61From George Washington to James Madison, 12 June 1784 (Washington Papers)
Can nothing be done in our Assembly for poor Paine? Must the merits, & Services of Common Sense continue to glide down the stream of time, unrewarded by this Country? His writings certainly have had a powerful effect on the public mind; ought they not then to meet an adequate return? He is poor! he is chagreened! and almost, if not altogether, in despair of relief. New York it is true, not the...
62To James Madison from George Washington, 23 June 1788 (Madison Papers)
Since my last, acknowledging the first letter you did me the favor to write to me after your arrival in Richmond, I have received your subsequent ones of the 13th & 18th instant; which, tho’ less favourable than the former, are more pleasing than suspence. I will yet hope that the good sense of this Country, maugre all the arts of opposition, will ultimately decide right on the important...
63To James Madison from George Washington, 12 May 1796 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 May 1796. Invites JM “to dine on Thursday next at 4 oClock.” Requests an answer. FC ( DLC : Washington Papers). A printed card, with name, date, and time in Washington’s hand. There has been some speculation that this dinner invitation was connected with Washington’s decision to announce his retirement by issuing a farewell address. At this time, Washington was certainly considering ways in...
64From George Washington to James Madison, 12 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
To draw such a line for the conduct of the President as will please every body, I know is impossible; but to mark out and follow one (which by being consonant with reason) will meet general approbation, may be as practicable as it is desireable. The true medium I conceive must lye in pursuing such a course as will allow him time for all the official duties of his station—This should be the...
65To James Madison from George Washington, [ca. March 1791] (Madison Papers)
If under the existing circumstances of the newly established Bank you can add other & fitter characters than some who are proposed in the enclosed letter, you would oblige me by naming them, & returning the enclosed in an hour or two. Yrs sincerely Tr ( MH : Jared Sparks Collection of American Manuscripts, vol. 24). Undated; conjectural date assigned based on evidence in n. 1. The only...
66To James Madison from George Washington, 16 February 1789 (Madison Papers)
Having heard of your Election, by a respectable majority of the suffrages of the District for which you stood—and conceiving it probable that you would soon be on your Journey to New York—possibly before my return from the Senaca Falls—for which place, by appointment, I am this moment setting off by the way of George Town; where I expect to meet Governors Johnson & Lee—I take the liberty of...
67From George Washington to James Madison, 22 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your favors of the 5th & 8th came duly to hand; the first from Baltimore, the latter from Philda. The design of this is merely to acknowledge the receipt of them, and to forward the enclosed; but I will add, as I have my pen in my hand, that Col. Bland, after having lain a weak with the Gent. at Gunston, after having been shipwrecked & land-wrecked, mired, fatigued with walking, &C. &C....
68To James Madison from George Washington, 12 June 1784 (Madison Papers)
Can nothing be done in our Assembly for poor Paine? Mus[t] the merits, & Services of Common Sense continue to glide down the stream of time, unrewarded by this Country? His writings certainly have had a powerful effect on the public mind; ought they not then to meet an adequate return? He is poor! he is chagreened! and almost, if not altogether, in despair of relief. New York it is true, not...
69From George Washington to James Madison, 6 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
The papers, of which I was speaking to you on friday evening, are herewith sent. In looking over Sir John Sinclair’s letter (since I spoke to you on this subject) I perceive it is to a Committee I am at liberty to communicate the extracts. This, however, I consider as sufficient authority to give you the perusal of them; as the project, if it can be accomplished, in this country, must be put...
70To James Madison from George Washington, 3 August 1788 (Madison Papers)
Your favors of the 21st. & 27th of last month came duly to hand. The last, contained the pleasing—and I may add (tho’ I could not reconcile it with any ideas I entertained of common policy) unexpected account of the unconditional ratification of the Constitution by the State of New York. That No. Carolina will hesitate long in its choice I can scarcely believe; but what Rhode Island will do is...
71From George Washington to James Madison, 5 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I want to communicate two matters to Congress; the substance of which is contained in the enclosed Paper —The first requires to be decided upon before the proposed adjournment shall take place—but my motive for communicating the other, at this time, is only to fix the attention, & to promote enquiry against the next meeting. Whether would an oral or written communication be best? If the first...
72To James Madison from George Washington, 6 March 1796 (Madison Papers)
As you are knowing to the situation of young Mr. Fayette; to the measures I have adopted in his behalf; to my wishes towards him; and to the restraints under which those wishes have been placed, from considerations of a public nature—And as I am unacquainted with the ground work, or the tendency of the motion made by Mr. Livingston, relative to this young gentleman; I flatter myself, that in...
73To James Madison from George Washington, 12 May 1789 (Madison Papers)
To draw such a line for the conduct of the President as will please every body, I know is impossible; but to mark out and follow one (which by being consonant with reason) will meet general approbation, may be as practicable as it is desireable. The true medium I conceive must lye in pursuing such a course as will allow him time for all the official duties of his station. This should be the...
74To James Madison from George Washington, 22 [March] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Your favors of the 5th. & 8th. came duly to hand; the first from Baltimore, the latter from Philda. The design of this is merely to acknowledge the receipt of them, and to forward the enclosed; but I will add, as I have my pen in my hand, that Col. Bland, after having lain a week with the Gent at Gunston, after having been shipwrecked & land-wrecked, mired, fatigued with walking, &c. &c....
75To James Madison from George Washington, [8 February] 1794 (Madison Papers)
The Agricultural Society of Philadelphia, are preparing the “outlines of a Plan for establishing a state Society of Agriculture in Pennsylvania” to be laid before the Legislature. Mr. Peters to whom sometime ago I mentioned the Pamphlets &ca. which had been sent me by Sir John Sinclair; & who is appointed to prepare the business for the Legislature—wishes to have the perusal of those...
76To James Madison from George Washington, 10 January 1794 (Madison Papers)
Herewith you will receive sundry Pamphlets &ca. under the patronage of Sir John Sinclair. I send you his letters to me also, that the design may be better understood. From all these, you will be able to decide, whether a plan of enquiry similar to the one set on foot in G. Britn, would be likely to meet legislative or other encouragement, and of what kind, in this Country. These, or any other...
77To James Madison from George Washington, 2 March 1788 (Madison Papers)
The decision of Massachusetts, notwithstanding its concomitants, is a severe stroke to the opponents of the proposed Constitution in this State; and with the favorable determinations of the States which have gone before, and such as are likely to follow after, will have a powerful operation on the Minds of Men who are not actuated more by disappointment, passion and resentment, than they are...
78To James Madison from George Washington, 23 September 1788 (Madison Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 24th of last Month, but as we had no intelligence or circumstance in this quarter worthy of your acceptance, I postponed even the acknowledgment until I was gratifyed by the receipt of your subsequent favor of the 14th. instant. Indeed I have now little more to give you in return, than this information to prevent your apprehension of miscarriage; and my...
79From George Washington to James Madison, 17–18 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Although the letter of Mr Pleasants and its enclosure will appear under date of the 25th of July, it never got to my hand till friday last. Tomorrow is the first Post by which I could forward it. It is now sent with thanks for the perusal. I shall write to the Count de Moustier, but in pretty general terms—giving the substance rather than the detail of this business. That the circular letter...
80From George Washington to James Madison, 29 October 1785 (Washington Papers)
Receive my thanks for your obliging favor of the 20th—with its enclosure—of the latter I now avail myself in a letter to the Governor, for the General Assembly. Your delicate sensibility deserves my particular acknowledgements: both your requests are complied with—the first, by congeniality of sentiment; the second because I would fulfil your desire. Conceiving it would be better to suggest a...
81To James Madison from George Washington, 2 January 1789 (Madison Papers)
The letters which will accompany this, for you, came to my hand by the Post on Tuesday. The direction of them is altered; and they are forwarded to Alexandria to receive a conveyance in the Mail tomorrow. Is there any safe, and tolerably expeditious mode by which letters from the Post Office in Fredericksburgh are conveyed to you? I want to write a private & confidential letter to you,...
82From George Washington to James Madison, 18 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
Not having sent to the Post Office with my usual regularity, your favor of the 8th did not reach me in time for an earlier acknowledgment than of this date. It gives me the most sensible pleasure to hear that the Acts of the present Session, are marked with wisdom, justice & liberality. They are the palladium of good policy, & the only paths that lead to national happiness. Would to God every...
83To James Madison from George Washington, 30 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
I have been favored with your Letter of the 19th.; by which it appears that a quoram of Congress was hardly to be expected until the beginning of the past week. As this delay must be very irksome to the attending Members, and every days continuance of it (before the Government is in operation) will be more sensibly felt; I am resolved, no interruption shall proceed from me that can well be...
84From George Washington to James Madison, 2 January 1789 (Washington Papers)
The letters which will accompany this, for you, came to my hand by the Post on Tuesday. The direction of them is altered; and they are fowarded to Alexandria to receive a conveyance in the Mail tomorrow. Is there any safe, and tolerably expeditious mode by which letters from the Post Office in Fredericksburgh are conveyed to you? I want to write a private & confidential letter to you, shortly,...
85From George Washington to James Madison, 6 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
As you are knowing to the situation of young Mr Fayette; to the measures I have adopted in his behalf; to my wishes towards him; and to the restraints under which those wishes have been placed, from considerations of a public nature. And as I am unacquainted with the ground work, or the tendency of the motion made by Mr Livingston, relative to this young gentleman; I flatter myself, that in...
86To James Madison from George Washington, [11 December] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Let me entreat you to finish the good Offices you have begun for me, by giving short answers (as can be with propriety) to the enclosed Addresses. I must have them ready by monday. RC ( PPAmP : Feinstone Collection); Tr ( MH : Sparks Transcripts). RC addressed by Washington and docketed by JM, “Decr. 11. 1790.” JM also wrote the date immediately after “monday.” Enclosures not found (see n. 1)....
87To James Madison from George Washington, 9 August 1789 (Madison Papers)
Consequent of the enclosed resolution, I had a conference with the Comee. therein named yesterday, when I expressed the Sentiments which you also have enclosed. I was assured by the Committee, that the only object the Senate had in view was to be informed of the mode of communication which would be most agreeable to the President, and that a perfect acquiescence would be yielded thereto. But I...
88From George Washington to James Madison, 20 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I return Mr Jefferson’s letter with thanks for the perusal of it. I am glad he has resolved to accept the appointment of Secretary of State, but sorry it is so repugnant to his own inclinations that it is done. Sincerely & Affectly I am—Yrs ALS , NjP : Straus Autograph Collection. Madison had undoubtedly shown GW the letter Jefferson had written to him from Monticello on 14 Feb. 1790. The...
89To James Madison from George Washington, 1 December 1788 (Madison Papers)
By a notification in the Pensylvania Packet, it appears that the Southern Mail was robbed on the 22d. Ult in the State of Delaware. As it was about, at least not far from the time, I wrote you fully in answer to your favor of the 5th. of Novr. I am anxious to know its fate. If it has not reached your hands I will upon intimation thereof transmit a duplicate of my sentiments respecting the...
90To James Madison from George Washington, [ca. 12 December] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Enclosed are the last despatches I have received from Mr Govr. Morris. As they unfold pretty evidently, I think, the disposition of the British ministry, I wish you to see them. Pray return them to me in the course of this day. I am, &c. Tr ( MH : Sparks Transcripts). Addressed to JM “(Without date).” The conjectured date is based on the probable delivery to Washington in early December of a...