that you had ended your journey to Washington in good health; and we flatter ourselves that you will give us the opportunity of being eye witnesses to its continuance, on your return to Frankfort. I need not say how truly glad we shall be to see you; how much we shall expect it; and what a disappointment we shall feel, if you should take...
747From James Madison to an Unidentified Correspondent, 11 February 1821 (letter not found) (Madison Papers)
¶ To an Unidentified Correspondent. Letter not found. 11 February 1821 . Described as a two-page autograph letter, signed, from Montpelier, in Stan. V. Henkels Catalogue No. 1425 (14 Feb. 1929), item 41.
748To James Madison from John A. Wharton, 12 February 1821 (Madison Papers)
I am unacquainted with you; yet an unmeaning ceremony, I believe, to be as disagreeable to you, as it is foreign to the purpose. It will not therefore, I hope, be thought presumption in me to address you at present, on a subject of the first importance. But to the purpose. I am a young man in pursuit of an education, and desirous of enjoying the benefits offered by the establishment of The...
749From James Madison to Henry Baldwin, ca. 13 February 1821 (letter not found) (Madison Papers)
¶ To Henry Baldwin. Letter not found. Ca. 13 February 1821 . Printed facsimile of RC cover sheet, addressed and franked by JM; postmarked 13 Feb. 1821 at Orange Court House. Offered for sale in Robert F. Batchelder Catalog 64 [1988], item 32. Henry Baldwin (1780–1844), a Connecticut-born, Yale-educated, Pittsburgh lawyer, was half-brother to Abraham Baldwin and Ruth Baldwin Barlow. Baldwin...
750To James Madison from Robert S. Garnett, 14 February 1821 (Madison Papers)
Mr Garnett presents his compliments to Mr Madison and begs that he will accept of the Report of the Committee on Agriculture herewith enclosed. RC ( DLC ). Docketed by JM. Below Garnett’s letter is the draft of JM to Garnett, 20 Feb. 1821 . Robert Selden Garnett (1789–1840) of Essex County, Virginia, was a U.S. congressman, 1817–27 (Tyler, Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography , 2:109). Report of...