1To James Madison from Horatio Gates Spafford, 9 August 1818 (Madison Papers)
In these woods, constantly occupied in my new business, that of Farming, & forming a new Settlement on an extensive tract of wild land, I hold little intercourse with the literary world & Know little of what is going on. As my attention is most sedulously directed to Agricultural & Rural Economies, I could not long be unapprized of the publication of some extracts from a late Address of thine...
2To James Madison from Horatio Gates Spafford, 15 March 1822 (Madison Papers)
I present a copy of my Proposals for a second edition of the Gazetteer of this State, & am in hopes I shall soon have the pleasure of sending the Book to thee. If it give thee no information, it will enable me to recall thy recollections of the poor old dandy of an Author, & to renew assurances of high regard. I do not recollect whether I have informed thee that I am preparing a sort of...
3To James Madison from Horatio Gates Spafford, 11 June 1822 (Madison Papers)
By some delay of the Post Master at Ballston, to which thy favor of April 16 was directed, I did not receive it until yesterday. My Geography & Gazetteer will soon be ready for the press, & greatly improved, by no small labor. Within the last 6 months, I have sent by Mail 1100 Letters, more than 300 of which were autographs, thinking, as indeed I have always found it, that less attention is...
4To James Madison from Horatio Gates Spafford, 25 November 1822 (Madison Papers)
Providence sometimes blesses us with necessary chastisements. The untoward events that drove me from my Cabin in the wilds of Western Pennsylvania, restored me again to society, led to the performance of a necessary literary task, a second edition of my Gazetteer, & to the completion of another task, on which, during 20 odd years, I had expended, hitherto to no profit, a great deal of time,...
5To James Madison from Horatio Gates Spafford, 8 April 1824 (Madison Papers)
As I once spoke or wrote to thee concerning a Gazetteer & Geography of the State of Virginia, I am anxious to have thee see my Gaz. & Geog. of New York, just published. It is a 3 dollar volume, octavo, 620 pages, & I wait thy instructions how to send it. When thou hast examined it, I should very much like to know thy opinion of it, particularly as to the freedom I have used in speaking of many...
6To James Madison from Horatio Gates Spafford, 8 March 1825 (Madison Papers)
The booksellers tell me that Tourists & Travellers want a convenient Pocket Companion, not merely an Itinerary, but a descriptive account of places of public resort in the United States. I have undertaken such a Work, intended for publication in June next. Your Sweet Springs, & Warm Springs, & Hot Springs, et cetera, in Virginia, claim more notice than I have the means of giving them in this...
7To James Madison from Horatio Gates Spafford, 10 May 1825 (Madison Papers)
I am favored with thy Letter of March 23. Soon after, or about the same time I wrote thee, I applied, by Letter, to persons at Staunton, Union, the Sweet Springs, &c. for information, specifying what I wanted, & what for, in reply to which I am favored with prompt & satisfactory answers, as I have been from all parts of the United States, excepting only from New Orleans. My Work is advancing,...
8To James Madison from Horatio Gates Spafford, 29 July 1825 (Madison Papers)
Thy favor of 22 inst., enclosing ten dollars, is duly received. This pays, & more than pays, for the Works sent thee; & as thou expressed some anxiety lest it might miscarry, I hasten my acknowledgment. Permit me to add, that, much as I need, & value, ten dollar bank notes, rather scarce articles in the pocket, yet I prize, more highly, this testimony of thy regard. In much solicitude about...