1To James Madison from William Grayson, 1 May 1785 (Madison Papers)
I am afraid my silence since I came to this place has giv’n you some reason to suspect me to be impregnated with that vis inertiæ, which has been so often attributed to me. The only apology I have to make, is that I wish’d to have some thing to write to you worth your acceptance. However as there would be some danger in risquing a farther delay, I shall give you what I have in the manner. The...
2To James Madison from William Grayson, 28 May 1785 (Madison Papers)
I did myself the pleasure some time since of writing to you; and I expect by this time you have recieved my letter; since which nothing has happened of any consequence except the passage of the Land Ordinance & the arrival of Don Diego de Gardoqui at Philadelphia. I inclose you a copy of the Ordinance: & if it is not the best in the world, it is I am confident the best that could be procured...
3To James Madison from William Grayson, 27 June 1785 (Madison Papers)
I have recieved your favor of the 29. May acknowledging the receipt of my first letter, though making no mention of the last, which I presume has not yet come to hand. Since the date thereof the affair of the treaty with the Western Indians which was decided on the 18th. March last, has been opened again & very much canvassed; the result however is that the treaty is to be held; & for the...
4To James Madison from William Grayson, 21 August 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of has come to hand; I am sorry to hear the doctrine of paper money begins to rear up it’s head in our State. This subject has been so well investigated at different periods that I can hardly think any reasonable man can advocate it, unless for the purpose of advancing some object of interest; I remember in the old Government that our exchange rose to 65 P Ct. This alarmed the...
5To James Madison from William Grayson, 16 September 1785 (Madison Papers)
I opened your letter directed to Colo. Monroe in the first instance, & forwarded the inclosed letters to France, in the public Mail, as I could not hear of any private gentlemen going to whom I could with propriety intrust them. I have recieved your letter from Philada. & I heartily wish it may suit your Convenience to visit this place, as it will give me particular satisfaction to have the...
6To James Madison from William Grayson, 14 October 1785 (Madison Papers)
I have recieved your letter dated at Philada. & shall forward the in-closure to France in the manner you direct. Since your departure, we have been under great anxiety for the fate of Mr. Hardy. On a party to Haerlem heights about ten days ago, he unfortunately bursted a blood vessel, and from frequent hemorrhages, has been in extreme danger till about three days ago, when matters have taken...
7To James Madison from William Grayson, 8 November 1785 (Madison Papers)
The President being this moment about to set out for Virginia obliges me to be very short at present. We have no authentic advices from Europe respecting the Algerine War, although the Papers speak of several captures of american vessels. Nothing new from Mr. Adams respecting the debts. I will again look at his letters, & give you the necessary information in confidence. You will then judge...
8To James Madison from William Grayson, 14 November 1785 (Madison Papers)
On inquiring at the Office for F. A. I find it is uncustomary to give copies unless by special direction of Congress, a circumstance I did not advert to, when I was writing to you last. I shall therefore give you the best information in my power from memory. Mr. A. says that a Commee. of merchts. from Glasgow waited on him in London & told him their business was to lay the affair of the debts...
9To James Madison from William Grayson, 22 November 1785 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you by the last Post, since which other letters have arrived from the gentleman therein mentioned. They came by the last packett; and one is dated as late as the 15th. of September last. In it however there is no mention of the Algerine War. Mr. Jefferson has also wrote by the french packett, but his letter is of an old date. There has been a conference with Mr. Pitt. That gentleman...
10To James Madison from William Grayson, 28 November 1785 (Madison Papers)
I am very busy preparing to decamp for Virginia. Of course I shall not lay you under the trouble of reading a long letter from me this Post. There is one thing very singular in Adam’s correspondence. He is always pressing the necessity of commercial restrictions; says no treaty can be had without them, and yet he decidedly acknowledges, that in the prosecution of this commercial war there is...