191To James Madison from James Monroe, 6 March 1785 (Madison Papers)
The arrangment in our foreign affairs begins at length to assume some form. Upon whatever ground they were taken up for a considerable time, either with respect to France, Spn. or G. B., the same difficulties arose. If it was mov’d that Dr. Franklin be permitted agreeable to his request to retire home it was firmly oppos’d by R. Island [&] Massachussetts . If that a minister be appointed to...
192From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 10 March 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 12 Ulto. came safe to hand through the conveyance of Capt. Barber together with the several articles inclosed. The letter from Mr. Jefferson speaks of the state of things on the 11th. of Novr. on the other side of the Atlantic as follows. “The lamp of war is kindled here not to be extinguished but by torrents of blood. The firing of the Dutch on an Imperial vessel going down...
193To James Madison from Lafayette, 16 March 1785 (Madison Papers)
Was I to found my Hopes Upon the Letters I have from Congress, I would please my fancy with the Expectation of Wellcoming You to the European Shore—and Yet, when I Remember Your obstinate plans of life, I am affraid least my Warm Wishes Should be disappointed—in the Mean While, I will Continue writing, and By the Way Will advise You to send Your Answers By the packets Rather than By a private...
194To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 18 March 1785 (Madison Papers)
My last to you was dated Dec. 8. since that yours of Feb. 1. has come to hand; and I am in hopes I shall shortly receive from you the history of the last session of our assembly. I will pray you always to send your letters by the French packet which sails from N. York the 15th. of every month. I had made Neill Jamieson my post master general there, who will always take care of my letters and...
195From James Madison to Lafayette, 20 March 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 15th. continued on the 17th of December came very slowly but finally safe to hand. The warm expressions of regard which it contains are extremely flattering to me, and the more so as they so entirely correspond with my own wishes for every thing which may enter into your happiness. You have not erred in supposing me out of the number of those who have relaxed their anxiety...
196From James Madison to Richard Henry Lee, 20 March 1785 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 20 March 1785 . Concerns Virginia and Confederation affairs mentioned in Lee’s letter of 30 May 1785 .
197From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 March 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 1st day of Feby. did not come to hand till a day or two ago, having travelled on to Richmond, remained there during the absence of Mr. Jones, & on his return, been sent to me by the way of Fredg. Before I left Richmond I wrote you that the assembly had adjourned and requested that your subsequent letters might be addressed to Orange, and if I do not forget to care of Mr....
198From James Madison to Patrick Henry, 25 March 1785 (Madison Papers)
In compliance with your Excellency’s letter of the 22 of Jany. the Gentlemen to whom it was addressed excepting Mr. Grimes had a meeting yesterday for the first time, when they took the subject of it into consideration and have directed me to inform you that they recommend for County Lieutenant of Orange John Spotswood Esqr for Lieutenant Colonel Commandant, John Lee Esqr. for first Major...
199To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 30 March 1785 (Madison Papers)
I have your favor by Col Richd. Taylor. The letter for the Attorney has been delivered and he is informed when Mr Taylor will be in town. Mr Maier some time past made application to the Executive, and laid before them a state of his case. Altho’ it was not altogether satisfactory he had a legal demand agt. the State, yet the circumstances were in general so favourable to his Pretensions, he...
200From James Madison to Martha Jefferson Carr, ca. 1–17 April 1785 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 1–17 April 1785 . Mentioned in Mrs. Carr’s answer of 18 April . JM apparently inquired about her state of health.
201From James Madison to James Monroe, 12 April 1785 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you not long since, by a young gentleman who proposed to go as far [as] N. Y. acknowledging the rect. of your favor of Feby. 1st. I have since recd. that of March 6 which I meant to have acknowledged through the same hands. But finding that the delays which have hitherto kept back the bearer above referred to, are of uncertain continuance, & having no certain conveyance to Fredg. I...
202From James Madison to James Monroe, [14 April] 1785 (Madison Papers)
By an opportunity to Richd. I wrote to you 2 days ago. Havg. now one to Frebg. I inclose the Cypher then promised. It will probably get to hand at the same with letter via Richd. Adieu. RC ( DLC ). Addressed to Monroe in Congress, “To care of [Mr. Ma]ury Esqr. Fredg.” Docketed by JM, “Mr. Monroe Cypher.” The date is fixed from the message JM sent Monroe on 12 Apr. 1785 . Enclosure ( DLC ).
203From James Madison to George Wythe, 15 April 1785 (Madison Papers)
I have been honoured with yours of February accompanying the Testimony which the University of William & Mary have been pleased to bestow on me. A distinction which is rendered so flattering both by the characters of those from whom it is received, and of those with whom it associates me calls for acknowledgments, which I should feel greater satisfaction in expressing if I had less reason to...
204To James Madison from Martha Jefferson Carr, 18 April 1785 (Madison Papers)
I received by your Brother your polite favour and am Sorry it is not in my power to give a more Satisfactory account of my Sons being placed at School agreeable to your Appointments. My Eldest Son was taken last fall with a fever which with repeated relapses kept him Extreemly weak & low till about the first of Janry from that time till the first of April he was detained at home by the...
205To James Madison from George Nicholas, 22 April 1785 (Madison Papers)
My brother informs me that he conversed with you on the propriety of remonstrating against certain measures of the last session of Assembly and that you seemed to think it would be best that the counties opposed to the measures should be silent. I fear this would be construed into an assent especially to the law for establishing a certain provision for the clergy: for as the Assembly only...
206From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 27 April 1785 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two favors of Novr. 11 & Decr. 8. Along with the former I recd. the two pamphlets on animal magnetism & the last aeronautic expedition together with the phosphoretic matches. These articles were a great treat to my curiosity. As I had left Richmd. before they were brought thither by Col. le Maire, I had no opportunity of attending myself to your wishes with regard to him; but...
207From James Madison to James Monroe, 28 April 1785 (Madison Papers)
I have written several letters within a little time past which were Sent to you partly by the post, partly by Mr. Burnley, a young Gentleman of this County. In one of the latter I inclosed a Cypher wch. will serve all the purposes of our future Correspondence. This covers a letter for Mr. Jefferson which you will be so good as to forwd. by the first packet or other equally eligible conveyance....
208To James Madison from William Grayson, 1 May 1785 (Madison Papers)
I am afraid my silence since I came to this place has giv’n you some reason to suspect me to be impregnated with that vis inertiæ, which has been so often attributed to me. The only apology I have to make, is that I wish’d to have some thing to write to you worth your acceptance. However as there would be some danger in risquing a farther delay, I shall give you what I have in the manner. The...
209To James Madison from James Monroe, [8 May] 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 12th. of April accompanied with the cypher I receiv’d yesterday. The appointment of Mr. Adams to the ct. of G. B. was soon afterwards succeeded by that of Mr. Jefferson to that of France. Their commns have been some time since forwarded & before this they are no doubt station’d at their respective courts. The removal of the former gave uneasiness to Mr. V[a]n. Berkell but as...
210To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 11 May 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 9. came to my hands on the 13th. of April. The very full and satisfactory detail of the proceedings of assembly which it contained, gave me the highest pleasure. The value of these communications cannot be calculated at a shorter distance than the breadth of the Atlantic. Having lately made a cypher on a more convenient plan than the one we have used, I now transmit it to...
211To James Madison from John Blair Smith, [ca. 16 May] 1785 (Madison Papers)
I am sorry to interrupt your attention to more important objects by an appeal to you in a dispute between Carter H. Harrison Esqr. of Cumberland & myself, but as you were present at its origination, & as my character for veracity is interested in your decision, I have no doubt of your inclination to do me the justice which is in your power. All that I have to request of you at present is, to...
212To James Madison from Richard Barbour, 19 May 1785 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 19 May 1785. Noted in the lists probably made by Peter Force (DLC: Madison Miscellany). No other reference to it has been found.
213To James Madison from Gabriel Royez, 24 May 1785 (Madison Papers)
Je m’engage a fournir chez moi aussitot l’announce toutes les Livraison futures de l’Encyclopedie par ordre de matieres in 4°. Dont j’ai reçu le montant des livraisons y compris la 13°. montant a la Somme de troit cent quatrevingt Livre en deduisant sur ce prix fixe par la souscription et Suivant la notte y joint un primer quarante huit livres Suivant nos convention. A Monsieur James Madison...
214From James Madison to John Blair Smith, 27 May 1785 (Madison Papers)
I have before me your note requesting my information relative to a fact asserted on your part, and denied on that of Carter H. Harrison Esqr. Your own feelings will suggest to you my motives for wishing not to be made a Witness or Judge in any case where the characters of Gentlemen are concerned. Under the circumstances of the present in which I am only called on by one of the parties, &...
215To James Madison from William Grayson, 28 May 1785 (Madison Papers)
I did myself the pleasure some time since of writing to you; and I expect by this time you have recieved my letter; since which nothing has happened of any consequence except the passage of the Land Ordinance & the arrival of Don Diego de Gardoqui at Philadelphia. I inclose you a copy of the Ordinance: & if it is not the best in the world, it is I am confident the best that could be procured...
216From James Madison to James Monroe, 29 May 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of May [8] came to hand a few days ago. It is fortunate that the variant ideas have been so easily accomodated touching the mode of surveying & selling the territorial fund. It will be equally so I think if you can dispossess the British of the Western posts, before the land office is opened. On this event and the navigation of the Mississippi will much depend the fiscal importance...
217From James Madison to William Grayson, 29 May 1785 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 29 May 1785. Mentioned by Grayson in his letter to JM, 27 June 1785 . JM to James Monroe, 7 August 1785 , notes that he had answered Grayson’s letter of 1 May 1785 with suggestions concerning the revision of Article IX of the Articles of Confederation.
218To James Madison from Richard Henry Lee, 30 May 1785 (Madison Papers)
Two days ago, and not sooner, your favor of March the 20th was deliverd to me, so that you find it has been more than two months travelling thus far. It seems to me that our Assembly were influenced more by the letter than the spirit of the Confederation. The consequence will certainly be, if our meetings are slow as usual, that Virginia will be unrepresented for some time after the federal...
219To James Madison from François de Barbé-Marbois, 31 May 1785 (Madison Papers)
I have been happy in forming the acquaintance of Mr. Mazzey, & receiving at the Same time your letter dated 3d. June 1784. He is now on his way to france where I know he will find many friends. Mr. Jepherson one of them is generally esteemed in paris & Versailles, & I have no doubt but his appointment as a minister to our court will give great Satisfaction. The opinion in paris is that peace...
220To James Madison from Lafayette, 1 June 1785 (Madison Papers)
This letter will Be delivered By mr. Chevalier, a Son to the Gentleman I Recommended to You last Summer, who is Going to Settle His Accounts with Your State. I am the More inclined to Give Him my letter as a denial would Seem to Harbour a doubt upon the punctuality of the payment while I know You Have taken proper measures to insure it. Give me leave therefore to Recommend the affair to Your...
221To James Madison from Philip Mazzei, 3 June 1785 (Madison Papers)
Le vostre lettere per Mr. Jefferson e per il Marchese le ò io, e le consegnerò in proprie mani. Io parto, ma il mio cuore resta. Tutte le mie cure paiono concentrate nel soggetto, da cui solo depende la futura libertà o schiavitù di questo almo Paese. L’America è il mio Giove, Venere la Virginia. Quando refletto a quel che sentii nel traversar Potomack, mi vergogno della mia debolezza. Non so...
222To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 12 June 1785 (Madison Papers)
Being from Town when your order for the Trunk arrived was the reason it was not then sent. If an opportunity offers it shall be forwarded as you desire. In the mean time the precaution of preserving the cloaths from the moth by exposing them to the sun has been attended to and shall be repeated. I know not whether any Copy of the resolution you allude to has been officially communicated to Mr....
223To James Madison from Philip Mazzei, 15 June 1785 (Madison Papers)
Il nostro comune e degno Amico Monroe vi manderà un mio scritto sulla necessità di stabilire 2. soli Porti nel nostro Stato. Il Col. Innes estorse da me la promessa di scrivere sul detto soggetto prima d’ imbarcarmi, e di mandargli ciò che la Botte avrebbe prodotto. Ma siccome ei non intende questa lingua, il Col. Monroe glie ne manderà la traduzione, subito che le altre più pressanti...
224Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments, [ca. 20 June] 1785 (Madison Papers)
The most striking element in JM’s authorship of the Memorial and Remonstrance was the pains he took to keep the public ignorant of his heavy involvement in this battle over state-subsidized religion. So successful was he in maintaining anonymity that a few libraries still have a printed version with speculative attributions of the work to other public men. Although in 1786 printer Isaiah...
225From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 June 1785 (Madison Papers)
Finding from a letter of Mr. Mazzei that you have never been furnished with a copy of the Bill for establishing the Christian Religion in this State, I now inclose one, regretting that I had taken it for granted that you must have been supplied thro’ some other channel. A very warm opposition will be made to this innovation by the people of the middle and back Counties, particularly the...
226To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 23 June 1785 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Beckley has at length furnished me with a copy of the resolution you lately requested might be sent to you. I confide it to the care of Mr. Maury of Fredericksburg in hopes it will get safe and soon to your hands. Mr. Blair tells me a Copy of this resolution has been transmitted to the State of Maryland but knows nothing further of the matter—perhaps the Clerk or Speaker sent one to Mr....
227To James Madison from William Grayson, 27 June 1785 (Madison Papers)
I have recieved your favor of the 29. May acknowledging the receipt of my first letter, though making no mention of the last, which I presume has not yet come to hand. Since the date thereof the affair of the treaty with the Western Indians which was decided on the 18th. March last, has been opened again & very much canvassed; the result however is that the treaty is to be held; & for the...
228Copy of a Protestant Episcopal Church Petition to the General Assembly of Virginia, [July?] 1785 (Madison Papers)
Whether JM wrote the petition calling for repeal of the act incorporating the Protestant Episcopal church in Virginia or merely copied the work of another for his own personal use is a matter of speculation, with the latter circumstance appearing the most likely one. Hunt and Brant assumed that JM wrote the petition, although the former assigned a 1786 date to the document despite the internal...
229From James Madison to Richard Henry Lee, 7 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 30th. of May came to hand yesterday only, having lain some time in Fredg. and finally reached Orange via Albemarle. I agree with you perfectly in thinking it the interest of this Country to embrace the first decent opportunity of parting with Kentucky, and to refuse firmly to part with any more of our Western settlements. It seems necessary however that this first instance of...
230To James Madison from George Nicholas, 7 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
I expected to have done myself the pleasure of calling on you from the last Orange court but was disappointed in going there. I received the remonstrance and had it copied for I found that any change in it must be for the worse. One hundred and fifty of our most respectable freeholders signed it in a day. I have sent copies to the counties that I mentioned in my last. I am with regard and...
231To James Madison from James Monroe, 12 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
I enclose a copy of the journals so far as they are printed. They contain nothing you will find respecting the requisition nor the commercial interests of the Union. The former upon the report of a committee hath been frequently before Congress of late and as often recommitted, in which state it now lies. As the principal part of the debt which in other States forms a part of the present...
232To James Madison from Caleb Wallace, 12 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
Having accommodated my Family in this remote quarter of the Country, I wish to renew a correspondence which was formerly pleasing to me and I trust no[t] disagreeable to you. Since I saw you last I have removed twice, first from Charlotte to Botetourt and then from there to Kentucky; this, with some vissisitudes of fortune & health have occasioned me to neglect for a while some of the...
233To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 17 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
By some inexplicable mystery, the inclosed letter from Mr. Jones, and my intended answer to your last epistolary favor, have still remained in my possession. Being engaged when the gentleman, who brought your friendly attention to me, I doubt whether I gave him an intelligible reply to his question, if my answer was ready. Our apparent disobedience to the appointment of the assembly must be...
234To James Madison from John Dawson, 20 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your goodness will excuse me, for addressing this letter to you, when you consider of what consequence it may be to me. The General Assembly, at their Session in October last, I find, had it in contemplation to pass an Act respecting Naval Officers, by which Collectors are to be appointed to the several Districts; and altho it did not then pass for want of a sufficient number of members to...
235To James Madison from George Nicholas, 24 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
I am very unhappy to find by your letter which has just now come to hand that two of mine to you have miscarried. I found that no alterations could be made to the remonstrance* without injury and immediately had it copied and sent to the counties I mentioned in a former letter. One of my letters must certainly have reached you before this but for fear of accident shall desire my brother to...
236From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 26 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 17th. inst: inclosing a letter from Mr. Jones and a copy of the ecclesiastical Journal, came safe to hand. If I do not dislike the contents of the latter, it is because they furnish as I conceive fresh and forcible arguments against the Genl. Assessment. It may be of little consequence what tribunal is to judge of Clerical misdemesnors or how firmly the incumbent may be...
237To James Madison from James Monroe, 26 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
Since my last a report proposing a change in the first paragraph of the 9th. of the articles of confideration hath been taken up & acted on two days in a committee of the whole. It proposes to invest Congress with power to regulate trade externally & internally. Those in favor of it were of opinion that the exercise of this power in the hands of each State, wod. be less advantageous to its...
238From James Madison to James Monroe, 28 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
I received yesterday your favour of the 12th. inst. The date of the preceding one was early in May. From this interval and your not acknowledging some of my letters I suspect that our correspondence suffers from some fault in the post office. This has certainly been the case with letters between Col. Grayson and myself. The part of your letter which has engaged most of my attention is the...
239From James Madison to James Monroe, 7 August 1785 (Madison Papers)
I received the day before yesterday your favour of the 26th July. I had previously recd. the Report on the proposed change of the 9th. art: of the Confederation, transmitted by Col: Grayson, and in my answer to him offered such ideas on the subject as then occurred. I still think the probability of success or failure ought to weigh much with Congress in every recommendation to the States; of...
240To James Madison from George Mason, 9 August 1785 (Madison Papers)
I shou’d have answered Your Favour of the 2d. of June, long ago, had not ill Health, & the Absence of my Sons from Home, disabled me from making out the Copys of the Proceedings of the Virga. & Maryd. Commrs. which I now inclose; and upon which I wish to be favour’d with Your Sentiments. We thought ourselves unfortunate in being deprived of your, & my Friend the Attorney’s Assistance, in this...