To James Madison from James J. Wilmer, 16 September 1809
From James J. Wilmer
George Town, District of Columbia.
Septr. 16h, 1809.
Sir,
I do myself the honour to enclose you an Epitome of the work contemplated.1 My Funds will not admit of printing the whole at present. Several writers have undertaken to write, as they call it, “a defence of Mr. Jefferson’s administration”;2 their mode may be right, but my manner of doing it will be viewed in the present specimen.
There is something singular in this humble offering, that the very first copy issued should be presented to the new British Envoy. Excuse the liberty assumed, and consider me a faithful Friend and Citizen, Most respectfully,
James J. Wilmer.3
RC (DLC).
1. Wilmer probably enclosed a draft of his Men and Measures, from 1774 to 1809 (Washington, 1809).
2. An anonymous series of essays, “Defence of Mr. Jefferson’s Administration,” began in the National Intelligencer, 19 July 1809.
3. On 23 May the U.S. Senate elected Wilmer, a Maryland clergyman, as its chaplain (, 11th Cong., 1st sess., 11). He held that post until JM commissioned him an army chaplain in 1813.