301From James Madison to John Cartwright, [post–23 September 1824] (Madison Papers)
It is so long since I recd. your Volume on the English Constitution with the letter accompanying it that I must add to my thanks for the favors, an apology for the delay in returning them. I perceived at once that to do justice to such a work, it ought to be read with a continued attention which happened to be impossible till within a short time past. I am now able to say that I have found in...
302From James Madison to Thomas Cooper, 26 December 1826 (Madison Papers)
The two copies of your Lectures on Political Economy forwarded with your letter Novr. 15. were duly recd. That for Mr. Eppes was delivered to Mr. Trist of the Monticello family who said he could send it on forthwith by a safe conveyance. For the other addressed to myself, I offer my thanks. Before I had time to look into the volume, I had an opportunity of handing it over to Professor Tucker,...
303James Madison to William C. Preston, 22 February 1836 (Madison Papers)
Your letter introducing the Earl of Selkirk was duly delivered and I soon found that his intelligence, and social merits—justified the reception asked for him. Mrs. Madison and myself cannot forego the occasion to thank you for the kind & friendly terms in which you express your sentiments towards us, & to assure you that there are affectionate reminiscences between the two families which will...
304From James Madison to Petr Ivanovich Poletika, 14 June 1819 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 10th. has just been received. I am much obliged by its kind expressions, to which my personal knowlege of you ensures the proper value. And I shall be still more gratified by the promised opportunity of welcoming you at my farm, accompanied by your friend. Mrs. Madison will then be able to thank you herself for the cordial sentiments conveyed to her. In the mean time, be...
305From James Madison to George Thompson, 30 June 1825 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. my dear Sir, your very friendly letter of the 3d. instant. It has afforded me much pleasure, both as an expression of your continued regard for your old friends in your native State, and as a proof of the blessings you enjoy in your adopted one. You are particularly happy in combining with the ample gifts of fortune, what is but too rare, a grateful acquiescence in their...
306From James Madison to Jared Sparks, 30 May 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 2 2d. has been duly received. I concur, without hesitation, in your remarks on the Speech of 73 pages, and in the expediency of not including it among the papers selected for the press. Nothing but an extreme delicacy towards the author of the Draft, who, no doubt, was Col: Humphreys, can account for the respect shewn to so strange a production. I have not yet found either...
307From James Madison to Thomas Ritchie, 2 July 1822 (Madison Papers)
I recd. some time ago a letter from Mr. H. G. Spafford at Ballston Spa N.Y. in which he says “I wish your Booksellers would encourage me to write a Gazetteer of Virga. I could travel all over the State, collect materials, & prepare the work for the press, in about 2 years on a salary of $1000 a year, & a few copies of the work.” I answered that I could not undertake to judge how far a...
308From James Madison to Peter S. Du Ponceau, 29 June 1821 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his friendly respects to Mr. Duponceau with thanks for his “Discourse on the early history of Pennsa.” He has found it one of those fine morsels which can not be tasted without a Wish that there was more of it. Draft ( DLC ); letterbook copy ( PHi : Peter S. Du Ponceau Letterbook, 1777–1839). Peter S. Du Ponceau, A Discourse on the Early History of Pennsylvania: Being an...
309James Madison to Josiah Quincy, 18 February 1830 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison has duly received the Copy of the "Report of the Overseers of Harvard University", politely sent him by Mr. Quincy. He cannot return his thanks for the communication without expressing the pleasure afforded him by the instructive & well timed testimony borne by the President to the value of the two ancient Languages & Literatures, as branches of a comprehensive Education. J. M....
310From James Madison to William Allen, 6 May 1824 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to Mr. Wm. Allen and encloses his obligation complying with a condition stated in the correspondence of Mr. A. with Govr. Barbour. Draft ( DLC ). Written on the same sheet with drafts of JM to William J. Roberts, 6 May , and JM to James Barbour, 7 May 1824 .
311James Madison to William Allen, January 1834 (Madison Papers)
(promissory note) $1000. days after date, for value received I promise to pay to the order of William Allen one thousand dollars, without offset negociable & payable at the office of Discount & Deposit of the Branch Bank of Virginia at Fredericksburg. Ms (DLC) .
312From James Madison to James Maury, 20 February 1821 (Madison Papers)
Your favor enclosing Act. Sales & invoice came safe to hand. The articles sent are liable to no objection except that some of them are rather of a superior sort & of course, price, than was in view. I have arranged with Mr. Mackay, the balance due from me so as [to] stand debited in his books for it. The sales of the Tobo. did not fully meet expectation. That of the best quality it was thought...
313James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 10 November 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I return the several papers which accompanied yours of the 30 th Ult: I have interlined with a pencil for your consideration a very slight change in the petition to Congress , and another in the Report to the P. & D. of the Lit: Fund . The first is intended to parry objections from the reprinters of foreign books, by a phraseology not precluding exceptions in their favor. The exceptions can be...
314From James Madison to Charles Stuart Waugh, 30 October 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 25 th. was duly handed to me by Mr. Conway. The view you give of the state of your family, and the anxiety you express, to improve it, could not fail to excite my sympathy & good wishes. I am precluded nevertheless from the step you ask from me, by a rule wch. the frequency of such applications, as well as other considerations have obliged me to adopt. I must refer you...
315From James Madison to James P. Preston, [ca. 12] March 1819 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of Feby. 27. inclosing the appointment of me as a Visitor of the University of Virginia. However indisposed to public trusts, for which I am aware that every day is unfitting me, I can not decline a participation in the care of an Institution so honorable to the Public Councils of the State, and so auspicious to the coming generations of its Citizens. Should the...
316James Madison to Unknown, 10 December 1832 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. Sir, your letter of the 3d: Mr. Harding in an error in supposing it my intention to pay the debts of J. P. Todd., of which you will please to apprize him. Your Professional Agency in making the application needed no apology. I thank you Sir for the kind language expressed in relation to myself and beg you to accept my respects & my good wishes RC (MHi : Law School Library).
317From James Madison to James Monroe, 16 February 1822 (Madison Papers)
A letter from Mrs. Dallas has just come under my eye, by which I find she is subsisting on very scanty resources, and is under impressions that two of her sons particularly, are not as well off as the public services of their father, and their own personal worth had promised. The elder one belonging to the Navy has, it seems, been a considerabl⟨e⟩ time without a ship. The other, George, tho’...
318James Madison to James B. Longacre, 27 August 1833 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. your letter of the 21 inst I am aware of the wish you naturally feel for such a biographical sketch of me as will preserve a uniformity in your Gallery; and I am glad that you are sensible of the controul I may feel in supplying materials for it. A friend will attempt a brief chronicle of my career, with perhaps a few remarks & references, and will forward the paper when...
319From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 October 1817 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 18th. was handed to me by your servant, at a moment & place which did not permit me to acknowlege it by him. We regretted very much the circumstances which deprived us of the expected pleasure of seeing you all on your way to Washington. I inclose the copy of your letter to Gen: Jackson. Your reasonings on the singular step taken by him can scarcely fail to convince him of...
320James Madison to Edward Everett, 14 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
I return you many thanks for the copy of your late address to the "American Institute of N. York." It is as beautiful in some of its features as it is instructive in its general character. I have read it with the greater pleasure, as it goes back to times and scenes in which I was often an actor, always an observer; and which are too much overlooked in discussing the objects & meaning of the...
321From James Madison to Richard Rush, 22 July 1823 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. the copy of the papers communicated to the B. Parliament which you were so good as to forward. The enterprize of France agst. the Spanish Constitution, with the grounds avowed for it, has afforded G. Britain a fine opportunity for retrieving the character lost by her abandonment of the people of the Continent on the downfal of Napoleon, and by the apparent sympathies of her Govt....
322From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 September 1826 (Madison Papers)
Inferring from the silence of the Newspapers, since they announced your appointment as a visitor of the University, that your answer did not require a replacing one, I take for granted that you will be with your colleagues at the legal place & period. Allow me to count on your being thus far on your way in time for us to proceed hence together: I propose to set out on saturday after next: and...
323James Madison to Samuel L. Southard, 11 May 1835 (Madison Papers)
I have received the copy of your speech on the motion "to expunge from the Journal the Resolution of the Senate of March 28th. 1834." My present condition under a new inroad on my health not permitting me to give it the reading due to it I can only thank you for it in advance, well assured that I shall find what I have always found in your like favors much that is interesting conveyed in a...
324From James Madison to James Monroe, 2 October 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. yours of the 27th. Ulto. I am very sorry that I shall not be able to have the pleasure of joining you at the Meeting of the Visitors. We must await therefore that of seeing you & Mrs. M. on your way to Washington; and hope you will set out in time to spare us some days. The communications from Mr. Rush are very interesting. G. B. seems so anxious to secure the general trade...
325James Madison to John Brown, 16 May 1835 (Madison Papers)
I have just received the enclosed letter returned to me from Richd. to which I had directed it, taking for granted it would either find Mr. Butler there, where his letter to me was dated, or follow him, according to an arrangement for the purpose. I am very sorry for the occurrence as my supposed silence might be misconstrued. I enclose also a copy of the letter, that you may know its...
326James Madison to Joseph C. Cabell, 13 February 1829 (Madison Papers)
Since mine of Jany. 29, I have recd. one of the papers of Hampden. But it is No. 2. the Enquirer containing the first No. and a No. from the fellow pen having not come into the neighborhood. Be so good, when at leisure as to procure and enclose it to me. I observe that some stress is laid on the reference to our Coloneal relations to G.B. as having originated with me. The fact is, that I found...
327From James Madison to Thomas Munroe, [ca. 24 December 1821] (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. your letter of the 20th. and inclose a few lines, on the subject of it to our E. Exy. & M. Plenipo: at St. Petersburg. I am not sure that I could properly take the liberty of addressing them to the Emperor himself. I sincerely wish Sir that your son may find in the course he has chosen, all the success, which he enjoys in prospect: and that he may return with all the...
328James Madison to Joseph C. Cabell, 7 September 1829 (Madison Papers)
I recd. on the evening of friday your two letters of Augst. 30. & Sepr 1. with the Copy of the Virga. proceedings in 98-99. and the letters of "Hampden". When I looked over your manuscript pamphlet, lately returned to you, my mind did not advert to a discrepancy in your recorded opinions, nor to the popularity of the rival jurisdiction claimed by the Court of Appeals. Your exchange of a hasty...
329From James Madison to Thomas J. Rogers, 26 December 1823 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 14th. was duly recd. by mail. The little volume committed to Col: Barbour was handed to me a few days ago. Be pleased to accept my thanks for it. The object & plan of the Work cannot fail of general approbation: And as far as I have looked into it, I can not speak otherwise than well of its execution. I wish therefore you may be successful in obtaining proper materials for...
330[James Madison] to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, 8 July 1833 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letters contain all the information I can give on the subject of a successor to Dr. Dunglison. Neither My personal knowledge nor the enquiries such as I have been able to make can add any thing. I hope the other members of the Board will not be under the same disadvantage. I am extremely sorry that I must again fail in my attendance, but my crippled & debilitated condition makes...
331From James Madison to Lafayette, 20 February 1828 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Ocr. 27. has been some time on hand, tho’ it met with delays, after it got into port. My health in which you take so kind an interest was as reported interrupted by a severe, tho’ short attack, but is now very good. I hope yours is so without having suffered any interruption. I wish I could give you fuller & better accounts of the Monticello affairs. Neither Virginia, nor any...
332James Madison to William Frederick Van Amringe and Others, 10 April 1834 (Madison Papers)
(committee of the Jefferson Democratic Society of Philadelphia) I have received fellow Citizens your letter of the 2d. Inst. inviting me in "behalf of the Jefferson Democratic Society of the City & County of Philadelphia to a dinner to be given by the Society on monday next at Heiskell & Badgers Hotel in commemoration of the birthday of the father of the Democratic Party--& the Author of the...
333From James Madison to Lynde Walter and Others, 24 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. your letter of the 15th. instant; and I cannot be insensible to the marks of respect & confidence contained in it. But besides that it attaches a very undue weight to my opinion on the subject of a Bankrupt act, I am not sure that the interference you suggest would be received in the light you anticipate. Candor requires also an acknowlegement, that though sincerely anxious...
334James Madison to Richard Rush, 13 July 1833 (Madison Papers)
The Volume so kindly presented to Mrs. Madison and myself has afforded us great pleasure. Few can read it without receiving information both new and instructive—and none without being gratified on many points interesting to their curiousity. No part of it will probably be more welcome to the public, than that which gives a hope that the work will be followed by other drafts from the same fund...
335James Madison to Henry Clay, 9 October 1830 (Madison Papers)
I have just been favored with yours of the 22d. Ult: enclosing a copy of your Address delivered at Cincinnati. Without concurring in every thing that is said, I feel what is due to the ability and eloquence which distinguish the whole. The rescue of the Resolutions of Kentucky in -98 & 99. from the misconstruction of them, was very a propos; that authority being particularly relied on, as an...
336From James Madison to James Monroe, 26 February 1828 (Madison Papers)
Your two letters of the 13 & 15th. inst came together by the last mail (sunday evening) too late to be answered by its return on monday morning. I had recd. the printed circular of Judge Brooke notifying our Electoral nominations, on thursday last, but in the night, & not to be answered by the return Mail, which passes our post office, between 5 & 6 miles distant, by day light. The printed...
337From James Madison to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 24 July 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favour of the 8th. inst: and am much less surprised at your finding occasion for friendly criticism on one passage in the paper to which you refer, than that you did not perceive the occasions for others there in. In bringing into view Robertson’s explanation of the Origin of the Greenlanders, the object which ought to have been more clearly conveyed was rather to lessen the...
338James Madison to Jared Sparks, 1 June 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. yours of the 24. Ult. and inclose the little pamphlet by Govr. Morris which it refers to. Unless it is to be printed entire in the Volumes you are preparing, I should wish to replace it in the Collection from which it is taken. Of other unofficial writings by him I have but the single recollection, that he was a writer for the Newspapers in 1780 (being then a member of...
339James Madison to Charles Tudor Stewart, 22 April 1836 (Madison Papers)
Your letter was not recd. till yesterday. I would cheerfully gratify you in the object of your pursuit, but like applications have already exhausted my files, and obliged me to give that answer. The autographs of Mr. Hamilton & Mr. Jay, two names you seem particularly to desire, I have no doubt can be easily obtained from public offices, or their family connexions. Accept my respects & good...
340From James Madison to Spencer Roane, 2 September 1819 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of the 22d Ult: inclosing a copy of your observations on the judgment of the Supreme Court of the U. S. against the State of Maryland; and I have found the latitudinary mode of expounding the Constitution adopted by the Court, combated in them with the ability & force which was to be expected. It appears to me as it does to you, that the occasion did not call for the...
341James Madison to William Allen, 15 March 1832 (Madison Papers)
We are likely to fail in getting our Clover seed from the usual source; and will thank you for procuring, it to the amount of six bushels if to be had in Fredg. We expect to send a Waggon down very shortly, which will be a conveyance Retaining my full confidence in your better judgt. of the Market, I do not venture advice on the subject. I hope you will be able to catch any transitory rise, or...
342From James Madison to William F. Gray, 8 August 1825 (Madison Papers)
I have the Ed: Rev. No. 82. forwd. by you. I recd. at the same time from Mr. Green the inclosed acct. & order from Mr. Withers. There is no date, you will observe, to the Acct. and I do not find that I have recd. all the Nos. of either the N.A. or Edinbg. Review preceding the last from yourself. No. 78. of Edinbg. Revw. particularly is wanting. Whilst the business was in the hands of Mr....
343James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 6 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Mar. 3. came safe to hand, with the seeds you were so kind as to send with it I return M r Cabell’s letter . I hope his fears exaggerate the hostility to the University ; tho’ if there should be a dearth in the Treasury , there may be danger from the predilection in favor of the popular Schools. I begin to be uneasy on the subject of Cooper . It will be a dreadful shock to him if...
344James Madison to William Cabell Rives, 1 July 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have received your very kind letter of the 26. Ult. We had neither changed our purpose, nor forgotten our promise, to take Castle Hill in our way to the University. We hope for the pleasure of being there on the forenoon of Tuesday the 8th. inst., proceeding the next day, to our destination. In the mean time we pray Mrs. Rives & yourself to accept our best respects & our cordial salutations....
345From James Madison to George Mason, 14 July 1826 (Madison Papers)
I have received, Sir your letter of the 6th. instant, requesting such information, as I may be able to give, as to the origin of the document a copy of which was inclosed in it. The motive & manner of the request would entitle it to respect, if less easily complied with than by the following statement. During the Session of the General Assembly 1784–5. a Bill was introduced into the House of...
346James Madison to Edward Coles, 16 February 1835 (Madison Papers)
As the most secure mode of paying the inclosed account I trouble you with a request that you will apply five dollars for the purpose, and return the account with the receipt. A letter of late date from your brother Isaac mentioned that all friends at and about Enniscorthy were in good health. We hope neither yours, or that of Mrs. Coles has suffered from this irregular and hard Winter. Mine...
347From James Madison to an Unidentified Correspondent, 24 July 1818 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 24 July 1818, Montpelier. Offered for sale in Stan. V. Henkels Catalogue No. 1083 (1913), item 397. Described as a four-page autograph letter, signed, as quoted in American Book-Prices Current , 19:816 (1913).
348James 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 &...
349James Madison to Benjamin W. Leigh, 1 May 1836 (Madison Papers)
I Have received a copy of your speech on the 4th. & 5th. April, and on the supposition that I may be indebted for it, to your politeness, I tender my acknowledgments accordingly. The increasing pressure of my infirmities has of late, rendered my attention to the public proceedings very superficial. To the expunging question I have paid very little. The views taken in your speech of some at...
350James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 10 April 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Having been detained in Washington untill the 6 th inst. I did not reach home till Tuesday night, and of course too late to comply with the arrangement notified in yours of the 10 th March by Bizet . I take for granted that the other Visitors met, and that for the present at least my attendance will not be needed. As it has always been our purpose to pay a visit to Monticello at no distant day...