3401From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 19 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed to “The Honble Edmund Pendleton Esqr. Caroline County Virginia.” Yesterday’s post brought me your favor of the 11th instant, which if my recollection does not fail me is an act of supererogation, the terms of our contract entitling Mr Jones alone to your correspondence of the present week. To show you how acceptable it is to me I have selected the inclosed...
3402From James Madison to Edward Thornton, 12 May 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 May 1803, Department of State. “The Secretary of State has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Thornton’s letter of the 3rd. inst. and to enclose him a copy of an order given by the Navy Department to its Agents in London, requiring them to pay the account for supplies furnished by His Britannic Majesty’s agent at Malta to the American frigate Boston, and also to liquidate such...
3403James Madison to John Jordan Crittenden, 8 July 1830 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed are eighty dollars in discharge of the debt stated in your letter of March 5th. The fraction over the precise sum may be passed to the discount on the notes of the State Bank; notes of the U.S. Bank not being at command. Mrs. Willis joins in the thanks offered for your attention to our interests and in regretting the delay in answering your letter. We had been desirous of finding a...
3404James Madison to Martin Van Buren, 1 February 1830 (Madison Papers)
Wishing to give the surest as well as a speedy conveyance of the inclosed letter to Genl. Lafayette, I take the liberty of requesting that it may be permitted to accompany the earliest dispatches from the Department of State, to Paris. Mrs. M. avails herself of the occasion & of my pen to return her thanks for the acceptable article* recd. through the hand of Mr. Carter Stephenson, whilst she...
3405From James Madison to Richard Rush, 11 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I am informed thro’ confidential channels, that Joseph Bonaparte is arrived at N.Y. under an assumed name, that he considers it proper to report himself to this Govt—that he would set out from N.Y. on tomorrow (tuesday,) accompanied by Commodore Lewis, for that purpose; and be in Washington on thursday or friday on his way to Montpelier, under cover always of an assumed name. The motive to...
3406From James Madison to Lewis Le Coulteux, 18 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have transmitted instructions to the Minister of the United States in London to apply to the British Government for compensation for the losses and sufferings you sustained by being arrested and detained in Canada as a prisoner of war. He has been apprized that it is your intention to produce your papers and the agency of your claim to Mr. Erving, and that the former will be communicated to...
3407From James Madison to Nicholas Van Zandt, [ca. 1 March 1820] (Madison Papers)
J Madison presents his respects to Mr Vanzant, with an acknowlegement of the receipt of the acct. of Mr. Clark. After a lapse of eight years from the original date, and a silence for three more, it could not but be unlooked for. It might fairly be presumed that the Newspaper for which the charge is made, was like sundry others, never subscribed for; being voluntarily sent to the Executive of...
3408James 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...
3409From James Madison to Andrew Parks, 9 November 1826 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 1st. inst: 1826. In the absence of J. P. Todd, who has not it appears, made provision for the debt referred to I should not hesitate to remit you the amount, the principal at least, from my own funds, but I am obliged to say, that such has been the failure for a series of years, of the only sources on which they depend, & such the expences I have found...
3410From James Madison to William Willis, 13 June 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 June 1804, Department of State. “The answer I have forwarded to your letter intimating that you intended to draw upon me for the balance of your account, will explain the reason why the Bill enclosed in your letter of the 5th. inst. cannot be accepted and is herewith returned. I have sent your account to the Treasury for settlement, which will be entered upon, as soon as you furnish the...
3411From James Madison to Robert H. Rose, 10 February 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your letter of Jany. 21. with a Copy of your address to the Agricultl. Socy. of Susquehanna County, for which I return my thanks. I offer but a just tribute to the Address, in saying that it contains very judicious observations presented in the best form, & apparently very appropriate to the rural circumstances of the new County. The multiplication of these Societies is among the...
3412From James Madison to Richard O’Brien, 10 May 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 May 1802, Department of State. Has received O’Brien’s letters “down to that of . Several statements of your accounts are included in the reception, which will go for settlement to the Treasury Department.” O’Brien’s bills in favor of John Shaw were paid, and a recent bill for $200 drawn by his mother will be paid, but no other drafts should be made until the settlement is closed. Explains...
3413From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 7 January 1826 (Madison Papers)
I return Dr. Emmet’s letter as requested. Wall’s qualifications as a Drawing Master, are sufficiently authenticated to make his connection with the University very desirable. But there seems little ground for hope, that he will exchange for it his present advantages in New York. The only material attraction, beyond the fees, is that of a Pavilion, rent free; of which his tenure would be of...
3414James Madison to Edward Coles, 2 April 1828 (Madison Papers)
You have obliged us very much by your favor of the 29th. ult. It gave us the first knowledge of the accident to Payne. Altho’ it guards us against unfavorable reports, it leaves us very anxious to learn that the progress of his recovery corresponds with your anticipations. We ask the favor of you also to let us know from whom the medical aid was obtained, and whether he has yet been able to...
3415From James Madison to John Brown, 9 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
The returns of our elections as far as they are published, have raised somewhat the hopes of the friends to the Constitution. Those who are best informed think the adverse party will be outnumbered at the start. It seems pretty clear now that in point of characters the advantage will be on the federal side. The three chancellors are elected and are to be included in the description. So are...
3416From James Madison to Jacob Gideon Jr., 28 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 19th. and in consequence of the request it makes, I send you a copy of the 1st. Edition of the “Federalist,” with the names of the writers prefixed to their respective numbers. Not being on the spot, when it was in the press, the errors noted in mine were not then corrected. You will be so good as to return the 2 vols. when convenient to you. The 2d. Edition of...
3417From James Madison to Thomas I. Wharton, 14 November 1826 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. Sir under cover of the 6th. your Discourse obligingly sent me, on the “Landing of William Penn.” The occasion interesting in itself is made the more so, by the judicious & impressive views with which you have surrounded it. Such a tribute was well due to that renowned Lawgiver, and to the State which has made so good a use of his bold and benevolent innovations. The principles &...
3418From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 15 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
In the event of a war, or even of a general stop to the commerce with Great Britain, the renewal of the intercourse with St. Domingo, will become an object of great importance to the United States. In a letter of the 31 Jany 1804 to Mr Livingston, your predecessor, observations on the subject of this intercourse were addressed to the inte rest of France, as requiring her acquiescence in it....
3419From James Madison to Carlo Giuseppe Guglielmo Botta, [ca. 1 January 1817] (Madison Papers)
I have been some time in debt for the obliging favor of your “Camillo.[”] Its subject as well as its Author makes me regret more than ever that my knowlege of the Italian does not enable me to do justice to the merits & enjoy the beauties of a poem in that language. A translation into English, well executed may mitigate my disappointment. In G. Britain this may take place. In this Country, the...
3420From James Madison to Charles Pinckney, 18 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
The Merchants of Philadelphia interested in the property detained in the Spanish ports of South America, have charged Mr Richard W. Meade with an Agency in respect to it. He will accordingly proceed to Madrid and from thence to South America. The knowledge you have already acquired of this business and the communications with which Mr Meade will further elucidate it, render superfluous at...
3421[Copy of James Madison] to Robert Y. Hayne [as enclosed in James Madison to Edward Everett, April 17, 1830], 3 April … (Madison Papers)
"But there are doctrines espoused from which I am constrained to dissent. I allude particularly to the doctrine which I understand to assert, that the States (perhaps their Governments) have, singly, a constitutional right to resist, and by force annul within itself, acts of the Government of the United States, which it deems unauthorised by the Constitution of the United States; although such...
3422From James Madison to Dolley Madison, [ca. 6 November] 1805 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 1st. instant, my dearest gives me much happiness, but it can not be compleat till I have you again secure with me. Let me know the moment you can of the time you will set out that I may make arrangements for paying th⟨e⟩; Dr. &c. My Tobo. has been sold in Richd, but unfortunately th⟨e⟩; bills are not yet come on, and are on N. York at 60 days, so that some negociation will be...
3423From James Madison to Alexander Hamilton, 26 May 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 20th. enclosing one from Paris of March 23d. The Cession of Louisiana by Spain to the French Republic, referred to in the latter, had been previously signified to this Department from several sources, as an event believed to have taken place. Supposing you might wish to repossess the letter from Mr. C I herein return it. I have the honor to remain, Sir, Your...
3424From James Madison to Edward Thornton, 3 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of June 30th. found me preparing to fulfill the promise of which it reminds me on the subject of the ship Windsor. The delay has proceeded from other demands which fell on the attention of the attorney General, and from the necessity of some additional enquiries within the Treasury Department. It appears that before the order for the departure of this vessel could be carried into...
3425From James Madison to Archibald Stuart, 25 November 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 9th. instant and thank you for its Communications. I am sorry that I have none to make in return, no occurrences of moment having arrived since my last. The Pennsylvania Convention was to meet on Tuesday last, but I have heard nothing from that quarter. The election in Connecticut is over and the Returns it is said by those who the members & their characters,...
3426James Madison to A. G. Gano and others, 25 March 1835 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. fellow Citizens your letter of the 13th. inst: inviting me "to a Celebration by the Native Citizens of Ohio, of the anniversary of her first settlement in 1788" Having now reached my 85th. year and being otherwise enfeebled by much indisposition, I am necessarily deprived of the pleasure of accepting the invitation. I am not the less sensible however of what I owe to the kind...
3427From James Madison to Ambrose Madison, 27 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment your favor of the 16th. The inclosed papers will shew you that the project of asuming the State debts is revived & likely to employ further time. I hope we shall be able to defeat it, but the advocates for it are inconceivably persevering as well as formidable in point of numbers. The bill for funding the other debt is gone thro’ and will pass the 3d. reading in the H. of...
3428From James Madison to John Brennan, 7 September 1825 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. Sir your letter of Aug. 31. communicating your intention to publish a translation of the travels of the Marquis de Cha[s]tellux in the U. States during several years of the Revolutionary war. You are welcome to my name on the list of your subscribers which I wish may become sufficit for your object. I can not venture to promise much addition to it in this particular quarter. My...
3429From James Madison to the Chiefs of the Creek Nation, [14 January] 1811 (Madison Papers)
Your father the President of the United States takes you by the hand. He has received from Colo: Hawkins your Talk of the last Autumn. Either you have not been sufficiently informed, or you have not rightly understood his design in sending out the two parties from Fort Stoddert. Good path ways and roads are equally useful to his White and to his Red Children. Rivers & Water courses are made by...
3430James Madison to Jared Sparks, 8 April 1830 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of Mar. 8. came duly to hand. I congratulate you on your success at London & Paris, in obtaining materials, no where else to be found and so essential to the history of our Revolution. I have been looking over such of the letters of Genl. Washington to me as do not appear on his files. They amount to 28. besides some small confidential notes. Most of the letters are of some...
3431From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 20 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (New York Public Library). Cover franked by “J. Madison Jr” and addressed by him to “The honble Edmund Pendleton Esqr. Caroline County Virginia.” Docketed by Pendleton, “James Madison Esqr. Augst. 20. 1782.” At the date of my last I had little doubt that the post of this week would have conveyed you some further lights on the subject of negociations for peace. A continuation of the silence...
3432From James Madison to George Davis, 16 July 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 13th. inst. It is necessary in order to preclude any possible misconception, to observe that but two thousand dollars will be alowed by way of outfit, which may be referred either to your agency at Tunis or your appointment to Tripoli; but this one sum, together with the manner in which your Salary is made to commence, not as is customary from the time of...
3433From James Madison to Andrew Ellicott, 8 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
Having been lately a good deal out of health, & the Chief Clerk confined by the same cause for some days past, several letters have been unavoidably unanswerd, & among them yours asking the aid of the Dept. of State in exchanging scientific information with a Correspondent in Europe. You will now please to accept the information that whatever facility can be properly afforded for the purpose...
3434From James Madison to John McClallan, 4 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
The President having made choice of you, to proceed immediately as Commercial Agent for the Island of Java, in the East Indies, I inclose a Commission investing you with that character. Inclosed also is a copy of the ordinary instructions relating to such a trust. The particular instructions however, which follow, & relating to the object particularly inducing your appointment at the present...
3435From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 14 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
You will find in the gazette of this morning the letter from d’Yrujo, which he wished to be printed, and which will I hope do good. Pichon has also written a strong letter to the Govr. of Louisiana, summoning him on his responsibility, to see that the Cession of that province to France be not affected, nor the amicable relations of the Republic to the U. States, be endangered, by a...
3436From James Madison to George Alexander Otis, 29 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 5th. came safe to hand, with the 2d. vol: of the translation of Botta’s History, for which I am ⟨anew to offer⟩ my thanks. Without a more careful reading of the two volumes, and comparison of them with the original, than has been permitted by other demands on my time, I could not express any opinion as to the merits of the translation that would be worth your acceptance. Of...
3437From James Madison to Creed Taylor, 8 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Decr. 21. with a Copy of the “Journal of the Law School,” taken charge of by Mr. Stringfellow, were handed to me a few days ago only. The delay will have been explained to you by himself. Having never engaged in the practice of the law, and the very limited knowledge of it acquired in the Closet being much obliterated, I find myself little qualified to appreciate the merits of...
3438From James Madison to John Armstrong, 2 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note on Genl. Lewis letter to Secy. W. July 28. 1814. asking whether he is to Judge of the menace of invasion requiring calls for Militia. Genl. Lewis, as other Commanders of Districts, shd. be authorized to call for militia according to the danger threatened. Where the cases are not too urgent they ought to be reported for previous sanction here: When the urgency will not permit this delay,...
3439From James Madison to William Pinkney, 3 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
The Legislature of Maryland at their last session authorised the Governor to take measures in concurrence with the Executive of the United States to obtain restitution of the Bank Stock, which has been long a subject both of civil process and negotiation in London. As Mr. King will probably have left England before a communication on this subject could reach him, and as his successor may not...
3440From James Madison to Samuel A. Storrow, 6 February 1828 (Madison Papers)
A letter of late date from Mr. Sparks, informs me that you were so obliging as to take charge of a packet of papers for me, last autumn. The time which has elapsed without my receiving the packet or hearing from you on the subject, makes me fear that it has met with some accident. The papers in question are of a confidential character, & I should regret much the loss of them. Should they be...
3441From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 16 August 1791 (Madison Papers)
Since I learnt that you are not to start for Virginia till the beginning of next month, I have been less in a hurry to shift myself to Philada. from this place, which I have reason to believe the more favorable of the two, at this season, to my health, as well as the more agreeable in the present state of the weather. I now propose to suspend my departure till monday next, and have therefore...
3442From James Madison to John Graham, 2 September 1809 (Madison Papers)
I now return you the Copy of Clarke agst. Wilkinson, with my thanks for your attention in forwarding it. I have not had time to do more than to turn over a few casual pages; but having just recd. another Copy, it is unnecessary to detain that belonging to the office. I return also the letters recd. by yesterday’s mail. Would it not be proper to let Mr. Rodney have the contents of that from...
3443From James Madison to William Davis Robinson, 6 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of Decr. 28. accompanied by a Copy of your “Memoirs of the Mexican Revolution.” As I can not at present find leisure to go thro the volume, I make an offer at once, of my thanks for your obliging attention. So little is known of the late events & of the actual State of things in Mexico, which well deserve to be known, that accurate information as to both must be...
3444James Madison to Samuel Martin, 30 January 1829 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. Sir your letter of jany. 7. in which you suggest the idea of opening the Mail free of cost, for all letters, newspapers, & pamphlets of limited size; Whatever consideration may be due to plans facilitating private intercourse, to public information; The abuses not easily guarded agt. to which the universality of such a privilege wd. be liable to the cheapness & extensiveness of...
3445From James Madison to Samuel Spring, 6 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of Aug 26. I recollect our Collegiate friendship with the same impressions which it gives me pleasure to find you still retain. Nor have I forgotten the pleasant hours that passed between us at a much later day under my own roof. We all feel the weight of the times and it is to be regretted that all cannot unite in the measures opposed to them. If it were proper for...
3446From James Madison to George Long, 8 September 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 31. was duly recd. by the Mail preceding the last. Altho’ it ought not to produce surprize, that you should, on the expiration of your engagement here, prefer a residence in your native Country, I am very sure that I express a regret common to the Visitors that the University should lose a professor, whose qualifications, can scarcely be hoped for in a Successor whether...
3447James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 5 June 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 30th. Ult. and given attention to the passage relating to the Statement of Dr. Watkins. I feel certainly every proper motive to comply with your request, especially under the reserves you annex to it. But I happen not to have the means of doing so which you take for granted. After a lapse of more than 20 years, without intervening occasions, for recurring to the...
3448From James Madison to McLellan & Brown (Abstract), 25 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
25 March 1805, Department of State . “The third instalment of British claims, will be payable in London until the 1st. of September next, and if not drawn from thence at that date, they will cease to be payable there, as they will be transfered to the United States. The third instalment, you will observe, is not due until the 15th. July next. Bills drawn upon Mr. Erving for any sum in his...
3449From James Madison to John Hartwell Cocke, 9 February 1828 (Madison Papers)
I inclose a letter from Mr. Egan covering a letter from Mr. Giles to the Visitors, and copy of a letter from Mr. Jefferson to Mr Giles, as testimonials in favor of his application for the Chair of Mr. Long. As it appears to be the wish of Mr Egan that the papers should be made known to the Visitors as soon as may be, it may be well that they be communicated to our Colleagues as opportunities...
3450From James Madison to Richard Riker and Others, 31 May 1826 (Madison Papers)
I have duly received your letter of April 28th. and with it a Medal of Gold, commemorating the completion of the Erie Canal, presented in the name of the City of New York by order of the Common Council; the Medal being accompanied by a box made of Maple brought from the Lake in the first Canal boat the Senaca Chief. I beg the Corporation to be assured that I feel in its full extent, the value...