51Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 19 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” I received your favor by the last Post. It appears to me astonishing that Nathan should give you so much trouble, when he must know his Debt can be paid no where but at this Place[;] this his Agent has been told, and that there are no funds as yet establish’d for that Purpose; I shall...
52Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 15 April 1783—Missing Letter (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 15 April 1783 . After Congress had ratified the provisional articles of peace with Great Britain ( JM Notes, 15 Apr. 1783 , and n. 2), JM and Theodorick Bland, on behalf of all the Virginia delegates, apparently sent a brief letter, now missing, to Governor Harrison, informing him of the ratification (Anderson Galleries [New York] Catalogue, No. 1581 [2–3 May 1921], item 34).
53Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 15 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
Nothing new has happend Since our last by Mr. St. Greaves —the last Post Brought us no letter from yr. Excelly we have the honor to enclose to days Paper & are with Perfect respect Yr. Excellys. most obdt. Sets RC ( ViHi ). In the hand of Theodorick Bland, except for JM’s signature. Enclosure not found. This letter was noted as missing in Papers of Madison William T. Hutchinson et al., eds.,...
54Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 12 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Severe rheumatic Pains prevent my doing more than acknowledge the receipt of yours favor of the 1st. Instant and informing you that I shall lay it before the Assembly if you desire it but I really do not know what they can do more than is already done, the Treasurer is directed to Pay...
55Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 10 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Theodorick Bland. Cover addressed by him to “His Excellency Benjn: Harrison Esqr. Governor of Virginia.” Bland also wrote on another fold of the cover, “Delegates—Apr. 10th.” At the opposite side of the same fold appears the docket, “Letter from the Delegates in Congress. April 10th 1783.” We take the opportunity by a Gentn. who sets off to North...
56Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, ca. 8 April 1783—Missing Letter (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 8 April 1783 . In his letter to the delegates on 19 April , Governor Harrison mentioned that “by the last Post” he had received their “favor” dealing with the claims of Simon Nathan and Oliver Pollock against the state of Virginia. See Harrison to Delegates, 19 April , and nn. 1–7, and especially the closing paragraph of n. 5. Harrison almost certainly referred the now...
57Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 1 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In hand of Theodorick Bland, Jr., except for the signatures of the other delegates. Cover franked by Bland and addressed by him to “His Excelly. Benjn: Harrison Esqr. Govr. of Virginia.” Docketed, “Letter fr. Virga. Dels Apl 1. 83.” Your Excelly. will have received by our Express the important Intelligence brought by the Triomphe. That Intelligence (together with...
58Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 29 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favor of the 18th. of March came safe to hand, by which I find our Prospects of Peace are greatly lessen’d since the perusal of Mr. Lawrence’s Letter it is however some consolation to me to know that the reports spread abroad by the Enemies of the French Alliance are on this as...
59Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 25 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of John Francis Mercer, except for the two other signatures. Cover missing. Docketed, “March 25th. 1783 Letter from Repsts in Congress.” Having dispatched an Express yesterday, by whom we communicated to your Excellency, the substance of the important & happy advices, receiv’d by the Ch: du Quesne. We now enclose yr. Excellency the days papers, in which...
60Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 24 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of John Francis Mercer, except for the signatures of the other delegates. Cover addressed by Mercer to “His Excellency Benjamin Harrison Esqr. Governor of Virginia.” Mercer signed his name on the lower left, and wrote “(On public Service)” on the upper right portion of the cover. The letter was carried to Richmond by a special courier. The cover is...
61Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 20 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your acceptable favor of the 12th. Instant reached me last Evening, the acknowledgement of our Independence gives me great Pleasure, for tho’ the Peace is not finally concluded, yet we may safely look on that Part of it, as certain and not to be retracted. I shall make such Parts...
62Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 12 November 1782 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 November 1782, Philadelphia. “We have been honord with your Excellys of the 2d. Inst. Since our last nothing of Material Consequence has happend, nor has any news of Importance arrived from Europe that is well Authenticated. The Enclosed News Paper contains all the Intelligence of every kind.” Printed facsimile of RC (University Archives Catalogue No. 110 [1994], item 105). 1 p.; in the...
63Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 20 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 9th. inst: was duly recd. by yesterday’s mail. We had communicated to Mr. Thomson the mistake contained in your preceding letter, relative to a recall of the territorial Cession, but have now corrected it as you desire. If our official & joint correspondence with your Excelly. be less circumstancial than that which individual delegates may enter into with their...
64Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [18 March] 1783 (Madison Papers)
Printed summary ( Calendar of Virginia State Papers , III, 458). The original letter has not been found, but the enclosure and a portion of the cover are in the Virginia State Library. On this fragment of the cover is “His Excellency Ben” in the hand of John Francis Mercer and also his signature below the franking word “Free.” As a rule the member of the Virginia delegation who drafted its...
65Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 12 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of John Francis Mercer, who signed his own name. Arthur Lee signed for the other delegates. Cover missing, but the delegates were undoubtedly addressing Harrison, even though his name is not shown either at the beginning or the close of the letter. Docketed, “Lr. from the Delegates in Congress—March 12th. 1783.” The words italicized in the present copy...
66Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 11 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of John Francis Mercer, except for the signatures of the four other delegates. Docketed, “Lr. from the Delegates in Congress—March 11th 1783.” Cover franked by Mercer and addressed by him to “His Excelly. Benjamin Harrison Esqr. Governor of Virginia.” The second paragraph of the letter explains why Harrison wrote on the cover, “The Treasurer B H.” Yr....
67Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 4 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Jasper E. Crane, Wilmington, Del., 1957). In the hand of John F. Mercer, except for the other four signatures. Cover franked and addressed by him to “His Excellency Benjamin Harrison Esqr. Governor of Virginia.” Docketed, “Lr. from the Delegates in Congress—March 4th. 1783.” We have receiv’d your Excellency’s Letter of the 26th. Ult, enclosing a copy of the King of Great Britain’s speech,...
68Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 24 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage. Addressed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” I am much obliged to you for your favor by Express, part of the Speach had reached us before yours came to hand but it was so incorrect that it did not generally obtain Credit. Mr. Ross has a Letter from his Partner Mr. Edwards at Nantes of the 18th. of December advising him that...
69Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 21 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favor of the 11th. Instant came to Hand by the Post, as did the missing Letter by the Post before which makes it probable that the delay proceeded from it’s not geting to the Post master before the Mail was closed. I enclose you a Paper sent to me by the Commissioners of our...
70Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 18 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Arthur Lee, except for the signatures of the other four delegates. Docketed, “Lr. from the Delegates in Congress—February 18th. 83.” We had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s letter of the 7th. & shall communicate what it contains relative to the supply of the Post at Winchester to the Financier, & transmit you his answer. We have reason to...
71Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 15 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” You will receive herewith an Authenticated Copy of the Certificate of Gen: Clarke and Col: Todd which was omitted by a Mistake of the Clerk when Nathans other Papers were forwarded to you. I hope they will get in Time to prevent his obtaining an Award in his favor which appears to me...
72Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 11 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). In the hand of Joseph Jones, except for the signatures of JM, John Francis Mercer, Arthur Lee, and Theodorick Bland, Jr. Addressed to “His Excellency the Governor of Virginia.” Docketed by Harrison, “Lr: from the Delegates in Congress February 11th. 1783.” We had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor, of the 31st. of Jany.; & sympathize very...
73Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 7 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favors of the 21th. and 28th. of last Month came together by Post. we had some reason to expect from advices received here you would have been able to have inform’d us with certainty whether we were to have Peace or War for the next year, the Ultamatum of Great Britain has...
74Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 4 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Theodorick Bland, except for the signatures of the other three delegates. Cover addressed to “His Excellency The Governor of Virginia” Docketed in an unknown hand, “Lr. from the Delegates in Congress. February 4th. 1783.” Neither this post nor the preceding one brought us any letter from your Excellency The affair with Nathan is now under...
75Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 31 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether, “third clerk of the Council of State” ( JCSV H. R. McIlwaine et al ., eds., Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia (4 vols. to date; Richmond, 1931——). , III, 194). Addressed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” My being absent from this Place attending a beloved and dying Sister occasion’d your receiving no Letter...
76Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 28 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Arthur Lee, except for JM’s signature. Addressed to “His Excellency The Governor of Virginia.” Docketed by Harrison, “Lr. fm our Delegates in Congress Jany 28 ’83.” Below this, “Jany 28 1783” is written in an unknown hand. Your Excellency’s favors of the 4th. & 11th. are before us. We have laid before Congress the Enclosures which were intended for...
77Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 21 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand, except for Joseph Jones’s signature. Docketed by Harrison, “Virginia Delegates Jany 21st 1783.” The Post which arrived late yesterday evening brought us your Excellencys letters of the 4th. and 11th. with their several inclosures. we shall loose no time in carrying into execution the intentions of the Executive respecting the settlement with Mr....
78Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 14 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). In JM’s hand, including the signature for “Jos: Jones.” Addressed to “His Excy. The Govr. of Virginia.” Docketed, apparently by Harrison, “Virginia Delegates in Congress Jany 14. 83.” In LC : Madison Papers is JM’s file copy of this letter. Except for a few differences in punctuation and abbreviations and only “We have the hon” as the complimentary...
79Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 11 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favor of the 31th. of last Month is before me the contents of it were in some Measure answer’d by the last post. Why the Bill laying an impost of 5 pCt. on imported Articles was repealed, is left to conjecture, other than is declared by the preamble, the Assembly had your Letter as...
80Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 7 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
Draft ( LC : Madison Papers). Written and initialed by JM. Addressed by him to “Govr of Virginia.” For JM’s docket, see JM to Jones, 6 Jan. 1783 , hdn. and ed. n. Recipient’s copy not found, but it was advertised for sale by George H. Richmond of New York City in his catalogue of November 1902, part 1, p. 28, item 430. JM designated the letter “official.” See JM to Randolph, 7 Jan. 1783 . Your...
81Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 4 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Lyttleton Savage, assistant clerk of the Council of State. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favors of the 17th. & 24th. of last Month came to hand by Post one of them was not franked, and of course Postage was demanded on it this was as usual but there were two other packets from General Washington and the Secretary of...
82Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 31 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In Joseph Jones’s hand, except for JM’s signature. Cover franked by Jones and addressed to “His Excellency The Governor of Virginia.” Docketed, “Virga. Delegates Letter 31. Decr.” Yesterdays post brought us your Excellencys favor of the 21st. intelligence being received the last week that Virginia had repealed her Law imposing a duty of 5 PCt. on imported articles...
83Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 28 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The first page of the letter is folio 53 of Vol. 3 of this collection. Probably about forty years after the delegates received the letter, JM wrote on the obverse of the page, “Harrison Benjn. Decr. 28. 1822.” Someone unknown, after canceling “1822,” wrote “1782” above it. The second page of the letter, bearing only the last paragraph, the complimentary close, and...
84Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 24 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Joseph Jones, except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “Virga Delegates Lr. 24. Decr. 82.” We have no southern mail this week. Since our last a Frigate from France has arrived in Delaware Bay, by her we have Letters from our Commissioners at Paris so late as the 14th. day of Octr. inclosing a Copy of a Com[miss]ion to Mr. Oswald of the 21t. of Sepr. revoking...
85Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 21 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage and addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favor of the 10th. Instant came safe such parts of it as were necessary for the Consideration of the Assembly have been laid before them and I hope will have a good effect. it has always been a surprise to me that R. Island should act as she has done, the necessity of a fund to...
86Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 17 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Joseph Jones, except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “Virginia Delegates to Govr of Virginia Decr 17th 1782.” We are honoured with your Excellencys favor of the 7th. Our last communicated the measures that had been taken for supplying the unfortunate captives then on their way to Virginia, which we hope will meet the approbation of the Executive. We have...
87Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 14 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” You have Mazzeis Letter which was left out of mine by mistake now enclosed. I am anxious to know what he has written to Mr. Adams as he seems to think it a Matter of some Consequence to America. I congratulate you on the good news you will find in the enclosed paper, which I think may...
88Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [10 December] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS (Virginia State Library). Extract of letter in the hand of Thomas L. Savage. Docketed in an unknown hand, “Letter from Virginia Delegates in Congress to the Governor 1782.” Both the retained copy, if any, and the recipient’s copy of the complete letter are missing. The style of the letter strongly suggests that JM was its author. For subjects probably taken up in the dispatch, but not...
89Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 7 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage and directed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” The financier has been misinform’d, his Agent never made any proposition to me to receive Tobacco on Account of the Continent. I heard that he offer’d to buy a Quantity of the Agent for Commutables and to pay for it in Notes payable four Months after date, which I look’d on as a...
90Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 3 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand. The cover is franked by “J. Madison Jr.,” addressed to “His Excellency Benjamin Harrison Esqr. Richmond,” and docketed, “Letter from Virg Dels Decr. 3d. 82.” The words italicized in the letter are those written by JM in the official cipher. From a consultation with the Secy at War we concluded that it would be fruitless, and therefore unadvisable to...
91Notes on Debates, 2 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( LC : Madison Papers). See Notes on Debates, 4 November 1782 , ed. n. JM preceded his entry for the present date with the words “No Congress untill.” See Notes on Debates, 28 November 1782 . The Secy of foreign affairs resigned his office assigning as a reason, the increase of business in his Office of Chancellor of N. Y. whereby it was become impossible for him to execute the duties of...
92Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 30 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage and addressed to “The Honble. Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favor by Post came safe to hand, like you I have nothing new to communicate. Mr. Clarke has ship’d a quantity of Tobacco from this Country to N. York more than the first resolution of Congress amounted to, and without giving me any Information of his design, he says...
93Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 26 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand. Docketed, “Letter f’m Virga Del—Nov. 26. 82.” In answer to your Excellency’s letter of the 8th. as far as it relates to Capt: Pierce, we inclose the late Acts of Congress making further reductions in the army, with the remarks of the Secy at War on the operation of those acts in the case of that officer. In the latter will also be found such...
94Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 23 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage. Addressed to “The Honble Virginia Delegates in Congress.” If the letter mention’d in the enclosed ever came to Congress thro’ Mr. John Adams I shall be oblig’d to you for a copy of it, the request can not be improper as it was the Intention of the writer that I should have it. An enquirey is order’d into the Conduct of a Gentleman...
95Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 19 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Virginia Miscellaneous Collection, 1773–1789). In JM’s hand, except for Joseph Jones’s signature. Addressed to “His Excy. Govr. Harrison.” We had the honor yesterday of your Excellency’s letter of the 8th. inst. on the several subjects of which we must postpone an answer untill the next mail. We are sorry to be obliged to repeat our inability to add any intelligence relative to the...
96Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 16 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage and addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” I have your favor by the last post, and think with you that it is problematical whether the British quit Charles Town or not, tho’ on the 25th. of last Month they had made such advances towards it that hopes are to be entertain’d of their being embarked before the countermanding...
97Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 8 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favor of the 29th: Ulto: reached me yesterday. If the reports from Canada and New York are true, the English are certainly become the most faithless Nation on Earth, and mean by fraud and deceit to accomplish what they could not do by force. how far their Plan will succeed I can...
98Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 5 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed copy ( Burnett, Letters Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). , VI, 532). Another copy of the letter, which omits its date line, salutation, first sentence, and complimentary close, is in Samuel T. Freeman & Co. (Philadelphia), Catalogue, 1947, Peck Sale, Part I, item 151. Except for these omissions, the text of the two...
99Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 2 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Lyttleton Savage. Addressed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” On 14 October 1782 Savage had succeeded William Tatham as assistant clerk of the Council of State ( Journals of the Council of State H. R. McIlwaine et al ., eds., Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia (3 vols. to date; Richmond, 1931——). , III, 156). I received...
100Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 29 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed copy ( Burnett, Letters Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). , VI, 527–28). Addressed to “His Excell’y Govr. Harrison.” Around 1930 Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia owned the manuscript. Judging from the style of the letter, it was written by JM, except for Bland’s signature. We yesterday recd. your Excellency’s favor of...