41To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 January 1798 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of Dec. 25. came to hand yesterday. I shall observe your directions with respect to the post day. I have spoken with the Depy. Post. M. Genl. on the subject of our Fredericksburg post. He never knew before that the Fredsbg. printer had taken the contract of the rider. He will be glad if either in your neighborhood or ours some good person will undertake to ride from April next. The...
42To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 January 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 2d. inst. on which day I recieved yours of Dec. 25. I have not resumed my pen because there has really been nothing worth writing about but what you would see in the newspapers. There is as yet no certainty what will be the aspect of our affairs with France. Either the Envoys have not written to the government, or their communications are hushed up. This last is...
43To James Madison from James Monroe, 6 February 1798 (Madison Papers)
We are very thankful for the articles yr.self & Mrs. M. were so good as send us. They are really rarities and of importance in our present situation. We shod. however be very sorry if you reduc’d yr. own stock so as to feel the want of them. We send you two mattresses—one of hair & another of wool. 4. dozen of the better kind of diaper napkins & 2. of infr., very useful for common purposes. 4....
44To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 February 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 25th. Ult. since which yours of the 21st. has been recieved. Bache had put 500. copies of Monroe’s book on board a vessel, which was stopped by the early & unexpected freezing of the river. He then tried in vain to get them sent on by fifties at a time by the stage. The river is now open here, the vessels have fallen down and if they can get through the ice below, the...
45To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 February 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 8th. We have still not a word from our envoys. This long silence (if they have been silent) proves things are not going on very roughly. If they have not been silent, it proves their information if made public would check the disposition to arm. I had flattered myself, from the progress of the public sentiment against arming, that the same progress had taken place in...
46To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 February 1798 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 12th. is recieved. I wrote you last on the 15th. but the letter getting misplaced, will only go by this post. We still hear nothing from our Envoys. Whether the Executive hear we know not. But if war were to be apprehended, it is impossible our envoys should not find means of putting us on our guard, or that the Executive should hold back their information. No news therefore is...
47To James Madison from John Dawson, 1 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for your letter without date, & have had the enclosure deliverd agreeably to your request. The degrading business between Griswold and Lyon has at length come to an end, without even an censure on either—those gentlemen who were so loud in favour of the expulsion of Lyon, voted against even a censure, when it was to expand to their favourite Griswold, who had committed a more...
48To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 22d. since which I have received yours without date, but probably of about the 18th. or 19th. An arrival to the Eastward brings us some news which you will see detailed in the papers. The new partition of Europe is sketched, but how far authentic we know not. It has some probability in it’s form. The French appear busy in their preparations for the invasion of England:...
49To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 2d. inst. Your’s of the 4th. is now at hand. The public papers will give you the news of Europe. The French decree making the vessel friendly or enemy according to the hands by which the cargo was manufactured has produced a great sensation among the merchants here. It’s operation is not yet perhaps well understood; but probably it will put our shipping out of...
50To James Madison from Henry Tazewell, 18 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
Soon after my arrival here, I recd. your favour with several inclosures. The inclosed Letters were delivered, as directed, and I should have acknowledged the receipt of your Letter at an earlier period—but for an indisposition which has kept me very much confined during the whole Winter. As the Weather becomes more mild, and the Climate more like that to which I have been accustomed—my health...
51Circular Letter from John Dawson, 20 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
After fourteen days delay, on yesterday the President sent to us the inclosed important, intemperate, and unconstitutional Message, which is referred to a Committee of the whole on the State of the Union. Circumstances prove clearly to my mind, that the fixed policy of our Administration will involve us in the war on the part of Great-Britain—an event which I very much dread, but which I fear...
52To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 21 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 15th. Since that, yours of the 12th. is recieved. Since that too a great change has taken place in the appearance of our political atmosphere. The merchants, as before, continue, a respectable part of them, to wish to avoid arming. The French decree operated on them as a sedative, producing more alarm than resentment. On the Representatives differently. It excited...
53To James Madison from John Dawson, 29 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I have recievd your favour & attended immediately to its contents. We are now in committee of the whole on the president’s message of the 19th. Int., on which three resolutions which I presume you have seen, have been brought forward & I believe will be agreed to—it certainly will be highly important to collect the sentiments of the people, & forward them as soon as possible. New England...
54To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 29 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 21st. Your’s of the 12th. therein acknoleged is the last recd. The measure I suggested in mine of adjourning for consultation with their constituents was not brought forward; but on Tuesday 3. resolutions were moved which you will see in the public papers. They were offered in committee to prevent their being suppressed by the previous question, & in the commee. on the...
55To James Madison from John Dawson, 5 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I have recievd your favour of the 26th. ultimo, & now enclose you an insurance & a letter for Mrs. Madison, to whom I beg you to present me with much respect. You have seen that on the 19th. of the last month the president sent to us a message, & that in consequence of a request from our house his instructions, & all the despatches from our commissioners were sent to us confidentially —for...
56To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 5 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 29th. ult. since which I have no letter from you. These acknolegements regularly made and attended to will shew whether any of my letters are intercepted, and the impression of my seal on wax (which shall be constant hereafter) will discover whether they are opened by the way. The nature of some of my communications furnishes ground of inquietude for their safe...
57To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
So much of the communications from our envoys has got abroad, & so partially that there can now be no ground for reconsideration with the Senate. I may therefore consistently with duty do what every member of the body is doing. Still I would rather you would use the communication with reserve till you see the whole papers. The first impressions from them are very disagreeable & confused....
58To James Madison from John Dawson, 12 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I herewith enclose you a copy of the late communications from our envoys [in] Paris —& send a copy of the instructions to your brother William—both have been publishd by the Senate contrary to the sense of a very large majority of our house—I leave it to you to determine on their object. Altho things have an unpleasant aspect, owing in my judgement, to the infamy of some individuals, & to the...
59To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 12 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you two letters on the 5th. inst. since which I have recd yours of the 2d. I send you, in a separate package, the instructions to our envoys & their communications. You will find that my representation of their contents, from memory, was substantially just. The public mind appears still in a state of astonishment. There never was a moment in which the aid of an able pen was so...
60To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 12th. & then acknoleged your last at hand of the 2d inst. The sensations first occasioned by the late publications have been kept up and increased at this place. A petition from the merchants & traders & others was so industriously pushed as to have obtained a very extensive signature. The same measure is pursuing in New York. As the election of their governor comes on...
61To James Madison from Stephen Moylan, 25 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
The taxes, added to the rent, is more than I can afford to pay for the house I live in. There is an article in our original agreement which gives you the power to disposess me by Six months notice. It was that you may avail yourself therof, that I mentiond, in my letter of the 27th. Septem. last, I woud not be your Tennant Subject to payment of the Taxes. I am still of that sentiment—if you...
62To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 19th. since which your’s of the 15th. is recieved. I well remember the recieving that which inclosed a letter to Muhlenburg, but do not exactly recollect how I sent it. Yet I have no doubt I sent it by my servant, that being my constant practice. Your note from Baily I shewed to Genl. Van Cortlandt who was going to N. York. On his return he told me he would pay the note...
63To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 26th since which yours of the 22d. of April is recieved acknowleging mine of the 12th. so that all appear to have been recieved to that date. The spirit kindled up in the towns is wonderful. These and N. Jersey are pouring in their addresses offering life & fortune. Even these addresses are not the worst things. For indiscreet declarations and expressions of passion may...
64To James Madison from John Dawson, 8 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
Mrs. Madison’s letter has been deliverd, & I have paid Bache ten dollars agreeably to your request, & enclose you his reciept. On yesterday we limited the land tax to one year, which I do expect will defeat the provisional army bill now under discussion—it is now discoverd, that the eastern members, who so readily run into heavy expences, are alarmd when the[y] come to make provision for the...
65To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 3d. inst. since which yours of Apr. 29. is recieved. A day or two after I arrived here J. Bringhurst called on me. Since that moment I have never seen him nor heard of him. He cannot therefore be here. But I have put your letter & draught into the hands of mr. Barnes, & desired him to get Bohemian glass from Donath. I will myself look to the locks & hinges. But both...
66To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
My last to you was of the 10th. Since that I have recieved yours of the 5th. I immediately sent a note to Carey to forward his paper to your brother as you desired. The first vote of any importance on the alien bill was taken yesterday. It was on agreeing to the 1st. section, which was carried by 12. to 7. If all the Senators in town had been present it would have been 17. to 7. The...
67To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
My last was of the 17th. since which yours of the 13th. is recieved. The Alien bill of the Senate still hangs before them. Some of it’s features have been moderated, which has so much disgusted it’s warmest friends that some of them have declared they will vote against it, so that I think it possible they may reject it. They appear to be waiting for one from the house of repr. worse I think...
68To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 31 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 24th. since which yours of the 20th. is recieved. I must begin by correcting two errors in my last. It was false arithmetic to say that two measures therein mentioned to be carried by majorities of 11. would have failed if the 14. absentees (wherein a majority of 6. was ours) had been present. 6 coming over from the other side would have turned the scale, and this was...
69To James Madison from Richard Taylor, 1 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
I have waited with a great deal of patience in expectation of some step beeing taken for conveying to me the Land I Bought of your Brother & Self & as to myself I [am] no ways uneasy but haveing Disposed a part the parties who have purchased are very restless and some of them will not pay the purchase money till they gett a Title therefore hope you will take the Necessery stepts taken to gett...
70To James Madison from Stephen Moylan, 4 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
Your bill for 75 dollars appeard & was paid the 11th of last month, I have had the painters estimate it will amo[u]nt to 50 dollars at the utmost, the good it will do the house will far exceed the expence, which I will be as saving in, as if my own property—as soon as I have your answer I will begin. With great respect I am sir Your obedient Servant RC ( DLC ).