1From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 24 February 1789 (Madison Papers)
The obstructions to my journey from the Snow, the River at Fredericksburg, and the unparallelled badness of the roads, prevented my arrival here sooner than the Evening before last. Harry will be able to give the particulars of the Journey. I detained him yesterday in order to give both him & the horses a little rest after their fatigue; and shall leave it in some measure to himself, to return...
2From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 18 December 1788 (Madison Papers)
I arrived here this morning on my way home. I did not write you my intentions sooner because they are rather of recent date, and I wished to be able at the same time to let you know the day on which I should get to Fredg. This I have not till now been able to fix. I now find that I shall get there on Friday week, and shall accordingly then stand in need of your assistance for the completion of...
3From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 27 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
Since my arrival here I have been perfectly free from my bilious symptoms, and enjoy at present my usual share of health. John continues to be sick and is in very low plight indeed. Altho’ he walks about, I think his thorough recovery extremely doubtful. He was so ill in Philada. and my stay there so short that these circumstances added to my own indisposition at the time, prevented my taking...
4From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 1 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
I send herewith 2 Copies of the Federalist, one for Mr. Leland—the other for Mr. Bledsoe. From Fredg. I may send probably a few more to be distributed as you may think best. I am just setting out Northwardly. John is so well as to be able to travel. I continue well myself. My affecte. regards to my mother & family. Your dutiful son RC ( DLC ). Docketed (by James Madison, Sr.?). The letter is...
5From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 30 September 1787 (Madison Papers)
By Mr. Blair who left Philada. immediately after the rising of the Convention, I sent to the care of Mr. F. Maury a copy of the New Constitution proposed for the U.S. Mr. Blair set out in such haste that I had no time to write by him, and I thought the omission of the less consequence as your last letter led me to suppose that you must about that time be absent on your trip to Frederick. I...
6From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 4 September 1787 (Madison Papers)
Your last favor was dated the 9th. of July. I have been long anxious to learn the re-establishment of your health, as well as to receive information concerning the family in general. The Convention has not yet broken up but its Session will probably continue but a short time longer. Its proceedings are still under the injunction of secresy. We hear that a spirit of insurrection has shewn...
7From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 12 August 1787 (Madison Papers)
I wrote to you lately inclosing a few Newspapers. I now send a few more, not because they are interesting but because they may supply the want of intelligence that might be more so. The Convention reassembled at the time my last mentioned that they had adjourned to. It is not possible yet to determine the period to which the Session will be spun out. It must be some weeks from this date at...
8From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 28 July 1787 (Madison Papers)
Since my letter to my brother Ambrose, I have received yours of the 9th. instant. The enquiries which I have at different times made of Billey concerning Anthony satisfy me that he either knows, or will tell nothing of the matter. It does not appear to me probable that all the circumstances mentioned by Anthony with regard to his rambles can be true. Besides other objections which occur, there...
9From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 27 May 1787 (Madison Papers)
We have been here for some time suffering a daily disappointment from the failure of the deputies to assemble for the Convention. Seven States were not made up till the day before yesterday. Our intelligence from N. York promises an addition of three more by tomorrow. General Washington was unanimously called to the Chair & has accepted it. It is impossible as yet to form a judgment of the...
10From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 1 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of the 17th. Feby. and have made enquiry as to the Andover Works, not indeed thro’ the channel you suggested, but through one still more direct & authentic. I find that the works are not pursued with such alacrity at present as to promise the supply you wish, that it is uncertain whether it would be delivered at Philada. at all, and that the price is at present...
11From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 25 February 1787 (Madison Papers)
I forgot in my last to mention the explanation given by Mr. House concerning the Tobo. The conjecture as to the omitted Hhd was right. The calculation of the weights is to be made as follows, taking the weight of the first parcel of 6 Hhds for an example. C qr. lb 69. 1. 4. 790. . C 69. = 6900 69 × 12 828 1 qr 28 4 lb 4 7760
12From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 10 February 1787 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 10 February 1787, New York . Enclosed with JM’s letter of the same date to his brother Ambrose and mentioned therein. Related the latest news of the insurrection in Massachusetts.
13From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 12 December 1786 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed paper will give you a knowledge of the mode and terms on which Tobo. is made a commutable. It also contains some Resolutions of importance relative to the navigation of the Mississippi. The Senate have concurred in them, though not unanimously. Some of the members of that branch objected to the pointedness of the language. Others doubted the propriety of taking up a subject of so...
14From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 7 December 1786 (Madison Papers)
Yours by Mr. Porter has been handed to me. I have not had an oppy. of enquirg. of Mr. Anderson concerning the person who is to recieve Tobo. for his brother. I mentioned before that the rate of indents here was about a dollar in the pound. Whether I can get the certificates for your taxes I can not say, nor do I know the rate at which they pass. Mr Jones has returned hither & declines his...
15From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 24 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
The H. of D. have just past a bill makg. Tobo. recievable in the tax at the market price at the several Warehouses to be fixt by the Executive. There is a proviso that the highest price shall not exceed 28/. An equality of price throughout was contended for which I disapproved 1. because I think it wd. have been unjust. 2 because the bill could not have been carried in that form. I was not...
16From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 16 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Anderson in answer to your enquiries tells me that you shall have goods at 87½ Per Ct. and that he will take Tobo. for his brother if it be ready by the 10th. of next month. The H. of Delegates have done little since my last, and some of what was then done is still ineffectual for want of a Senate. A proposition for stopping the receipt of indents was made, and met with so little...
17From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 1 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
Jno. Lusher & Joe got down this forenoon, with the articles sent. I shall execute your instructions as to the advertisements, and the Revised laws, if I can get at the latter time eno’ in the morning. I will do the same as to the French Dicty. for Mr. Taylor if I can effect it in time; if not I will make use of the first succeeding opportunity. I can give you no account of the Key of the...
18From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., ca. 26 October 1786 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 26 October 1786, Fredericksburg. Concerning family affairs and articles to be sent from Philadelphia to Orange. Mentioned in JM’s letter of 1 November 1786 to his father .
19From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 27 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Js. Davis has just handed your favor of the 24. inst. It is too late to revise the proceedings relative to the Trustees of Beverley. The Act authorises the Commssrs who are to settle your accounts to make a reasonable allowance for your trouble. I cannot get a copy of the Act without paying the £10. Capt. P. Barbour will inform you of Dean’s answer to his application. He carried a letter...
20From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 24 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
My last informed you of the miscarriage of the Assize scheme. It has been followed with an attempt to reform the County Courts, which will probably end in the appointment of four months in which the Courts shall be confined to Docket business & compelled to dispatch it. A Bill is depending for the payment of British debts, nearly on the model of that which fell thro’ last year. It is extremely...
21From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., ca. 13 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 13 December 1785. Mentioned in JM’s letter to his brother, Ambrose, 15 December 1785 . In the letter to his father, 24 December 1785 , JM wrote that the previous letter had concerned the miscarriage of the Assize Court bill.
22From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., ca. 1 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 1 December 1785. Mentioned in JM’s 1 December 1785 letter to his brother Ambrose . Contained news about the activities of the Assembly.
23From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 18 November 1785 (Madison Papers)
I rcd. yrs. by Capt. Barbour who I hope will enquire as to Turpin in the land office. I wish you rather to confide such business to friends coming here who can be relied on than to refer it to me. I am so little Master of my time, and the Office is removed so far out of the way that I cannot be relied on. I will endeavor to get the Journals for you soon. The price of Tobo. forbids the sale of...
24From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 6 January 1785 (Madison Papers)
This day has put an end to our tedious Session. The principal Acts which have passed since my last, are 1. An Act remitting 1/2 of the Tax for the year 1785 within which was to have been collected that tax, and the tax of 1784 postponed into it. 2. An Act amending the tax on law proceedings &c. 3. An Act for clearing the navigation of Potowmac River. 4 An Act for clearing the navigation of...
25From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 3 December 1784 (Madison Papers)
My last informed you that a vote had passed in favor of Circuit Courts. A bill has since been brought in and will shortly be considered. The difficulty of suiting it to every palate, & the many latent objections of a selfish & private nature which will shelter themselves under some plausible objections of a public nature to which every innovation is liable render the event extremely uncertain....
26From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 27 November 1784 (Madison Papers)
Having a moments time to drop you a line I inform you that the Bill for confirming surveys agst. subsequent entries has been negatived by a large majority, rather on the principle that it was unnecessary & retrospective, than that it was unjust in itself. On the contrary all the principal gentlemen were of opinion that it was just, but already provided for by the law. Mr. Innes the late Judge...
27From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 6 September 1784 (Madison Papers)
I arrived at this place the night before last only, having declined starting from Fredg. at the time I proposed when I parted with you & having staid at Baltimore one day. At the latter place I fell in with the Marquis & had his company thus far. He is proceeding Northwd. as far as Boston from whence he goes to the Indian Treaty at Fort Stanwix & from thence returns to Virga. about the same...
28From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 24 June 1784 (Madison Papers)
Your letter by Capt: Cowherd with that of my brother’s have been just put into my hand. I shall leave to him the sale of the Tobo. belonging to Capt: Conway & Ambrose, not being at leisure myself to do it before he proposes to set out. I think it will be well to accept of Mr. Lawson’s offer of the Madeira. I shall do the best I can towards satisfying the Treasury on acct. of Mr. Winslow. Majr...
29From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 15 June 1784 (Madison Papers)
Yours by Mr. Barbour was duly handed to me as have been several others of late. Mine by Mr. Craig will have answered the enquiries in most of them. I am now at a loss what step to take with the certificates of Mr. Winslow, having sent you all the money arising from your Tobo. which is now payable. I shall wait till I hear from you on the subject. If payment into the Treasury be immediately...
30From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 5 June 1784 (Madison Papers)
I have disposed of the tobacco entrusted to me for 40/. per Ct. but receive in hand no more than will be delivered by Mr. Craig. The residue will be paid before I leave this place. I inclose a draught on S. J. from Col: Harvey, for £200 for Which I have credited Mr. Anderson on his bond. Mr. Anderson could not pay the balance now, but expects to do it shortly. The draught & the remittance will...