31From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 June 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
The receipt of your letter of May 6. remains unacknoleged. I am also told that Colo. Monroe has letters for me by post tho’ I have not yet received them. I hear but little from our assembly. Mr. Henry has declared in favour of the impost. This will ensure it. How he is as to the other questions of importance I do not learn. On opening my papers when I came home I found among them the inclosed...
32To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 7 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Lacks complimentary close and signature, but the text, in Randolph’s hand, seems to be complete. The cover was addressed by him to “The honble. James Madison jr. esq of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “Sepr. 7. 1782.” I waited upon Mr. Ambler to shew him your letter by yesterday’s post, but he was too much indisposed to have communication with any person. Mr....
33To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 18 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed by Randolph to “The honble James Madison jr. esq. of congress. Philadelphia.” Erroneously docketed by JM, “Aug: 18th. 1782.” On the cover he wrote, “Huddy Camp Front: N.Y Brit: fleet. Mr. Jones. Finance Contr: Money Mattrs. Cessions.” These jottings were to remind him of subjects to mention in his reply of 29 October (...
34To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 1 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Undocketed and cover missing. I have no Letter from you by this Post. expecting to receive from Mr. Ross a duplicate of the Bill which fell into the hands of the Robbers and forward it to you this week I came to Town to day but have no letter from him. Col. Monroe writes me he promised to send it. my friend Griffin will therefore be obliged to wait longer than I...
35From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 June 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favours of the 13th. and 20th. Ult. came to hand about a week ago. I am informed the assembly determined against the capacity of reelection in those gentlemen of the delegation who could not serve a complete year. I do not know on what this decision could be founded. My hopes of the success of the Congressional propositions here have lessened exceedingly. Mr. Henry had declared in favor...
36From George Washington to James Madison, 27 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I accept very kindly the Address of the President & Professors of the University of William & Mary. The Reduction of the British Force in this State for which I feel myself highly indebted to the Noble Exertions of our Brave and Generous Allies, is a Circumstance which gives me great pleasure, not only as it affords a Return of peaceful Security to many of my fellow Citizens, but as it will, I...
37To James Madison from William Bradford, 20 May 1776—Summary (Madison Papers)
20 May 1776 . In “A Memorandum Book and Register, for the months of May & June 1776,” now in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, William Bradford wrote on 20 May: “… went to the town meeting where notwithstanding the badness of the day ther was a great number of inhabitants & it was resolved 1. That the present Government was inefficient 2. That the Assembly could not legally form a new...
38To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 25 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
Summary ( LC : Madison Miscellany). The summary is copied from a calendar, probably prepared about 1850 by Peter Force’s clerk. He noted that the letter was addressed “to James Madison” and the manuscript consisted of “1 page folio.” Mr. Pendleton’s reply to Madisons objection to his plan of paying public creditors. Consuls and Superintendents of Trade preferable to Foreign Ministers. JM’s...
39To James Madison from Nathanael Greene, 1 April 1781 (Madison Papers)
Draft (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan). With the exception of a few corrections by General Greene, the text of the letter was penned by his aide-de-camp, Captain Nathaniel Pendleton. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, & to thank you, for your Obliging Letter of January 13th. I am uncertain whether I have not done this before, but am fearfull thro’ the hurry of a...
40To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 20 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC (University of Virginia Library). This is apparently the only one of the many letters written by which still exists in original manuscript form ( Pendleton to JM, 27 August 1780 , headnote). How it alone survived is problematical. Perhaps the neatly printed “To James Madison Nov: 20th: 1780.” near its bottom margin was added by an autograph collector to whom JM gave the letter. The letter...
41To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 8 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). I have yr obliging favr of the 26th past, I know not when my first letter, after you kindly accepted my proposed correspondence, should have reached you, but be assured I have not miss’d a week since, nor shall I unless sickness prevents me, being a very Punctual tho’ not an entertaining correspondent; at this time I have not a word of foreign or domestic...
42To James Madison from Jacquelin Ambler, 16 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover missing. Docketed by JM, “Sepr. 16. 1782.” I am a wretched Correspondent—nothing to send you but Apologies for short epistles. It is confidently said here that the war will be pushed by Britain with redoubled vigour the next Campaign & that our State is certainly the Object to be first reduced. I hope there are not sufficient grounds for this Report & that you...
43To James Madison from Jacquelin Ambler, 1 June 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by JM, “June 1. 1783.” Cover addressed by Ambler to “The Honobl. James Madison of Congress Philadelphia.” As Colo. Bland was the only Member left at Congress, beside yourself, to whom any considerable Arrears could be due, I made no doubt of your being able to draw a part of yours on the receipt of the £1000. last sent, without any difficulty on yours, or...
44From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 31 August 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of July 17. which came to hand long ago remains still unacknoleged, as from the time of it’s receipt I had constant hope that you would be on the road for Virginia before an answer could reach you. That of the 11th. inst. I received yesterday, and leaves the time of your visit as unfixed as ever, and excites some fear that I shall miss of you. I propose to set out for Congress about...
45To James Madison from Jacquelin Ambler, 10 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover addressed to “The Honobl. James Madison of Congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “May. 10. 1783.” To my great mortification Mr. Newton is not yet come to the Assembly and, altho’ I wrote pressingly to him last week to send me the Bill, I have received no Answer. I hinted in my last the probability of your drawing from Mr. Newton’s Bill a part of the Arrears...
46To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 28 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). At the top of the left margin of the transcription, the clerk wrote “MSS [M]cGuire’s.” See Papers of Madison William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al ., eds., The Papers of James Madison (5 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). , I, xxii, xxiii. Another copy of the first two paragraphs of the original is printed in the Proceedings of the Massachusetts...
Letters not found ( LC : Force Transcripts, fol. 8729). 17 and 24 February 1783 . About 1850 a clerk of Peter Force, engaged in copying letters of Edmund Pendleton, wrote: “MSS. McGuire’s. Edmund Pendleton } Edmundsbury, Feby 17. 1783 to James Madison “(This letter is much stained, & some of it illegible) “Another letter dated ‘E[d]mundsbury Feb. 24, 1783,’ is in the same condition. “There...
48To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 22 March 1781 [1782] (Madison Papers)
The roads have been hitherto so bad, that we have been able to accomplish no more of our journey, than about 80 miles. Tomorrow we shall see Baltimore; and unless my arrangements miscarry, I shall revisit Richmond on Sunday se’ennight. For a few minutes this afternoon I thumbed the body of Maryland laws. In the preface to Bacon’s edition of them, I found a recital of an act of the Lords...
49To James Madison from Jacquelin Ambler, 29 December 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by JM, “Decr. 29. 1781.” I cannot give you a word of news, and I fear Mr. Hayes’s Paper of to day will afford but little. I have not seen it yet. The [Assembly is] still sitting, but the defection of the [members is] so great, that we are in dread lest every Evening should prove the last, and the business left—as they begun. The most sanguine seem as if they...
50From George Washington to James Madison, 22 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
Major McHenry—formerly an assistant Secretary to me, & afterwards Aid de Camp to the Marqs de la Fayette, informs me that Congress are about to appoint Official Secretaries for their Ministers abroad, & expresses a wish to go in that character to the Court of Versailles—or London. Justice, if I could divest myself of the inclination to serve this Gentleman, would compel me to represent him as...
51To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 1 September 1783 (Madison Papers)
Summary ( LC : Madison Miscellany). The summary is in a calendar, probably prepared about 1850 by Peter Force’s clerk. He noted that the letter was addressed “To James Madison” and that the manuscript consisted of “1 page folio.” Congress declines to return to Philadelphia. The question of the protection of Congress and foreign ministers. Congress should control the territory where it sits....
52From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 November 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour by Colo. Basset is not yet come to hand. The intimation through the Attorney I received the day before Colo. Bland’s arrival by whom I am honoured with your’s of the 14th inst. It finds me at this place attending my family under inoculation. This will of course retard those arrangements of my domestic affairs which will of themselves take time and cannot be made but at home. I...
53To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 2 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in Randolph’s hand. Cover addressed by a clerk to “the Honble. James Madison of Congress Philadelphia .” Docketed by JM, “Novr. 2. 1782.” The great constitutional question, which was mentioned in my last letter, as having been adjourned from the general court to the court of appeals, received a second solemn hearing on thursday. The Judges, impressed...
54To James Madison from Benjamin Harrison, 19 January 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Maine Historical Society, Portland). In the hand of Archibald Blair, clerk of the Council of State. Addressed to “The Hon. Mr. Jas. Madison.” The Executive have appointed Mr Madison and Mr Andrews commissioners to meet those of Pensylvania, to run and finally settle the boundary line betwixt this State and that; in order to do it with accuracy, some astronomical Observations are necessary,...
55To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 26 April [1783] (Madison Papers)
I am from hence to ⟨acknowled⟩ge the receipt of yr. two favrs. of the 8th. & since, the latter conveying the Official Authentication of the Account of peace, about which people began to entertain doubts, much encouraged by the Speculators—it is now fix’d, and we must turn Our thoughts to the realising it’s benefits. I find people here objecting to the Impost upon the score of danger from too...
56To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 28 July 1783 (Madison Papers)
In acknowledging the rect. of yr. favr. of the 15th., I must as usual be very unentertaining in our total dearth of Interesting intelligence, whether foreign or domestic, all I can say of the latter kind is, that we have a very dry Season, wch., at this critical juncture, threatens a disappointment in the fair prospect we lately had of plentiful Crops of all kinds, which however bountiful...
57To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, [25 March 1782] (Madison Papers)
… The people of Vermont, like many other Politicians of the cunning sort, seem to have overshot their mark, & will deserve to be mortified at least, before they obtain their point. However their conduct unavoidably suggests, a very serious consideration of the consequences of their emancipation; that is, will they be a proper firm Barrier to the United States in that quarter giving...
58To James Madison from Jacquelin Ambler, 17 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Letter unsigned but in Ambler’s hand. Cover addressed to “The Honobl. James Madison of Congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “May 17. 1783.” Mr. Newton has at length sent the first Bills which I now transmit you, two of £500. each. I was alarmed at the first view of them, being drawn at a very long period after sight, but I observe they were accepted as long ago as...
59To James Madison from Jacquelin Ambler, 22 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed to “The Honobl. James Madison of Congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “Mar: 22 1783. J. A. bala. due at end of 1782 £865–8–3 Virga. currency.” The Auditors have at length adjusted your Accot. on their Books to the 31st December last; the Bal[ance] then due you from the Commonwealth appears to be £865.. 8.. 3. By last Mail I transmitted you Bills on...
60To James Madison from Arthur Lee, [24 May] 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed text (New York Book and Art Auction Company Catalogue No. 75, 1–2 March 1939). Addressed to “Honble. James Madison, Esqr., in Congress, Philadelphia.” The letter is unsigned, but JM docketed it, “May 24, 1782. A. Lee.” The above Resolves are directed to be sent to you as Instructions. They wait the confirmation of the Senate which has not yet formed a House, but will I hope effect it...