31To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 28 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 1st. instant was to have been acknowledged a week ago, but the irregularity of the post occasioned by high waters has delayed it to the present opportunity. I have now to acknowledge your two subsequent ones of the 12th. & 19th . In compliance with the last, I had proposed to leave home in a few days, so as to be with you shortly after the 4th. of March. A melancholy...
32To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [before 25 September 1800] (Jefferson Papers)
I recd. by Bishop M. the 44. D 53. c committed to his care. The silence which prevails as to the negociations of our Envoys, is not less surprizing to my view than to yours. we may be assured however that nothing of a sort to be turned to the party objects on the anvil, has been recd. unless indeed the publication shd. be delayed for a moment deemed more critically advantageous. As we are left...
33To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 4 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors of the 15 & 22 Ult: came to hand by friday’s mail. I can wait without inconvenience for the Sprigs &c. till you return & reestablish your Cutting machine. Mr. Tazewell’s Speech is really an able one in defence of his proposition to associate juries with the Senate in cases of impeachment. His views of the subject are so new to me, that I ought not to decide on them without more...
34From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 4 April 1800 (Madison Papers)
Your favor by Mr. Trist was duly handed to me, since which I have recd. the report on imports under your cover, & yesterday your favor of the 25 Ult: accompanied with the pamphlet & Mr. Nicholas’s motion on the Electoral Bill, which appears to be so fair & pertinent, that a rejection of it in favor of any other modification proposed, must fix a new brand on the authors. The spirit manifested...
35From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 22 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
My last was on the 15th. and acknowledged your preceding letters. I have since recd. that of the 12. under the same cover with the Gazettes; and the instructions & despatches, under a separate cover. The interruptions of company added to the calls of business have not left me time as yet to read over the whole of those papers. A glance at them, with the abstracts given of their contents, fully...
36To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 29 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was on the 22d. Yours recd. by the last mail was of the 19th. instant. The despatches have not yet come sufficiently to the knowledge of the bulk of the people to decide the impression which is to result from them. As far as I can infer from the language of the few who have read the Newspapers, there will be a general agreement as to the improper views of our Executive party, whatever...
37To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 3 November 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Be so good as to let Col. Monroe have the inclosed as early as may be convenient. Have you fixt the time of your setting out for Philada. I wish much for the pleasure of seeing you on your way, but if you do not aim to be there at the beging of the Session, I shall probably lose the opportunity. As something however may depend on circumstances & arrangements, it will be convenient for me to...
38From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 10 January 1801 (Madison Papers)
Mrs. Browne having been detained at Fredg for some time, I did not receive your favor of the 19th. in time to be conveniently acknowledged by the last mail. The succeeding one of the 26th. came to hand on the 7th. instant only, a delay that fixes blame on the post office either in Washington or Fredg. In all the letters & most of the Newspapers which I have lately recd. thro’ the post office,...
39To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 10 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recd. your favor of 31 Ult: & am glad to find mine are recd. as regularly as yours. The law for capturing French privateers may certainly be deemed a formal commencement of hostilities, and renders all hope of peace vain, unless a progress in amicable arrangements at Paris not to be expected, should have secured it agst. the designs of our Govermt. If the Bill suspending commerce...
40To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 18 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last the Senate have agreed to the Report —& the Resolutions, by 15 to 6. To the latter they made an amendt. to the definition of the portion of C.L. in force in the U.S. by inserting the words “by Congress” after the word “adopted,” in order to repel the misconstruction which led the minority to concur in that particular resolution as it passed the H. of D. The amendt. was agreed to...
41To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 1 October 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Trist left with me yesterday on his way home, the inclosed pamphlet which I return to him thro’ your hands, that you may have an oppy. of perusing it, in case a copy should not yet have reached you. I understand from Mr. T. who left Philada. on monday the 22d. that the prospect of a vote by Pennsa. was rather clouded by the uncertainty of the elections in one or two of the Senatorial...
42From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 20 April 1800 (Madison Papers)
Since my last I have been favored with yours by Christr: McPherson. It brought me the first agreeable information of the prospect held out by our Envoys. The posture of Europe, tho’ dreadful to humanity in general, will I trust enforce the disposition of France to come to a proper adjustment with us. And notwithstanding the group of daring experiments presented by our public Councils, I also...
43To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 29 December 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
My promise to write to you before your leaving Albemarle was defeated by a dysenteric attack which laid me up for about a week, and which left me in a State of debility not yet thoroughly removed. My recovery has been much retarded by the job of preparing a vindication of the Resolutions of last Session agst. the replies of the other States, and the sophistries from other quarters. The...
44To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 4 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor by Mr. Trist was duly handed to me, since which I have recd. the report on imports under your cover, & yesterday your favor of the 25 Ult: accompanied with the pamphlet & Mr. Nicholas’s motion on the Electoral Bill, which appears to be so fair & pertinent, that a rejection of it in favor of any other modification proposed, must fix a new brand on the Authors. The spirit manifested...
45From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 1 October 1800 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Trist left with me yesterday on his way home, the inclosed pamphlet which I return to him thro’ your hands, that you may have an oppy. of perusing it, in case a copy should not yet have reached you. I understand from Mr. T. who left Philada. on monday the 22d. that the prospect of a vote by Pennsa. was rather clouded by the uncertainty of the elections in one or two of the Senatorial...
46From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 27 April 1800 (Madison Papers)
My last acknowledged yours by Christ: McPherson. I have nothing new to add, but the accts. I have from the elections in a few neighboring Counties. In this Davis & Barbour have succeeded: in the adjoing one, Hill & Early: In Louisa Yancy & Garland Anderson Jr—in Culpeper the two former ones. You will probably learn from Albemarle that F. Walker & a Mr. Garland have prevailed agst. Woods &...
47From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 29 December 1799 (Madison Papers)
My promise to write to you before your leaving Albemarle was defeated by a dysenteric attack which laid me up for about a week, and which left me in a State of debility not yet thoroughly removed. My recovery has been much retarded by the job of preparing a vindication of the Resolutions of last Session agst. the replies of the other States, and the sophistries from other quarters. The...
48From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 4 January 1800 (Madison Papers)
My last covered a copy of the Report on the Resolutions of last year. I now inclose a copy of certain resolutions moved by Mr. Giles, to which he means to add an instruction on the subject of the intercource law which has been so injurious to the price of our Tobo. It is not improbable that the Resolutions when taken up, may undergo some mollifications in the spirit & air of them. The Report...
49From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 12 February 1798 (Madison Papers)
The last mail brought neither letters nor papers from Philada. By the preceding one I recd. your favor of Jany. 24. and a bundle of the Gazettes down to the 25th. inclusive, with an omission only of that of the 23d. which it may be proper for you to supply in order to keep your Sett entire. Your account of the probable posture of the negociation at Paris, is less decisively unfavorable than...
50To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 20 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I did not write to you from Richmond, because I was considerably indisposed during my stay there, & because I could communicate to you nothing that would not reach you with equal speed through other channels. Before I left that place, the choice of electors in S. Carolina, had been recd. by the Govr. in a letter from Col. Hampton, and was understood by all parties to fix the event of a...
51To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 5 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to thank you for your favor of the 26th Ult: My last was of the 29th. The success of the War party in turning the Despatches to their inflammatory views is a mortifying item agst. the enlightened character of our Citizens. The analysis of the Despatches by Sidney , cannot fail to be an effectual antidote, if any appeal to sober reflexion can prevail agst occurrences which are constantly...
52To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 11 December 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
According to your favor by Mr. Richardson, I expect the pleasure of seeing you in the course of the present week. Be so good as to bring a memorandum from your nailery of the amount of my debt to it. I had hoped that you were possessed of the aid of Mr. Chuning & his young men, but the Bearer Mr. W. Whitten tells me the contrary. Mr. C. left this saturday was two weeks, & promised to ride up...
53From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 18 February] 1798 (Madison Papers)
Since my last I have recd. yours of Feby. 8. with a continuation of the Gazettes down to that date, with the exception only mentioned already, of the gazette of Jany. 23. I am glad to find the public opinion to be taking the turn you describe on the subject of arming. For the public opinion alone can now save us from the rash measures of our hot-heated [ sic ] Executive; it being evident from...
54From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 4 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
Your two favors of the 15 & 22 Ult: came to hand by friday’s mail. I can wait without inconvenience for the Sprigs &c. till you return & reestablish your Cutting machine. Mr. Tazewell’s Speech is really an able one in defence of his proposition to associate juries with the Senate in cases of impeachment. His views of the subject are so new to me, that I ought not to decide on them without more...
55From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 29 December 1798 (Madison Papers)
I inclose a draught on Genl. Moylan out of which you will be pleased to pay yourself the price of the Nails £48–11.3. Va. Cy. to let Barnes have as much as will discharge the balance I owe him, & to let what may remain lie till I write you again. The P.’s speech corresponds pretty much with the idea of it which was preconceived. It is the old song with no other variation of the tune than the...
56To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 9 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
The question on the Report printed, was decided by 60 for & 40 agst. it, the day before yesterday, after a debate five days. Yesterday & today have been spent on Mr. Giles’ propositions, which with some softenings will probably pass, by nearly the same vote. The Senate is in rather a better state than was expected. The debate turned almost wholly on the right of the Legislature to protest. The...
57To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 14 February [1800] (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was from Richd. your last to me is just recd. covering the Bill for drawing Jurors by lot. The plan proposed by the Bill is a great improvement on the regulation in force here. I cannot say, whether it may have the same merit every where. This subject was not wholly forgotten during our late Session . A Bill was even prepared on it, by one of our State Judges . But subjects...
58To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [ca. 11] November 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours by Mr Erwin was delivered by him, safe with the two letters inclosed. I forwarded them by him this morning, as you desired to the Governour. They confirm in substance the state and difficulty of the negociation as presented by the late Statement under the Paris head . The observations on the delays carried out by the Ex. and the favorable moment lost thereby, are interesting, and deserve...
59To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 22 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was on the 15th. and acknowledged your preceding letters. I have since recd. that of the 12. under the same cover with the Gazettes; and, the instructions & despatches, under a separate cover. The interruptions of company added to the calls of business have not left me time as yet to read over the whole of those papers. A glance at them, with the abstracts given of their contents,...
60To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 29 December 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose a draught on Genl. Moylan out of which you will be pleased to pay yourself the price of the Nails £48–11.3. Va. Cy. to let Barnes have as much as will discharge the balance I owe him, & to let what may remain lie till I write you again. The P.’s speech corresponds pretty much with the idea of it which was preconceived. It is the old song with no other variation of the tune than the...
61From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 10 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. your favor of 31 Ult: & am glad to find mine are recd. as regularly as yours. The law for capturing French privateers may certainly be deemed a formal commencement of hostilities, and renders all hope of peace vain, unless a progress in amicable arrangements at Paris not to be expected, should have secured it agst. the designs of our Govermt. If the Bill suspending commerce...
62From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 2 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
Since my last I am in debt for your two favors of the 15th. & 22, the Gazettes of the 3. 67 & 8 Ulto, with a regular continuation to the 22d—two statements from the Treasury Department, and Payne’s letter to the French people & armies. The President’s message is only a further developement to the public, of the violent passions, & heretical politics, which have been long privately known to...
63To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 25 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 3d. inst: but not till the day before yesterday. The same mail brought me two parcels of the Newspapers, one of which was due two mails & the other one mail sooner. The papers due at the time did not come. You see therefore the uncertain footing of the conveyance. I should be more willing to ascribe the delays to the season of the year, if there were not proofs...
64To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 12 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My last informed you of the result of the debates on the justifying Report of the Select Committee. I am now able to add that of Mr. Giles’s resolutions. The question on the whole was decided in the affirmative by a little upwards of a hundred against less than fifty. The vote was rather stronger on some of the particular resolutions, for example the instruction for disbanding the army. The...
65From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 25 January 1799 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 3d. inst: but not till the day before yesterday. The same mail brought me two parcels of the Newspapers, one of which was due two mails & the other one mail sooner. The papers due at the time did not come. You see therefore the uncertain footing of the conveyance. I should be more willing to ascribe the delays to the season of the year, if there were not proofs...
66From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 24 August 1797 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter for Mr. B. came to my hands last week; but not till the opportunity by the then mail was lost. I hear nothing of Monroe but thro’ the Newspapers containing his correspondence with Pickering. As that appears to have been closed on the 31st. of last month, I am in hourly expectation of seeing him. I am also without any late information with respect to the progress of the...
67From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 18 January 1800 (Madison Papers)
Since my last the Senate have agreed to the Report —& the Resolutions , by 15 to 6. To the latter they made an amendt. to the definition of the portion of C. L. in force in the U. S. by inserting the words “by Congress” after the word “adopted,” in order to repel the misconstruction which led the minority to concur in that particular resolution as it passed the H. of. D. The amendt. was agreed...
68To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 10 January 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mrs Browne having been detained at Fredg for some time, I did not receive your favor of the 19th. in time to be conveniently acknowledged by the last mail. The succeeding one of the 26th. came to hand on the 7th. instant only, a delay that fixes blame on the post office either in Washington or Fredg. In all the letters & most of the newspapers which I have lately recd. thro’ the post office,...
69To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 21 January 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
When your favor of the 3d. instant arrived I was on a journey to the neighbourhood of Richmond, from which I did not return till the 18th. The mail on the day following brought me the packet of newspapers under your cover. Col. Bell has written me, that the nails ordered as stated in my last to you, are all ready for me. I had not requested them to be prepared in parcells as I shall use them,...
70From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 28 February 1801 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 1st. instant was to have been acknowledged a week ago, but the irregularity of the post occasioned by high waters has delayed it to the present opportunity. I have now to acknowledge your two subsequent ones of the 12th. & 19th. In compliance with the last, I had proposed to leave home in a few days, so as to be with you shortly after the 4th. of March. A melancholy...
71To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [before 14 August 1800] (Jefferson Papers)
I have had an opportunity since my return of seeing Mr. McGee on the subject of the nails used by him last summer & of collecting through him the information of his brother who brought down the parcell delivered in July. They concur in saying that the Spriggs, the Xs. & XVId. alone formed that parcel & that the XVId. were not brads but nails owing to a mistake in executing the order. I...
72To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 12 February 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
The last mail brought neither letters nor papers from Philada. By the preceding one I recd your favor of Jany. 24. and a bundle of the Gazettes down to the 25th. inclusive, with an omission only of that of the 23d. which it may be proper for you to supply in order to keep your Sett entire. Your account of the probable fortune of the negociation at Paris, is less decisively unfavorable than the...
73From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 3 November 1799 (Madison Papers)
Be so good as to let Col. Monroe have the inclosed as early as may be convenient. Have you fixt the time of your setting out for Philada. I wish much for the pleasure of seeing you on your way, but if you do not aim to be there at the beging. of the Session, I shall probably lose the opportunity. As something however may depend on circumstances & arrangements, it will be convenient for me to...
74To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 31 October 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I return the draught recd. by the last post , with one or two very small alterations. The interlineated “or an alloted portion thereof,” means to suggest that the whole no. might be so great as to beget objections to the expence which are always formidable in such cases. I have doubted whether the terms “ordinary” & “extraordinary” sufficiently marked the boundary between the power of the...
75From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 12 August] 1800 (Madison Papers)
I have had an opportunity since my return of seeing Mr. MGee on the subject of the nails used by him last summer & of collecting through him the information of his brother who brought down the parcell delivered in July. They concur in saying that the Spriggs, the Xs & XVId alone formed that parcel & that the XXId. were not brads but nails owing to a mistake in executing the order. I recollect...
76To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 20 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last I have been favored with yours by Christr: Mcpherson . It brought me the first agreeable information of the prospect held out by our Envoys. The posture of Europe, tho’ dreadful to humanity in general, will I trust enforce the disposition of France to come to a proper adjustment with us. And notwithstanding the group of daring experiments presented by our public Councils, I also...
77To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 8 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I did not receive your last favor of the 16th. Ulto. till the Mail after it was due, with the further delay of its coming by the way of Charlottesville. The last Mail brought me not a single Newspaper, tho’ it was before in arrears. That there is foul play with them I have no doubt. When it really happens that the entire mass cannot be conveyed, I suspect that the favorite papers are selected,...
78To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 13 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 3d. instant. My last acknowledged your preceding one. The successful use of the Despatches in kindling a flame among the people, and of the flame in extending taxes armies & prerogative, are solemn lessons which I hope will have their proper effect when the infatuation of the moment is over. The management of foreign relations appears to be the most susceptible...
79To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 21 October 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed to you by Mr. Altson of S. Carolina, who proposes to call at Monticello on his return from a Northern tour. He will probably be made known to you by other introductions; but those which he has brought to me, as well as a short acquaintance with him make me feel an obligation to add mine. He appears to be intelligent, sound in his principles, and polished in his manner....
80From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 15 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
My last answered yours of the 21. since which I recd. on friday last your three favors of the 29 Ult. of Apl. 5 & 6. I have no reason to suspect that any of your letters have miscarried, or been opened by the way. I am less able to say whether mine have all reached you, as I have generally written them in haste, & neglected to keep a note of their dates. I will thank you to mention in your...