1To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 19 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 19 November 1786. The calendar of Pendleton’s letters (DLC: Madison Miscellany) apparently prepared by a clerk for Peter Force around 1850 cites this letter. The annotations indicate the one-page letter included comments on the attempted reform of the county court system and “Congratulations on reappointment to Congress.” Enclosed was a draft of a bill for amending the county...
2To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 12 August 1787 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 12 August 1787, Edmundsbury. The list probably kept by Peter Force (DLC: Madison Miscellany) notes that Pendleton wrote a one-page letter to JM from Edmundsbury on this day. The summary reads: “Expectations about the Convention. Secresy beneficial. Threatened riots in opposition to the payment of debts and taxes. Money scarce.”
3[From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 28 April 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 28 Apr. 1784. Entry in SJL reads: “E. Pendleton. Lottery tickets—Trumbull’s proclamation—Western territory—adjournment of Congress—committee states—requisitions—Luz[erne]. Marb[ois]—Eng. news to Mar. 25.” Not found.]
4[To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Pendleton, 19 April 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Place unknown, 19 Apr. 1784. Noted in SJL as received 23 Apr. 1784. Not found.]
5[To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Pendleton, 17 May 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Edmundsbury, 17 May 1784 . Noted in SJL as received 24 May 1784. Not found.]
6[To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Pendleton, 19 March 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Caroline [?], 19 Mch. 1784 . Noted in SJL as received 2 Apr. 1784. Not found.]
7To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 29 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 29 January 1788, Edmundsbury. On the docket of JM to Pendleton, 28 Oct. 1787 , Pendleton noted: “Answd. Jan. 29—88.” Acknowledged in JM to Pendleton, 21 Feb. 1788 . The list probably kept by Peter Force (DLC: Madison Miscellany) also indicates that Pendleton wrote a two-page letter to JM from Edmundsbury on this day. The summary reads: “The reception of the proposed...
8To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, [6 October] 1788 (Madison Papers)
… The Resolutions respecting the Mississippi Navigation are of a Balmy nature, tending to give Repose to those concerned, and impose silence on such as caring nothing about it, used the Subject as an engine of Opposition, not such is the fixure of the tempory seat of Congress. I have already met taunts on the occasion, as the first instance of Eastern Partiality and influence , which...
9To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 7 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 7 April 1787. Pendleton had noted on the cover of JM’s letter to him of 24 February 1787 , “Answd. April 7th.” The list probably kept by Peter Force (DLC: Madison Miscellany) also indicates that Pendleton had written a two-page letter from Edmundsbury on this day. The summary reads: “The Eastern insurgents. The approaching Convention at Philadelphia. Elections in Virginia....
10From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 25 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 17th. found me at this place from which I set out the day after tomorrow. I mean to go thro’ the Eastern states in hopes of deriving some knolege of them from actual inspection and enquiry which may enable me to discharge my duty to them somewhat the better. I expect to embark at Boston about the 20th. of June. If you will recur to the Confederation you will find the...
11From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 19 April 1789 (Madison Papers)
My last was committed to Majr. Rogers of your County who embarked some days ago from this place for Virginia. I have been since favored with yours of the 7th. instant; and am much & truly gratified with the proof it contains of your good health. We have not yet either the President or Vice President on the ground. The former is expected in a few days. The latter we are told will certainly come...
12From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 20 October 1788 (Madison Papers)
I acknowledge with much pleasure your favor of the 6th. instant. The “balmy” nature of the resolutions concerning the Mississippi will I hope have the effect you suggest; though the wounds given to some & the pretext given to others by the proceedings which rendered them necessary, will not I fear be radically removed. The light in which the temporary seat of the new Government is viewed &...
13To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 20 October 1783 (Madison Papers)
Summary ( LC : Madison Miscellany). The summary is in a calendar, probably prepared about 1850 by Peter Force’s clerk. He noted that the letter was addressed “To James Madison” and that the manuscript was “1 page 4°.” Madison’s retirement from Congress. Congress has fixed its permanent residence in the woods of the Jersies. The importance of Madison taking a seat in the Virginia Assembly....
14From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 3 March 1788 (Madison Papers)
The Convention of N. Hampshire have disappointed much the general expectation. Instead of adopting the Constitution they have adjourned without any final decision until June; this expedient being found necessary to prevent a rejection. It seems that a majority of 3 or 4 members would have voted in the negative, but in this majority were a number who had been proselyted by the discussions, but...
15To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 7 April 1789 (Madison Papers)
Will you Pardon my interrupting for a moment your Attention to the great subjects before you, to ask you how you do, whethr. your Legislative body is Organized, the President & V. P. in Office, and the general complexion of yr. Members? You know how much I esteem yr. Correspondence, & my earnest appetite for News; as I do your kind inclination to gratify me, but I must repeat my Caveat agt....
16To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 20 October 1783 (Madison Papers)
I am now, probably for the last time, to pay you my respects, as the time approaches fast (too fast) when you are to quit Congress, & return to yr. Countrey & friends—pray accept my warmest acknowledgements for the pleasure you have afforded me in continuing a long Correspondence, upon such disadvantageous terms, as my Sterile returns occasioned: however I did my best, & you accepted it; and...
17To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 29 September 1783 (Madison Papers)
I am now, tho’ in a feeble state, just able to acknowledge the receipt of yr. two favrs. of the 8th. & 13th., a smart fever prevented my writing by Last post, which I hope the Bark has removed. Sr. Guy Carltons Enquiry into the forgery had probably a double view of screening the Offenders, & of exposing his predecessors in Office, I fear nothing of Justice entered into his motives. I am sorry...
18To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 19 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
A severe Paroxism of my old disorder having deprived me of the pleasure of seeing you this Session, I take the liberty of submitting to your consideration a Bill I drew some time ago to amend the Act for reforming the County Courts, as it Occur’d to me that considerable delays might happen in the quarterly returns of process instead of Monthly, especially where the first process was not...
19To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 29 September 1783 (Madison Papers)
Summary ( LC : Madison Miscellany). Copied from a calendar, probably prepared about 1850 by Peter Force’s clerk. He noted that the manuscript of the letter, addressed “To James Madison,” consisted of “1 page 4°.” Recovery from illness. Sir Guy Carlton. The people Eastward averse to the half-pay, or commutation. The British restrictive proclamation. Pendleton probably referred to his own...
20From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 20 September 1787 (Madison Papers)
The privilege of franking having ceased with the Convention, I have waited for this opportunity of inclosing you a copy of the proposed Constitution for the U. States. I forbear to make any observations on it; either on the side of its merits or its faults. The best Judges of both will be those who can combine with a knowledge of the collective & permanent interest of America, a freedom from...
21To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 18 December 1784 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 18 December 1784 . The list probably kept by Peter Force (DLC: Madison Miscellany) indicates Pendleton wrote a letter from Edmundsbury on this day that was an “Appeal for the family of Philip Davis; a forger of tobacco notes.” The punishment for forging tobacco notes was death ( Hening, Statutes William Waller Hening, ed., The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the...
22To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 9 April 1784 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Muse shewed me yr letter to his son requesting I would take charge of his Deeds to you, and procure them to be proved and recorded in the General Court, which I would most cheerfully have done, but do not go to Richmond ’til after that Court rises. I have seen the Deeds Executed before 5 Witnesses, and they are to be carried by one of them who is our Sherif & a careful man, to be lodged...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 2 April 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
We have received no foreign intelligence through any authentic channel lately. We hear however in different ways so as to beleive that the greatest confusion prevails in the British councils. The house of commons on the 16th. of January voted that the ministry (Mr. Pitt and his associates) neither possessed nor ought to possess the confidence of the nation. One account sais Mr. Pitt resigned...
24To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, [8 October] 1787 (Madison Papers)
… A Republic was inevitably the American form, and its Natural danger Pop. Tumults & Convulsions. With these in view I read over the Constitution accurately; do not find a Trait of any Violation of the great Principles of the form, all Power being derived mediately or immediately from the People. No Title or Powers that are either hereditary or of long duration so as to become Inveterate; and...
25To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 6 October 1783 (Madison Papers)
Since my last yr. sevl. favrs. of Augt. 24th. & 30th. & Sepr. 20th. have reached me, the two former filling up the Chasim I supposed in yr. letters. The question touching Garrison’s in time of peace, is in it’s nature delicate as well as difficult, and therefore I don’t Wonder there should be diversity of Opinions about it. They seem useful & indeed necessary, & yet have their certain evils,...
26From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 27 May 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have put off from day to day writing to my friends from this place in hopes of being able to say something of the Convention. Contrary to every previous calculation the bare quorum of seven States was not made up till the day before yesterday. The States composing it are N York, N. Jersey, Pena. Delaware, Virga. N. Carolina & S. Carolina. Individual members are here from Massts. Maryland &...
27From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 8 April 1789 (Madison Papers)
You will not learn without some surprize that the sixth of this month arrived before a quorum was made up in both branches of the New Legislature, and the first of the month, before a Quorum was attained in either. The first & only joint step taken by the Congress was the examination of the ballots for President & vice president. The votes were found, as was expected, to be unanimously given...
28To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 18 December 1784 (Madison Papers)
I am unwilling at all times to intermeddle with the business of the legislature, & particularly concerned when under a necessity of making application to a particular friend of that body, but when I am impelled to it by the situation of a distressed Neice, & a family of her small Children, I know your own feelings will suggest my Appology. She is the unfortunate wife of Philip Davis, who is...
29From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 24 February 1787 (Madison Papers)
If the contents of the Newspapers of this place find their way into the gazettes of Richmond you will have learnt that the expedition of Genl: Lincoln against the insurgents has effectually dispersed the main body of them. It appears however that there are still some detachments which remain to be subdued. & that the Government of Massts. consider very strong precautions as necessary agst....
30To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 7 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
I should not have availed my self of yr. kind Indulgence, called a Stipulation, but sooner acknowledged the rect. of yr. favr. of Feby. 24th., had not the March Winds disorde[re]d my crazy Constitution, & rendered writing rather disagreable. I was made happy in finding that the Main body of the Eastern Insurgents were dispersed, had repented & were restored to the body of Orderly Citizens. I...