1From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 6 July 1826 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 4th. A few lines from Doctr Dunglison had prepared me for such a communication; and I never doubted that the last scene of our illustrious friend would be worthy of the life which it closed. Long as this has been spared to his country and to those who loved him, a few years more were to have been desired for the sake of both. But we are more than consoled for the...
2From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 24 July 1826 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to Mr. Trist, and commits to his attention, the inclosed papers for Mrs. Randolph forwarded to J. M. by the unknown author. RC ( DLC : Nicholas P. Trist Papers). Addressed and franked by JM to Trist at Monticello; docketed by Trist. Enclosures not found, but see Simeon Hubbard to JM , 12 July 1826 , and JM ’s reply, 25 July 1826.
3From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, [ca. 18 September 1826] (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 16th. What relates to the University will be subjects for our conversation. I can not so far avail myself of your liberal dispensation from giving answers to your letters, which I am sure will always merit them as not to make my acknowledgment for the kind indulgence, and to express the pleasure which will be afforded by the promised visit of Mr Terrell &...
4From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, [5] October 1826 (Madison Papers)
The Board of Visitors have decided that a Secretary be appointed to it, and you have been selected for the service. The salary allotted is $200 payable quarterly. If you think proper to accept the place, it will desirable that you be present at the meeting of the Board tomorrow. Friendly respects $50. has been voted in consideration of yr. service in relation to the Catalogue for the Library....
5From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 16 October 1826 (Madison Papers)
Since I asked the favor of you to sketch a report from the Visitors of the University such as would embrace the topics and statements which the Board appeared to have in view, it occurred that the occasion required, and the members of the Board would approve, some tribute to the memory of Mr J. With this view I prepared an introductory paragraph, as you will see; and that the Report might be,...
6From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 1 November 1826 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 28th. having met with delay at our post office, I recd. it too late to look into the papers of accts. &c you were so good as to inclose. I can not but think it will be well that a Statement of what relates to the particular work done since the last Report; and yet to be done, should be made out by the Proctor in a simple form; to be referred to in the report, rather than to...
7From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 25 November 1826 (Madison Papers)
Your letter & communications of the 18th. having remained a day or two at our post office, I have been obliged to give in some haste, the final extent & shape to the Report for the Legislature; and after all, to leave a couple of blanks, which I must ask the favour of you to fill; and then forward the Report directly to Richmond. In filling the blanks, the guide will be the paper of the Come....
8From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 21 December 1826 (Madison Papers)
I send you the commencing paragraph for the Report of the Board of Visitors, which in a more hasty draft had a sanction at the moment of our separation. I thought it best, to lose no time in enabling you to compleat the Report, that none may be lost in forwarding it to its destination, and I trust I shall have the pleasure of receiving it from your own hand rather than thro’ the mail. Health &...
9From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 27 December 1826 (Madison Papers)
I leave the inclosed open that you may see the papers relating to the Hotel Keepers. Should Genl. Cocke, unexpectedly at this season, be in Charlottesville, be so obliging as to have the letter put into his hands; in the contrary event, into the proper mail. I inclose for you Mr. Brokenboroughs report to be assorted with the other documents accompanying that to go from the Rector; on which I...
10From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 3 January 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your indisposition mentioned in yours of the 30th. ult: just come to hand gives me the more concern as I fear it has been increased, if not occasioned by an overexertion to hasten the Report for Richmond. The delay is sufficiently explained by the tediousness of the preparatory task, to say nothing of the obstacles in the severity of the season: and were despatch, of more importance than it...
11From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 12 January 1827 (Madison Papers)
I did not receive your two letters of the 8th & 9th. till last evening after the Mail for Charlottesville had passed, and could not therefore sooner acknowledge them. The letters ought to have come to hand the day before yesterday, and might then, have been answered by the mail of yesterday. How the failure happened I know not. That no time might be unnecessarily lost I sent the day before...
12From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 13 January 1827 (Madison Papers)
I forgot to comply with a request of Mr. Monroe, that the last letter of Mr. Bernard might be sent back to him, which had been requested by Mr. B. Be so good as to put it under cover for him, and forward it by mail to Fredericksburg: unless there be something in the letter making it improper. I recollect nothing of such a character. RC ( DLC : Nicholas P. Trist Papers). William Bernard...
13From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 18 January 1827 (Madison Papers)
As English newspapers seemed to be acceptable to you, I inclose a few which came to hand before their contents appeared in our own. The mail of to day may bring even later dates, but probably not at full length, the interesting, and it may be added very adroit speech of Mr Canning. Without drawing the sword agst. Ferdinand, he flourishes it in the scabbard over his head, and gives notice to...
14From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 7 February 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two letters of the 31st Ult. and the first inst: and with them the “Harmony Gazettes” and the “Westminster Review.” The former I now return. The Review I retain for another mail, to avoid encumbering too much the present. You justly set a high value on Gymnastics. But a letter from Mr. Cabell gives little hope that the funds of the University will be aided for that or any...
15From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 2 March 1827 (Madison Papers)
I recd. in due time your favor of the 21. Ult: and have looked over the lucubrations of Regulus now returned to your files; but with an attention less close than the subject of them would require. I concur entirely in the distinction made between the authority of a Constitution, and that of public opinion. The former is the record of the national Will, and no evidence however specious or true...
16From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 18 March 1827 (Madison Papers)
It being always somewhat uncertain whether Genl. Cocke will be found at Bremo, or at Charllle; whither he is so often called I trouble you agn. with a letter for him to be properly disposed of as the case may be. The letter being left open for your perusal, you will see that Mr. Key has decided on a return to Engd. & that we have to encounter the difficulty of providing a Successor. His letter...
17From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 27 March 1827 (Madison Papers)
I trouble you with another letter to Genl. Cocke, for reasons which I need not repeat. Be so good as to look at Mr. Jeff——n’s instructions to Mr. Gilmer, and observe whether they do not suggest a better explanation than is given in the letter to Mr. Gallatin of the terms he is to hold out, as inviting a successor to Mr. Key, and if so, drop me a line, unless you favour us with a more agreeable...
18From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, [ante 10] April 1827 (Madison Papers)
The explanation you give of Mr. Key’s determination to leave us, surprizes me. I had taken for granted that it had its origin very much with Mrs. Key, and had a sanction at least from the opinion of his friends in England. Were his views less fixed, it might be hoped that if the advice of his friends, from whom it seems he is yet to hear, should press his stay where he is, it might, when...
19From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 12 June 1827 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 8 th. is just come to hand. I send you the letter of Mr. Coolidge to me referred to in his to you, and with it a paper giving a sample of Mr. Grund’s professional Exhibitions. I send also the answer of Mr. Farrar recd. since you saw that of Mr. Bowditch. Tho’ favorable to Mr. G. it is cautious. These papers may remain with you till the meeting of the Visitors. It may not be amiss...
20From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 4 August 1827 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 30th. was recd. yesterday. I am sorry for the trouble you have taken in searching for the morceau in question. Having observed that the whole of Franklin’s Works published, were in the Library of the University, I took for granted that it might be easily sought for; and, if there, found either in the biographical part, or under the miscellaneous head. It now occurs, that the...
21From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 13 September 1827 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed to you by Mr. George Washington, a nephew of Mrs. Madison, who being with his wife & his mother Mrs Todd on a visit to us, indulges his curiosity by one to the University, and will probably mark his respect for the spot where we understand you will now be found, by a ride to it. He is an Eleve of the University of Transylvania, and tho’ a married man but a short time out of...
22From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 23 October 1827 (Madison Papers)
The time is come when I ought to recollect that a Report from the Visitors of the University will soon be due to the General Assembly: and for which my materials as well as my memory are deficient. I must recur therefore to your aid in behalf of both. It is the more needed, as my sickness at the last Session of the Board prevented the participation in its proceedings which would have left me...
23From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 31 October 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 28th has come to hand with less delay as you may see than happened to mine of the 23. I consider the appointment of Docr Jones as decided. The account of him from Mr. Short was favorable; and Docr. Patterson, in declining himself, recommended Dr. Jones. I had been led to think well of Mr. Walker, when the Visitors were last assembled, but the supposed immaturity of his...
24From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 3 November 1827 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Sparks having in his hands some papers he was to forward to me, I requested him to avail himself of the opportunity by Col. Peyton, who had mentioned to me his intended trip to Boston. I find by a letter from Mr. Sparks that he put the packet into the hands of Mr. Coolidge, for Col. Peyton, and by a letter from Col. P. that owing to the state of the weather, & the circumstances of his...
25From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 5 November 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. from Mr. King the inclosed letter with an account of the fund placed by Mr. Jefferson under the controul of his father. From this it appears, that on the 24th. of June 1826. a balance remained in the hands of the Barings of £986.18.4. Sterling. Whether the fund has been further reduced by subsequent drafts may perhaps be gathered from the Invoices & information arrived with...
26From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 10 December 1827 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 5th., enclosing one from Mr. Johnson having been overlooked as I presume at the post office here did not reach me till yesterday evening. I sent off a line immediately for the mail of this morning informing him I could not attend the proposed Meeting of the Visitors. It can have no effect however, unless, he should happen to have pos[t]poned, without abandoning his passage up by...
27From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 24 December 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your letter containing the information from Mr. Cooledge on the subject of Mr. Walker, was duly recd.; and as the opening for the Chair of Nat: Phil: seemed to be not closed by the correspondence relating to Docr. Jones & Mr. Renwick, I forwarded the information to Mr. Johnson, from whom, at Richmond, it will emanate to other Visitors. It appears that a majority of the Visitors decline a...
28From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 26 January 1828 (Madison Papers)
Your favours of the 18th have been duly recd. I am sorry you thought an apology necessary for the delay in sending me the residue of my letters to Mr. Jefferson, and rather surprized that you should be scrupulous of reading them. I took for granted that you would regard them, as on his files equally open tho less entitled to inspection than his to me. In forwarding the parcels, you are so...
29From James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 4 February 1828 (Madison Papers)
Since mine of the 26. ult: which I hope got safe to hand, I have recd. yours of the 29th.: since which that of the 30th. with the bundle of letters has been handed to me by Mr Randolph. I am very sorry for the trouble it cost you to take advantage of that conveyance. I return, as you desire, the extracts you made from some of the letters. I return also the copies of two letters, inclosed in...
30James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 8 March 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. a letter from Col. Storrow in answer to an inquiry from me, which shews that he has still in his hands the packet put into them by Mr. Sparks. I am sorry that his inattention caused you & Mr Coolidge the trouble indicated in your favour of Feby. 22. The delinquent is so penitent for not even dropping me a line on the subject, that, in the consciousness of our own...