1From 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...
2From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 8 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
You will add to the obligations under which you have already laid me, by taking the trouble to transmit the inclosed to the speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. I am happy in having so good an opportunity, as that which now offers by Capt. la Touche, of forwarding the letter to the Marquis de la Fayette. I am not a judge of the Etiquette upon these occasions, but it really does seem odd...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Randolph, with a Memorandum by Jefferson, 9 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As your excellency and the council probably have not access to Vattel, on whose doctrines this hasty answer is founded, I shall inclose the paragraph from his work, which treats of the right of soldiery to booty. They seem to amount to this: that booty does in strictness belong to the commonwealth; but that late usage has divided it among the captors, military stores excepted. Now I believe,...
4From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 24 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover addressed, “Edmd Randolph Esqr. per Express. Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “Jas. Madison jr. Congress. private March. 24. 1783.” The express by whom I send this conveys to the Governor the welcome event of a general peace. The preliminary articles were signed on the 20th. of Jany. The day to which hostilities are limited is omitted in the abstract of the...
5From 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...
6From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 15 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover missing. Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison. April 15th. 1783.” My letter by a private hand who left this place a few days ago together with late public letters will have fully apprized you of the decisive events which have taken place in favor of peace. The paper inclosed will amuse you with the bickerings in the British parliament on that subject. Genl....
7From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 5 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover missing. Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison Aug: 5. 1783.” Your favor of the 18th. ult. which my last did not acknowledge was in the mail & was shortly after recd. Your succeeding one of the 25th. inclosing the pamphlet came to hand yesterday. The Gazette which I inclose will give you a sight of the Philada. Address to Congress and their answer. Since I left...
8From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 4 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Cover franked by “J. Madison Jr.” and addressed by him to “Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “James Madison March 4, 1783.” The italicized words are those written by JM in the Randolph code, for which see Papers of Madison William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al ., eds., The Papers of James Madison (6 vols....
9From 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...
10From 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...
11From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 22 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned and lacks a complimentary close. Cover franked by JM and addressed to “Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison. April 22. 1783.” The mail of yesterday like the preceding one broungt no letter from you. I just understand that a Frigate from France is at Chester, but what intelligence she brings & particularly whether she brings a...
12From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 15 July 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Cover franked by him and addressed to “Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison July. 15. 1783.” Many years later, after recovering this letter, JM wrote “1783” on the docket under Randolph’s indistinct notation of that year. Yesterdays post brought me no letter from you. The Contents of the inclosed paper make up...
13From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 21 July 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The fragment of cover is stamped “ free ” and addressed in JM’s hand to “Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “J Madison.” Upon recovering the letter many years later, JM added “July. 21. 1783” to the docket. This will serve merely to prevent a chasm in my correspondence, having nothing whatever of consequence to make a subject of it. We hear nothing from...
14From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 10 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). JM wrote on the cover only his own signature and “Edmund Randolph.” On the cover in another hand appears also “Favd. by Mr. Sitgreaves” ( Delegates to Harrison, 10 Apr. 1783, n. 1 ). Randolph docketed the cover of the present letter, “J. Madison. April 10, 1783,” and wrote “J. Madison” in the left margin of the text. The important contents of the inclosed paper were...
15From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 1 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I recd with pleasure & thank you for your obliging favor of the 24th Ult. —I shall be happy in such communications as your leizure—& other considerations—will permit you to transmit me for I am as totally unacquainted with the political state of things, & what is going forward in the great national Council, as if I was an alien; when a competent knowledge of the temper and designs of our...
16From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 24 June 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison June 24. 1783.” Cover missing. I cannot break in upon my punctuality so far as to omit acknowledging your favor by yesterday’s post, though I can scarce do more than refer you to the official letter to the Govr. and mine to Mr. Jones, which you will see, whether he be absent or present, having addressed it to you on the first...
17From 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...
18From 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,...
19From 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...
20From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 24 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover franked by “J Madison Jr” and addressed to “Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison Aug: 24. 1783.” Beneath this docket is written in an unknown hand, “Letters of the honble J Madison (of Congress),” probably signifying that at one time the cover was at the top of a packet of JM’s letters. Mr. Jones who arrived the beginning of the...
21From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 13 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison Feb: 13. 1783.” The italicized words are those enciphered by JM in the Randolph code. I heartily congratulate you on the dawn of peace presented in the inclosed paper. Apprehending that the commercial sagacity of this & intervening places, may sieze the crisis to speculate on the Staple of Virga., we have judged it prudent to...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Randolph, 16 September 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your letter of the 7th. inst. That mentioned to have been sent by the preceding post has not come to hand nor two others which Mrs. Randolph informs me you wrote before you left Virginia, nor indeed any other should you have been so kind as to have written any other. When I received the first letter fr[om the President of C]ongress inclosing their resolution, and mentioning...
23From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 12 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
12 April 1780. GW asks Randolph to undertake settlement of disputes among those holding mortgages on George Mercer’s lands in Virginia that GW sold prior to the war while acting under Mercer’s power of attorney. GW desired this “interesting & intricate” legal matter “brought to a conclusion at the ensuing Court.” GW promised Randolph that he would “take occasion in the course of a few Weeks to...
24From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 25 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
By the last Post I recd a letter from Mr Lund Washington (who lives at my Seat, & takes care of my business in Virginia) Inclosing a Letter from Jno. Francis Mercer Esqr. to him, with a decree of the High Court of Chancery in Virginia ordering the Bonds &ca in my hands to be delivered to the Said Mr Mercer who was required to give Bond & sufficient Security to comply with certain Provisos. in...
25From 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)...
26From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 3 June 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover missing. Many years later, after recovering this letter, JM wrote “Randolph” below the text. I thank you cordially for the narrative of legislative proceedings contained in your favor of the 24th ulto In return for the Journal of the House of Delegates I inclose herewith a copy of the proceedings of Congs. since Novr. last. There is a chasm in the Journal you...
27From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 25 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Cover franked and addressed by him to “Edmund Randolph [Esq]r. Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “Honble Jas. Madison, March 25 1783.” Probably after recovering the letter and noting that Randolph’s “3” in the year could easily be mistaken for a “5,” JM added “1783” to the docket. Your favor of the 15th. inst: was duly recd. yesterday. Mine...
28From 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...
29From 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...
30From 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...
31From 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...
32From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 6 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Cover franked by “J. Madison Jr.” and addressed by him to “Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison, 6th. May 1783.” Many years later JM or someone at his bidding placed a bracket at the close of the fourth paragraph, probably to designate that the letter to that point should be published in the first comprehensive...
33From 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...
34From 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....
35From 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...
36From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 30 June 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Cover franked by JM and addressed to “The honble Edmund Randolph Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “J Madison June. 30. 1783.” My last informed you of the mutinous insult which was offered to Congs. on the Saturday preceding. On the Evening after the insult Congs. met and resolved that the Executive Council sd. be informed that in their...
37From 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...
38From 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...
39From 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...
40From 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...
41From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 18 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison Aug: 18. 1783.” I have not this week any more than the last the pleasure of acknowledging a favor from you. Perhaps I may find one at Princeton when I get there. On thursday a question for returning to Philada. was put and decided in the Negative by a large majority. The friends of the measure foreseeing its fate, and supposing that...
42From 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....
43From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 11 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Cover missing, but the letter was docketed “James Madison March 11, 1783” by Randolph. The words written by JM in the Randolph code are italicized in the present copy. For that code, see JM to Randolph, 7 Jan. , and hdn.; 4 Feb. 1783 , and n. 10. Your favor of the 1st. inst: came to hand yesterday but unaccompanied by that of the preceding...
44From 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...
45From 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....
46From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 30 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned, but in JM’s hand. Cover franked by “J. Madison Jr” and addressed by him to “Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison Aug: 30. 1783.” We hear nothing from Europe that can be depended on relative to the definitive Treaty, nor any thing from N. York as to the time of its evacuation. A Pamphlet has lately come over from G. Britain...
47From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 18 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Cover franked by “J. Madison Jr.” and addressed by him to “Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “James Madison Feby 18. 1783.” In the first paragraph, the words are italicized which JM enciphered in the Randolph code. I am glad to find by your favor of the 7th. instant that the necessity of a readoption of the impost...
48From 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...
49From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 8 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Cover addressed by him to “E. Randolph Esqr.” Carried to Richmond by “a private hand” ( Delegates to Harrison, 10 Apr. ; JM to Randolph, 15 Apr. 1783 ). Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison jr. April 8th. 1783.” Your favor of the 29th. ult: was duly recd. yesterday. Your apprehensions from the article in favor of British Creditors, correspond...
50From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 7 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed will make the third letter I have written to Mr Nicholas within twelve months upon an interesting matter to Colo. Fairfax, without receiving an answer. As I am convinced a miscarriage of my letters, and not inattention in him is the cause of it, I take the liberty of addressing the inclosed to your care, & shall thank you for the bare acknowledgment of it. At this moment, we are...