To James Madison from John Adams and Others, 12 October 1824
From John Adams and Others
City of Richmond 12th Octob 1824
Sir
By a resolution of the Citizens of Richmond we are authorised to make arrangements for the reception of General La Fayette “in such manner, as may best comport with his convenience and testify the veneration of the Citizens for his character, their sense of his Services and their affection for his person.”
It will certainly be highly gratifying as well to the General as to our fellow Citizens that you should be pleased to honor us with your company on that interesting occasion.
We have delayed to offer this invitation untill we should be correctly informed of the time of Genl La Fayettes arrival in our City and altho he has not positively assured us on what day we may expect him, yet we beleive that he will be with us about the 26th. of this present month.
Every effort on our part shall be used to secure for you comfortable accommodations. With great respect and high consideration We are Sir yr. Obt. Servts.
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. John Adams (d. 1825), a physician trained at the University of Edinburgh, was a member of the House of Delegates, 1802–4, and mayor of Richmond, 1819–25 (Richmond Enquirer, 28 June 1825; , 341; W. Asbury Christian, Richmond, Her Past and Present [Richmond, 1912], 546).
2. William H. Fitzwhylsonn (ca. 1767–1837), a principal in the Richmond publishing and bookselling firm of Fitzwhylsonn & Potter, was mayor of Richmond, 1817–18, and city recorder thereafter (Looney et al., Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series, 3:599 n.; Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser, 20 May 1820; Baltimore Patriot & Mercantile Advertiser, 17 Apr. 1824 and 29 Sept. 1826).
3. Thomas Brockenbrough (ca. 1776–1832), brother of Arthur S. Brockenbrough, proctor of the University of Virginia, was a Richmond merchant and partner in the firm Brockenbrough & Harvie (Richmond Enquirer, 2 Oct. 1832; Lenora Higgenbotham Sweeny, “The Upshaw Family of Essex,” Genealogies of Virginia Families, 5 [1982]: 281, 282).