3841Isaac Briggs’s Account of a Meeting with Madison [1 November 1820] (Madison Papers)
“11 mo. 1—Fourth day of the week. This morning, I went 5 miles to Montpelier, the se⟨at⟩ of James Madison, and arrived there before either James or his wife had proceeded from their lodging-room; Of course, I was there long before breakfast was ready. I remained here the whole of this day, and both James Madison and Dorothy entertained me with much friendly conversation, as well as with the...
3842From James Madison to Joseph Delaplaine, [ca. 31] October 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your note of the 11th. with the little poetical volume of Mr. Mead; for which I desire that my thanks may be accepted. It is so long since I indulged myself in this species of reading, that I can the less venture to pronounce on the merit of the performance. From a hasty glance over it, my attention was caught by passages, which appeared well to accord with the inspiration of the...
3843To James Madison from Maury & Latham, 24 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
We beg to hand Accot sales of your Tobacco pr. scipio, with your Accot Currt. balance £35..12..5. due to you. By the next vessel for Virginia we shall ship the 10 sacks of Salt which you wish for. Mess MacKay & Campbell handed us your dft for £100. on us, & which we shall accordingly appropriate to them if such is your wish—it will in that case leave a balance of £64.7.7. against you,...
3844To James Madison from Thomas W. Maury, 23 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
My relation Mr. Wm. Maury of Liverpool will in a short time commence a long tour thro Kentucky, Tennessee & Mississippi, and from thence to New-Orleans. Being now absent on a tour to the eastward, and expecting to have no leisure on his way thro Virginia, he has requested me by letter, to ask the favor of you to give him letters to a few of the distinguished gentlemen in those states. If you...
3845To James Madison from Charles D. Coxe, 20 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
On the dismissal of Lieut Col. Gale from the Marine Corps, The officers have alledged to me, through my friend Mr. Pleasonton of the Treasury Department, that, as they do not conceive I have resigned my commission in that Corps, they would be very glad of my being placed at the head of it; to which the date of my Commission would entitle me. I conceive it now to be in your power to do me a...
3846From James Madison to Joel K. Mead, 16 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 12th. inst: & I can not speak too favorably of the object which employs your thoughts or of the disinterested zeal with which you devise means for accomplishing it. Of those which have occurred you ask my opinion. I wish it were better entitled to the confidence, you seem to attach to it. Such as it is I give it with the candor, which I can not doubt you will...
3847From James Madison to Bushrod Washington, 14 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
In fulfilment of my promise I return the letters to General Washington which you were so obliging as to forward to me. I should have done it sooner but that I had hoped to return at the same time the letters expected from Richmond. Will you permit me to recall your attention to the latter portion (which I believe will comprize the letters I could most wish to obtain) that the Chief Justice may...
3848From James Madison to Isaiah Thomas, 12 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to Mr. Thomas, with his acknowledgments for the copy of the Transactions of the American Antiquarian Society, and his best wishes for the success of an Institution, the valuable objects of which are so well explained and recommended in the early pages of the Volume. RC ( MWA : Isaiah Thomas Papers). Isaiah Thomas (1749–1831) was a printer, and publisher of the...
3849To James Madison from Joel K. Mead, 12 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
I must rely upon the object I have in view to plead my apology for the freedom I take in obtruding upon your leisure this note. I have for some years viewed with some solicitude the want of an institution for the instruction of indigent youth of native genius and talents in the higher branches of literature, the sciences and the liberal arts. I mean more particularly those, who, having...
3850To James Madison from Joseph Delaplaine, 11 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
At the request of the author, I have the honour of transmitting to you, for your kind acceptance, a volume of poetry, for your good opinion of which, I know he would feel much gratified. An elementary book for the use of schools, new in its design & arrangement, will be issued from the press by the same author, in a fee [ sic ] months; at which time I shall have the pleasure of sending to you...
3851Minutes of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, 3 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
At an adjourned meeting of the Visitors of the University of Virginia, held on 3d. October 1820, present Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Robert B. Taylor, John H. Cocke and Joseph C. Cabell; The Board approved the arrangement made by the Committee of Superintendence relative to the annulment of the contract with Doctor Thomas Cooper. Resolved, that From & after the first day of October 1820,...
3852Minutes of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, [2 October 1820] (Madison Papers)
At a meeting of the Visitors of the University of Virginia, at the University, on monday 2d. of Octr. 1820, present Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Robert B. Taylor, John H. Cocke, and Joseph C. Cabell; The Board proceeded to the consideration of the Annual Report, and not having time to go through with the same, adjourned to tuesday 3d. October. Ms ( ViU : Jefferson Papers, Special...
3853To James Madison from Edmond Kelly, 30 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
The conclusion of my last letter was an opinion that if America should manufacture for herself & if Spain should manufacture her own Merino wool & her Iron (& both are unequaled in any other part of the world) that the ship of british Monopoly will loose her Main Anchor—will drift down the current of Adversity & become a wreck on the shore of Mediocrity. This I believe probable but it is so...
3854To James Madison from Edmond Kelly, 26 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
I hope you are perswaded that no wish to catch at popularity Induced me to write my former letters—that is the road usually traveled by obscure demagogues whose object it is to exalt themselves, and I wd. deserve contempt had I been actuated by any such motive—every days experience verifies the truth of Lord Mansfields observation that the applause of the mob is not always the meed of merit,...
3855To James Madison from Edward P. Page, [ca. 24 September 1820] (Madison Papers)
[ … ] I am greatly encouraged to find that what I have been zealously contending for has recently been maintained by the Revd. Holland Weeks of Abingdon Massachusetts. A council of Presbyterian ministers have excommunicated him for entertaining similar dangerous heretical opinions to mine. Glory to God Babylon is on fire he declared before his judges “there is not a single truth remaining in...
3856To James Madison from James Monroe, 22 September 1820 (letter not found) (Madison Papers)
¶From James Monroe. Letter not found. 22 September 1820 . Offered for sale in The Collection of Autographs of Hon. James T. Mitchell (Stan. V. Henkels Catalogue No. 731 [1894], 77).
3857To James Madison from Bernard Smith, 20 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. the letter which you did me the honor to write to me on the 13th. inst. The reasons which you give, for not wishing publicity to be given to your opinion as to the manner in which I discharged my official duties, while you were at the head of the Govt., are satisfactory. It is gratifying to me to learn, that you “should always be ready to bear the testimony requested, under...
3858To James Madison from George Hay, 18 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
When I left Montpelier, I did not imagine that we should bring away more than we had carried. I find however, that three books belonging to the library, and a fourth belonging to Mr. T’s room, were transferred from the apartment to which Mrs. Scott was conducted, to Mrs. Hay’s chamber, and stowed away by her maid among her baggage. This petty larceny was not discovered until several days after...
3859From James Madison to Bernard Smith, [13 September 1820] (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 6th. inst. Knowing nothing that could in the least detract from the respect & confidence of which you have had successive marks from me, I should always be ready to bear the testimony, requested under circumstances not liable to be misconstrued or misrepresented. How far those under wch. it would not be given are of that character I can not but think may deserve...
3860To James Madison from Maury & Latham, 13 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
We beg leave to inform you that by the Scipio, Capt Drummond, for Norfolk, we shipped the goods you directed should be purchased, and consigned them to Mess Moses Myers & Son, requesting them to receive Mess Mackay & Campbells instructions respecting them. We judged it best to send them to Norfolk as there may be no vessel from hence to the Rappahannoc this twelvemonth. We must apprize you...
3861To James Madison from Thomas Ewell, [6] September 1820 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty of directing this to you, to ask your encouragement of an establishment designed to promote medical science, by the means of relieving the diseased poor around us. There is not in our country a population equal to that of this city and Georgetown, (exceeding twenty thousand,) which has not some medical institution for the relief of the sick. In addition to the number of poor...
3862To James Madison from Bernard Smith, 6 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
Having voted against the proposed restriction on Missouri, attempts are making to prevent my re-election to a seat in Congress. This question is not generally understood and the restrictionists are actively employed in endeavoring to destroy the popularity of those who opposed the measure. In 1804, you appointed me to a situation in the Dept. of State, which I held for Six years. Soon after my...
3863To James Madison from Mackay & Campbell, 4 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
Your favour 1st. inst. to our prior, covering your sett of exchange on Maury & Latham for £100 Sterlg. is before us. Seven weeks ago we Valued on these Gentlemen for £150 Stg. on account your 8 Hhd’s Tobacco & on account 8 Hhds of our own, Shipped per Scipio, Capt. Drummond, from Jas. River. Our Bill was made under the supposition that we were to Value for proceeds your Tobo. as well as our...
3864To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 2 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have long intended to write to you but somehow or other have neglected it—it is a long while since we have seen each other—within a few days it will be 33 Years the day we dined together on signing the Constitution —what changes have taken place since & in my opinion, one of the worst to us is that we are so much older than we were then—for in spite of all that the divines & philosophers may...
3865From James Madison to Robert Mackay, 1 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
I inclose a Bill on Mr. Maury for £100 Sterling which will cover your advance of $300. and leave a balance of , which if convenient I shall be glad of by our Court day for this month. I have ventured to draw for that much, as the bill is at 60 days & as I rely on the quality of the Tobo. I have sent, and the amount of the ensurance, to make the payment safe. I have written for a few articles,...
3866From James Madison to Jacob De La Motta, [post–7] August 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 7th. inst: with the Discourse delivered at the consecration of the Hebrew Synagogue at Savannah, for which you will please to accept my thanks. The history of the Jews must for ever be interesting. The modern part of it is at the same time so little generally known, that every ray of light on the subject has its value. Among the features peculiar to the...
3867To James Madison from Andrew Ramsay, 30 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
I had the honour to receive your letter of the 13th. instant, and to communicate its contents this morning to Mrs. Graham, who returned to my house yesterday, after a short visit to her relations in Maryland. To a mind filled with deep affliction, and to the family throughout, your friendly and affectionate expressions of condolence at the death of Mr. Graham, together with Mrs. Madison’s,...
3868To James Madison from Richard Rush, 30 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
The Mr Keilsall to whom the enclosed letter is addressed, I have not, by all the inquiries which it has been in my power to make since I came to London, been able to find out. I therefore return it, not without regret at my disappointment, which however is lessened by the excuse which the act of returning it affords me of writing to you. The last time I had that pleasure, was, if I recollect...
3869From James Madison to James Monroe, 29 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Governeur gave us to understand that we should have the pleasure of seeing you & Mrs. Monroe about the first or second week in Sepr. Be so good as to drop a line saying as nearly as you can the precise time. Mrs. M. & myself have a little visit to make in the neighbourhood, which can be executed with equal conveniency a little sooner or later, and which we shall hasten or delay, so as to...
3870Monticello and Montpelier, [15 August 1820] (Madison Papers)
You request me to give you some account of my late excursion to Virginia. I comply with the request, but am sorry to observe, that the time occupied in making it was too short to enable me to take those views of the country through which I passed that are necessary to render any description pleasing or satisfactory. The observations, however, I had the power to make, in my rapid journey, I...