1. JM probably referred here to a passage in a letter he wrote to Richard Henry Lee (25 Dec. 1784, PJM description begins William T. Hutchinson et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (1st ser., vols. 1–10, Chicago, 1962–77, vols. 11–17, Charlottesville, Va., 1977–91). description ends , 8:201), in which he noted the possible opposition of the Virginia legislature to a convention for revising the Articles of Confederation. “Virginia seems I think to have excellent dispositions towards the Confederacy,” he wrote, “but her assent or dissent to such a proposition wd. probably depend on the chance of its having no opponent capable of rousing the prejudices & jealousies of the Assembly agst. innovations, particularly such as will derogate from their own power & importance.” The letter was published in Richard Henry Lee, Memoir of the Life of Richard Henry Lee (2 vols.; Philadelphia, 1825; Shoemaker description begins Richard H. Shoemaker, comp., A Checklist of American Imprints for 1820–1829 (11 vols.; New York, 1964–72). description ends 21184), 2:220–21.