1James Madison to William Buell Sprague, 11 August 1828 (Madison Papers)
I received your letter of July 5. when absent from my papers; and since I had opportunities of looking into them, other circumstances have thus long delayed an answer. I now enclose a few autograph specimens, which are within the scope of your request; not doubting that you will be able to obtain most of the others I could furnish, from other & perhaps more convenient sources. It may be not...
2James Madison to William B. Sprague, 12 December 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. your letter of the 5th. You have been misinformed with respect to the relation of blood between Bishop Madison & myself. It was rather a distant one; his father & mine, being but cousins. In friendship & affection we were closely allied and I feel a pleasure in furnishing the autograph you request, as of one whose memory ought ever to be associated with that of the wise &...
3James Madison to William Buell Sprague, 10 September 1828 (Madison Papers)
About the time I recd. your letter of Aug. 18th. my health, generally good, was interrupted by a bilious attack, remains of which are still upon me. I offer this apology for the delay in attending to your request. I should have included in the list sent you an autograph of Mr. Henry; but could find one letter only from him, and that not admitting the separation of a single line to precede his...
4James Madison to William B. Sprague, 5 February 1830 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison with his respects to Mr. Sprague, returns his thanks for the little pamphlet on the "Colonization Society". The interesting object, could not be more ably or impressively inculcated than is done by Doc. Nolk. J. M. adds his thanks to Mr. Sprague for the other pamphlets previously received, which breathe the eloquent strains characterizing other productions of the same origin. Draft...
5James Madison to William B. Sprague, 6 February 1831 (Madison Papers)
I am at length enabled to enclose you the requested notice of the families to which by birth I belong, as made out by a friend. I enclose also a copy (a duplicate) of Mr. Pearce’s Notes taken in the Federal Convention of 1787. It was recd. from Mr. Tefts, with a request that it might be forwared to you. I take the occassion, Sir, to make my acknowledgements for the several communications I...
6James Madison to William B. Sprague, 24 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your letter of the 12th and would cheerfully make a direct application for the Autograph of Mr Blair if I knew the proper source. Mr Tyler a Virginia Senator in Congress will I beleive be able to ascertain it and doubtless equally willing to attend to your wishes I take the liberty therefore of suggesting the expediency of a line to him on the subject. I am laboring under a severe...
7James Madison to William B. Sprague, 1 September 1830 (Madison Papers)
I recd. in due time yours of Mar. but suspended an answer till I could avail myself of a genealogical sketch made out some years ago by a relative of the family, which might furnish the information you wish. This paper I have not yet obtained. As soon as I can do so, I will make the intended use of it. In the mean time I beg you to accept this apology for the delay; with my thanks for your...
8James Madison to William B. Sprague, 16 February 1833 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 6th. requesting " for public use, " an expression of my approbation of a "Quality Periodical" about to be established at Albany "for the promotion of temperance" No one can be more aware than I am of the evils of intemperate habits; in moral, social political physical & economical points of view, and I have noticed with great pleasure, the progressive reform...
9James Madison to William B. Sprague, 28 November 1828 (Madison Papers)
A friend whose father was a correspondt. of Mr Henry havg. understood that I had inquired for a specimen of his handwriting was kind eno’ to send me the enclosed part of a letter from him. I forward it to you the more readily, as I find that Mr Alexander to whom I referred as a source from which yr. wish might be gratified, does not a reside within the sphere I had supposed. Mr. Henry must it...