1To James Madison from John Blair Smith, 21 June 1784 (Madison Papers)
I am sorry to interrupt your attention to important business, by introducing a matter in this letter, which you are already tired of. However as it is of some importance, I presume upon your usual patience & candor. Since my arrival at home, I have seen a part of your Journals, & by them have learned the objects of the Petition from the Episcopal Clergy, which in one or two instances, appear...
2To James Madison from John Blair Smith, [ca. 16 May] 1785 (Madison Papers)
I am sorry to interrupt your attention to more important objects by an appeal to you in a dispute between Carter H. Harrison Esqr. of Cumberland & myself, but as you were present at its origination, & as my character for veracity is interested in your decision, I have no doubt of your inclination to do me the justice which is in your power. All that I have to request of you at present is, to...
3From James Madison to John Blair Smith, 27 May 1785 (Madison Papers)
I have before me your note requesting my information relative to a fact asserted on your part, and denied on that of Carter H. Harrison Esqr. Your own feelings will suggest to you my motives for wishing not to be made a Witness or Judge in any case where the characters of Gentlemen are concerned. Under the circumstances of the present in which I am only called on by one of the parties, &...
4To James Madison from John Blair Smith, ca. 1 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 1 November 1786. Informing JM that his nephew James and Jacky Walker were not returning to Hampden-Sydney Academy and requesting the balances of their tuition. Mentioned in JM to James Madison, Sr., 16 November 1786 .
5From James Madison to John Blair Smith, ca. 25 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 25 November 1786. Mentioned in John Blair Smith’s letter of ca. 10 December 1786 to JM . Related information concerning the political condition of the United States, probably news of Shays’s Rebellion. Inquired after the progress of Dabney Carr at Hampden-Sydney Academy.
6To James Madison from John Blair Smith, [ca. 10] December 1786 (Madison Papers)
I recd: your letter by Mr. Allen. & am much obliged to you for the communications it contained, though it occasioned a serious alarm for the situation of our Country. It will be a distressing circumstance in the history of man, should our hopes from the American Revolution be blasted. Will not human corruption forever defeat the beneficial influence of liberty upon human happiness? & will not...
7To James Madison from John Blair Smith, 12 June 1788 (Madison Papers)
On my return from Phila. last Summer, I wrote to your brother from Fredericksburg as you desired. As it was Sunday, I did not go to Mr. Maury’s store, but left the letter with Dr. Hall, who promised to give it to Mr. Maury, that he might send it to Orange. I informed him in that letter, that you had paid me ten pounds, ten Shills. for his son’s expences. As the boys did not return during the...