1From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 1 May 1781—Misdated (Madison Papers)
Letter misdated. 1 May 1781 [ 2 ]. Three of the earlier editions of the papers of JM printed portions of his letter, allegedly written on 1 May 1781, to Edmund Randolph, attorney general of Virginia and delegate from that state in Congress beginning on 14 June 1781 ( Madison, Papers [Gilpin ed.] Henry D. Gilpin, ed., The Papers of James Madison (3 vols.; Washington, 1840). , I, 90–93; Madison,...
2From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 22 January 1782—Misdated (Madison Papers)
Letter misdated. 22 January 1782[3]. The manuscript of this document is now missing. A printed copy is in Madison, Papers (Gilpin ed.) Henry D. Gilpin, ed., The Papers of James Madison (3 vols.; Washington, 1840). , I, 111–12. Many years after writing the letter, JM selected at least a portion of it for inclusion in the earliest edition of his papers. Either JM misdated the letter a year too...
3From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 9 April 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The cover is missing, but the contents permit no doubt that JM was writing to Randolph. I had promised myself the pleasure of a line from you by this post but find by a letter from Mr. Jameson that you had not arrived at Richmond at the time of writing for it. I have inclosed to Mr. J. the paper of this morning which contains all the news current without doors....
4From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 23 April 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The words written by JM in the official cipher are italicized in the present copy. Although the letter is incomplete, the missing portion apparently contained only a few concluding words and JM’s signature. I am at length assured of your safe arrival at your destination by your favor of the 11 continued on the 13th. The little necessity I understand there was for...
5Account with Edmund Randolph, [ca. 1 May] 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). At the top of this undated, torn, and water-stained scrap of paper, Randolph wrote “Madison to Randolph E.” On the reverse of the sheet, “J. Madison” appears twice in Randolph’s hand and also a “32.” What this numeral connotes is unknown. Being sharp in outline, the “3” can hardly be a vestige of an “8” which, in combination with the “2,” might have represented the...
6From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 1 May 178[2] (Madison Papers)
Printed text ( Madison, Papers [Gilpin ed.] Henry D. Gilpin, ed., The Papers of James Madison (3 vols.; Washington, 1840). , I, 90–93; and Madison, Letters [Cong. ed.] [William C. Rives and Philip R. Fendall, eds.], Letters and Other Writings of James Madison (published by order of Congress; 4 vols.; Philadelphia, 1865). , I, 43). The third paragraph of the letter, as here printed, is taken...
7From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, [7] May 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed text ( Madison, Papers [Gilpin ed.] Henry D. Gilpin, ed., The Papers of James Madison (3 vols.; Washington, 1840). , I, 125–26). The enclosed gazette details all the information which we have received relative to the parliamentary advances towards a negotiation with the United States. The first reports which issued from the packet which brought them, were of a very different...
8From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 14 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Madison Papers). Above the date line of his transcription, the anonymous copyist wrote “To Edmund Randolph.” Someone also unknown, while checking the four pages of copy against the now missing original, interlineated two omissions (see nn. 9 and 10) and then wrote at the top of the first page, “a Duplicate letters both corrected the same Sep 14, ’38.” See Papers of Madison William T....
9From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 21 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The cover is missing, and the name of the addressee is not shown in the letter. Docketed in Randolph’s hand, “J Madison May 21. 1782.” JM’s autograph list of letters from “JM. to E. Randolph” ( Papers of Madison William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al ., eds., The Papers of James Madison (4 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). , III, 100–101 , editorial note)...
10From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 28 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
Excerpt ( Madison, Papers [Gilpin ed.] Henry D. Gilpin, ed., The Papers of James Madison (3 vols.; Washington, 1840). , I, 130–34). The manuscript has not been found. Only the last two paragraphs of the text, probably in cipher in the original, are printed here, because the rest of the letter is identical with the one which JM wrote to Joseph Jones on the same date, except for the personal...
11From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 29 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed, “Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” Docketed, “J. Madison Jr. May 29. 1782.” The inclosed letter was put into my hands several weeks ago. As I found by looking into it that it related to a subject decided on in the case of Col. Carrington, and which wd. be communicated by him to Majr. Pierce, I thought it unnecessary to transmit it by the Post. This is the...
12From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 4 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). In the second volume of this collection, beginning with folio 73, are four pages of a letter written by JM and dated “June 4th. 1782.” Although the cover is missing, the contents permit no doubt that Randolph was the addressee. Folio 42 of the third volume of JM’s manuscripts in the Library of Congress seems to be an additional page containing a postscript to the...
13From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 6 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Lacks complimentary close and signature but is in JM’s hand. Docketed, “J. Madison. June 6. 1782.” Addressed: “Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond. Favd. by Mr. Webb.” Mr. Webb being detained till this morning I enclose you the gazette of it. You will find a singular extract from Lord North’s Butchet. The Speech was delivered on the 11th. of March. It must have been Mr....
14Barbé-Marbois Letter Written with Jm’s Collaboration, 9 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed text ( Pennsylvania Packet , 11 June 1782; also Virginia Gazette Virginia Gazette, or, the American Advertiser (Richmond, James Hayes, 1781–86). , 22 June 1782). David C. Claypoole, editor of the Packet , introduced the letter to his readers with this foreword, probably supplied by JM: “The following Extract of a Letter written from Philadelphia, by a Gentleman in Office to one of the...
15From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 11 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed, “J. Madison, Phil: 11. June 1782.” Words written by JM in the official cipher are italicized. I have your favor of the 1st. instant. I hope you received mine altho you do not acknowledge them. My punctuality has not been intermitted more than once or twice since your departure, and in no instance for a considerable time past. I have written so fully...
16From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 18 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The cover is missing and the letter is not docketed. I recd. no letter from you yesterday nor shall I receive any for that week unless it be through the channel of Rivington’s Gazette, the Post having been robbed of his mail on Saturday eving last in Maryland. I hope your letter did not contain anything not in Cypher which is unfit for the public eye. The policy...
17From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 25 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned letter in JM’s hand. The cover is missing. Randolph wrote his own name in the lower left-hand margin of the first page of the manuscript. Probably many years later JM or someone at his bidding placed a bracket at the beginning of the first paragraph and another bracket at the close of the fifth paragraph to designate that portion of the letter for...
18From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 2 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Docketed, “James Madison. 2d July 1782.” The cover is missing. The italicized words are those that JM wrote in the official cipher. The confidential & circumstancial communications in your favor of the 20th. of June have afforded me much pleasure. Those which relate to the scheme of garbleing the delegatetion were far from surprizing me. In...
19From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 9 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned letter in JM’s hand. The cover is missing. Docketed by Randolph with his own name only. The italicized words are those written by JM in the official cipher. Late in his life JM or someone by his direction bracketed the first and third paragraphs of this letter, thus designating them for inclusion in the first edition of his papers ( Madison, Papers [Gilpin...
20From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 16 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by Randolph, “July 16. 1782.” The cover is missing. What may have been a brief complimentary close and signature are too faded to be legible. The italicized words are those written by JM in cipher, except in the one instance mentioned in n. 10. For the passage which he encoded in the Lovell rather than the official cipher, see n. 27. Many years after writing...
21From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 23 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The letter lacks a complimentary close and signature. Words italicized in the next to last paragraph of the letter were written by JM in the Lovell cipher. The cover is franked by “J. Madison Jr.” and addressed by him to “The honble Edmund Randolph Esqr Richmond.” For a time the cover was used as a wrapper for a number of letters, because it is docketed by Randolph,...
22From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 30 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by Randolph, “July 30. 1782.” Cover missing. The italicized words are those written by JM in the Lovell cipher. I was not mistaken in my intimation that an attack would be made on the last commission and instructions relative to peace [.] on Wednesday last the motion was made by M—r Lee and seconded by
23From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 5–6 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by Randolph, “Js. Madison Aug 5–6. 1782 contains Lovell’s cypher.” Words italicized in the first paragraph were written in James Lovell’s cipher, those following “Augst. 6th.” in the official cipher. For the use of these codes, see Papers of Madison William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al ., eds., The Papers of James Madison (5 vols. to date;...
24From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 9 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover franked by “J. Madison Jr.” and addressed by him to “The honble Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond by Express.” Docketed by Randolph, “1782, Aug. 9.” Extract of a letter from Carlton & Digby to Gen Washington. Augt. 2. “We are acquainted Sir by Authority, that negociations for a general peace have already commenced at Paris & that Mr. Grenville is invested with...
25From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 13 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). JM addressed the cover, “The honble Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” The docket, in Randolph’s hand, reads “J. Madison Jr April 13. 1782.” Except where otherwise noted, words italicized in the letter were written by JM in the official cipher. Subsequent to his recovery of the letter in 1821, JM lined through “April 13” with ink and beneath it wrote “August 13.”...
26From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 20 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Cover missing but contents make clear that the addressee was Randolph. Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison jr. Aug. 20. 1782.” In the first two paragraphs the italicized words are those encoded by JM in the official cipher; in the third paragraph, the Lovell cipher. On JM’s roster of letters written to Randolph ( JM to Randolph, 13 August...
27From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 27 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. The cover is franked “J Madison Jr.” and addressed by him to “The honble Edmund Randolph Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison jr. Aug: 27, 1782.” Unless otherwise noted, the italicized words are those encoded by JM in the official cipher. Your favor of the 16th. came duly to hand yesterday. The hints which it gives with regard to...
28From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 3 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). In JM’s hand. Cover missing. Letter is unsigned. Docketed by Randolph, “Sepr. 3. 1782.” He evidently showed the letter to the Reverend James Madison, who wrote above the docket, “Septr. 22. 1782 JMadison,” possibly the date when the clergyman received the letter. Apparently upon recovering the letter, Randolph crossed out the “22” and wrote “3” above it. The...
29From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 10 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Addressed to “E. Randolph Esqr.” Cover missing. Docketed by Randolph, “James Madison. Septr. 10. 1782.” Except where otherwise noted, the italicized words were written by JM in the official cipher. The loss of the French 74 in Boston Harbour presented an occasion which was embraced by Congress, of making a small requital to their Ally for...
30From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 11 September, 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). On the cover JM wrote, “J. Madison Jr Sepr. 11. 1782” and “The Honbl Edmund Randolph Esqr. Virginia Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “James Madison Sepr. 11. 1782.” Randolph used one flap of the cover to make notes about the evidence presented at the trial of “the Man who is charged with the Murder of Capt. Knott.” See McIlwaine, Official Letters H. R. McIlwaine,...
31From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 11 September, 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed by JM to “Edmund Randolph Esqr Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “JMadison Sept: 11. 1782.” Accompanying this manuscript in the Library of Congress is a copy of the letter, apparently made by a clerk, with a few corrections and comments in the hand of William C. Rives, author of the first major biography of JM. The Gentleman by whom I wrote this morning...
32From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, [16]–17 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned letter in JM’s hand. Cover missing but letter docketed by Randolph, “17 Sept. 82.” The date line originally read “Philada. Sepr. 1782.” Many years later JM inserted “[17]” between the month and the year. In view of his “Sepr. 17.” at the beginning of the seventh paragraph, this insert almost certainly should have been [16]. The italicized words are those...
33From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 24 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned letter in JM’s hand. Cover missing. Randolph docketed the letter, “Sepr. 24. 1782.” Although the text is on folio 12 in LC : Madison Papers, III, the quotations enclosed with the letter are on folio 24a in Volume II. Number 24b of that volume comprises two other folios on which, for his own files, JM drafted and largely encoded the fourth paragraph of the...
34From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 30 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Docketed by Randolph, “J Madison, September 30. 1782.” On the cover, of which only a fragment is extant, is “andolph Esqr. Richmond.” The letter from the Govr. to the Delegation recd. yesterday along with yours of the 20th. inst: expresses some agitation at the supposed effects of the letters to him from Genl Carlton. Whatever curiosity...
35From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 8 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by Randolph, “J Madison Octob: 8, 1782.” Letter unsigned and cover missing. Probably many years afterward, when the letter was returned to JM, he added to the docket, “contains Lovell’s cypher. E Randolph Esqr.” Late in his life JM or someone at his direction bracketed the text to indicate that all but the final sentence of the postscript should be included...
36From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 15 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Cover missing. Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison jr. Oct: 15. 1782.” Probably many years later, after this letter was returned to him, JM wrote below Randolph’s docket, “contains Lovell’s cypher.” Words or parts of words which JM encoded in that or the official cipher have been italicized in the present copy. The third paragraph of the...
37From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 22 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Addressed by him to “The honble Edmd Randolph.” Cover missing. Docketed by Randolph, “J Madison. jr. Octob: 22. 1782.” Unless otherwise noted, the italicized passages are those encoded by JM in the official cipher. As JM stated in the first paragraph of this letter, his quotation from the commission of Alleyne Fitzherbert is only a...
38From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 29 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). At the bottom of the first page of this two-page letter, JM wrote “E. Randolph Esqr.” The cover is missing. Words and parts of words encoded by JM in the official cipher have been italicized. Late in his life JM or someone at his bidding placed a bracket at the beginning of the second paragraph and another bracket at the close of the sixth paragraph to designate the...
39From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 5 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison Nov: 5. 1782.” Except when otherwise noted, the italicized words are those written by JM in the official cipher. My last informed you that a proposition had been made in Congress for accepting the territorial Cession of N. York. The paper inclosed contains the proceedings which ensued. The acceptance of...
40From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 10 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by Randolph, “James Madison Novr. 10. 1782.” Only a portion of the cover is extant. On it, in JM’s hand, appears “The honble Edmun Fav’d. by Col: Bassett.” For “Col: Bassett,” see JM to Randolph, 12 November 1782, n. 1 . I put under this cover the Newspaper of saturday last, and a poetical production of N. England which has much applause bestowed on it. We...
41From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 12 November 1782 (first) (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed to “The honble Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” Franked, “J Madison Jr.” Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison Nov: 12. 1782.” On the cover, in Randolph’s hand, are also two parallel columns of small numbers. The left column is headed “Betsy” (Mrs. Edmund Randolph) and the other, “E. R.” Probably they were opponents in a household game for which Randolph kept...
42From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 12 November 1782 (second) (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover addressed to “The honble Edmd. Randolph favd. by Dr. Tucker who will deliver it himself if he can—if not by the hand of Col: Monroe.” This cover was docketed by Randolph, “Novr. 12. 1782 J Madison.” On the fragment of a second cover there appears, certainly not in Tucker’s and seemingly not in Monroe’s hand, “[Ho]nble Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” Resolved...
43From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 14 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover missing. Docketed by Randolph, “James Madison Novr. 14. 1782.” Below this date JM added, probably many years later, “to E. Randolph.” By a line dropped for the post, tho’ perhaps too late to get into the mail, and by another by Dr. Tucker who soon followed, I informed you of the reappointment of Mr. Jefferson, that the act passed unanimously & without even an...
44From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 19 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Cover franked by “J Madison Jr.” and addressed by him to “The honble Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “James Madison Novr. 19 1782.” I find by your favor of the 8th. that your occupation with the Courts has continued to be a bar to the completion of the Cypher. It is very little missed however on my part as yet, the...
45From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 26 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison Novr. 26. 1782.” Except where otherwise noted, the italicized words are those enciphered by JM in the official code. The Governor in his letter to the Delegates of the 8th. of the prest. month, after observing that the great scarcity of cash in Virga. will put it out of her power to comply with the demands...
46From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 2 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover addressed to: “The honble Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond Favd. by Mr. Nathan.” See n. 10, below. Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison jr. Philad: Decr. 2. 1782.” The italicized words are those which JM encoded in the official cipher. The Secy. of F. Affairs communicated to me a few days ago his determination speedily to resign his office He asked me in the course...
47From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 3 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Cover missing. Docketed by Randolph, “[J]. Madison jr. Decr. 3. 1782.” Except where noted, words or parts of words italicized are those encoded by JM in the official cipher. Applications from the States of N. Hamshire & Massachusetts concerning the old paper of which they hold a surplus have called the attention of Congress once more to...
48From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 10 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). In JM’s hand but lacks complimentary close and signature. Cover franked by “J. Madison Jr” and addressed by him to “The Honble Edmund Randolph Esqr Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “The Honble J. Madison Decr. 10. 1782.” Words italicized are those written by JM in the official cipher. The Assembly of Penna. have with much difficulty been prevailed on to desist from a...
49From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 17 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Originally docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison jr. (of Cong) 17 Septr 1782.” Probably upon recovering the letter ( Papers of Madison William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al ., eds., The Papers of James Madison (5 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). , III, 100 ), JM canceled “Septr” and wrote “December” in front of “17.” Although dated...
50From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 24 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed to “The honble Edmund Randolph Esqr Richmond.” Cover also franked and signed, “J Madison Jr.” Docketed by Randolph, “J Madison. Decr. 24. 1782.” In the last three paragraphs the italicized words or abbreviations are those encoded by JM in the official cipher. Since my last the Danae a French frigate has arrived from France with money for the French army and...