1From James Madison to Richard Rush, 15 February 1815 (Madison Papers)
The occasion which led to your favor of this morning merits all our congratulations, and I heartily join in those you have expressed. The terms of the peace will I hope be satisfactory to our Country. With the events of the war, they can not fail to command the respect of every other. … Be so good as to return the two papers after a leisurely perusal. The newspaper is the latest that has...
2From James Madison to Richard Rush, 20 May 1819 (Madison Papers)
Having written to you very lately, I only avail myself of the present opportunity furnished by Mr. Astor, to mention, in case of any delay or miscarriage of the letter, that yours of Decr. 13. was duly received and acknowleged. It was four months on its way, but came at length safely to hand with the books sent with it. Mr. Astor is on a visit to Europe, and will pay his respects to you in...
3From James Madison to Richard Rush, 19 March 1816 (Madison Papers)
The President, Requests the honor of Mr. Rush’s Company at dinner Tuesday the 19h. inst. at 5 oclock. The favor of an Answer is desired. RC ( PHi : Richard Rush Papers). Printed form with date, name, and time filled in by JM and addressed by him on cover to “Mr. Rush at Genl. Masons.” Year not indicated; conjectural year assigned based on the fact that 19 Mar. fell on a Tuesday in 1816.
4From James Madison to Richard Rush, 7 November 1814 (Madison Papers)
J Madison requests a Consultation with the Heads of Depts. tomorrow (tuesday) at one OClock, & that they remain to dinner. RC (offered for sale by The Raab Collection, Ardmore, Pa., Catalog 57 [2009], item 11, ID 7973). Docketed by Rush: “Cabinet meeting, Nov: 7. 1814, and remain to dine.” Year not indicated; conjectural year assigned based on the docket. A nearly identical note in JM ’s hand...
5From James Madison to Richard Rush, 21 December 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. the copy of your late Treasury Rept. & return my thanks for the kindness to which I owe it. It is a valuable voucher for the prosperity of our commerce & revenue, and a pleasing specimen of the ability which presides over the Dept. A[l]tho’ I must be presumed to dissent from some of the positions advanced, & allowed to hesitate at some of the deductions from others, there is eno’...
6From James Madison to Richard Rush, 5 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 2d. inst: with the papers inclosed with it, and thank you for having so comprehensively provided for the objects of mine to which it is an answer. I return the Proclamation, which was properly varied from that of 1806, which had more in view than the one now in hand. To avoid questions or feelings of State Prerogative, I have pencilled for erasure the words specifying...
7From James Madison to Richard Rush, 22 July 1823 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. the copy of the papers communicated to the B. Parliament which you were so good as to forward. The enterprize of France agst. the Spanish Constitution, with the grounds avowed for it, has afforded G. Britain a fine opportunity for retrieving the character lost by her abandonment of the people of the Continent on the downfal of Napoleon, and by the apparent sympathies of her Govt....
8James Madison to Richard Rush, 13 July 1833 (Madison Papers)
The Volume so kindly presented to Mrs. Madison and myself has afforded us great pleasure. Few can read it without receiving information both new and instructive—and none without being gratified on many points interesting to their curiousity. No part of it will probably be more welcome to the public, than that which gives a hope that the work will be followed by other drafts from the same fund...
9From James Madison to Richard Rush, 24 July 1818 (Madison Papers)
Your two favors of Jany. 14. & May 2. came duly to hand; the former accompanied by 3 Vols. of Malthus, with a No. of the Quarterly Review, & 4 vols. of Eustace. They claim many thanks which I pray you to accept. I have not yet entered on the latter work. I have looked over Malthus, and think the world much indebted to him for the just views he has given of an interesting subject, and for the...
10James Madison to Richard Rush, 17 January 1829 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your very kind letter of the 12th. The commendations you bestow on those relating to the Tariff belong rather to what so pregnant & important a subject ought to have made them, than to what they are. They were written to a friend who wished to avail himself of the presumed result of my better opportunities of elucidating the question; and whom I considered as needing such an...
11James Madison to Richard Rush, 15 March 1831 (Madison Papers)
I thank you, my dear Sir, for the Gazette kindly put under cover to me. It derives particular interest from the Columns subscribed "Temple." I had seen the preceding publication, bearing that fictitious name, with a ready inference of the real one. The general character of the Whig party in England is as eloquently painted as the position & perplexity of its leaders now in power, are...
12From James Madison to Richard Rush, 20 [ca. 26] August 1815 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter from Commodore Patterson inclosed to me by Mr. Homans, presents several points on which your advice to him may be useful, so far as the instructions already issued from one or other of the Departments be found inadequate. It seems entirely proper that naval protection if it can be spared, should be employed agst. the Carthaginian Corsairs, in pursuance of the rules lately...
13James Madison to Richard Rush, December 1831 (Madison Papers)
I thank you my dear Sir for the kindly put under a cover to me. It derives particular interest from the Columns subscribed "Temple". I had seen the preceding publication bearing that fictitious name, with a ready inference of the real one. The general character of the Whig party in England is as eloquently painted, as the position & perplexity of its leaders now in power are accurately...
14From James Madison to Richard Rush, 27 November 1816 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison requests a consultation with the Heads of Departments today at 12 OC and that they remain to dinner with him. RC ( PHi : Richard Rush Papers). Addressed by JM on verso “The Attorney General” and docketed there by Rush, possibly at a later date: “(And remain to dinner). Mr. Madison Nov: 1816— Cabinet meeting in which the annual message to congress (being his last) was read and...
15From James Madison to Richard Rush, 12 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
In acknowledging your favor of Sepr. last, an interval between that date & this, presents itself which would call for apology, were I less sure that you would put no misconstruction on it. The truth is, I well know your time must be so engrossed with objects more important than my correspondence, that I am unwilling to multiply its interferences; notwithstanding the temptations I feel in the...
16From James Madison to Richard Rush, 8 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
The Convention with G.B. the original of which Mr. Brent will shew you, raises the question whether a call of Congs. before the 1st. Monday in Decr. be expedient. The shortness of the period of difference, and the season of the year it embraces, seem to render the measure of so little practical moment as to dissuade from the inconvenience & expence of it. As the question however involves facts...
17From James Madison to Richard Rush, 27 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two favors of the 18 & 20 inst. I am promised a visit from Mr. Jefferson, the ensuing month, and shall not fail to communicate to him, the one you note for that purpose. I readily conceive that Mr. Correa, may feel some conflict, in his present position, between his two characters of Philanthropist and Plenipotentiary; and that he may infer some indulgence towards the latter,...
18From James Madison to Richard Rush, 10 May 1819 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Dcr. 13 came safely to hand; but was four months on its way. I have looked over, with amusement, the two posthumous works of Watson & Walpole. The former has an importance to which the latter can not pretend. But both, in drawing aside the curtain from the secrets of Monarchy, offer at once lessons and eulogies to Republican Government. As you have in hand a remnant of the fund...
19From James Madison to Richard Rush, 11 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I am informed thro’ confidential channels, that Joseph Bonaparte is arrived at N.Y. under an assumed name, that he considers it proper to report himself to this Govt—that he would set out from N.Y. on tomorrow (tuesday,) accompanied by Commodore Lewis, for that purpose; and be in Washington on thursday or friday on his way to Montpelier, under cover always of an assumed name. The motive to...
20James Madison to Richard Rush, 28 November 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. my dear Sir your favor of the 21st. and thank you for the 2 pamphlets inclosed with it. Of the one which has for its mark the living Character it may well be said (varying a borrowed phrase), "that the keenness of the shaft is ever more than equalled by the vigor of the bow:" nor is it to be wondered that the portrait in the other, of the Character deceased, should have...
21From James Madison to Richard Rush, 20 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
Not being possessed of the answer from the War Dept. referred to in the inclosed, I can not compare the grounds of it, with the opinions to which it has given rise. It would seem however that the Soldiers in question must be entitled to such a discharge as will secure to them all the recommenc [ sic ] stipulated for serving during the war. Will you be so good as to take a legal view of the...
22From James Madison to Richard Rush, 5 October 1826 (Madison Papers)
At sight pay to the Order of Arthur S Brockenbrough, Proctor of the University of Virginia three hundred and ninety four Dollars thirty two cents, being the Amt. of duties paid by order of Thomas Jefferson late Rector of the University of Virginia on thirty one cases of Marble, imported into NewYork in the Ship Caroline, for the use of the said University, and the said duties being remitted by...
23From James Madison to Richard Rush, 20 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
As I have taken the liberty of throwing on your attention the business of fixing on a Site for an Observatory at Washington, I pass the inclosed to Mr. Dallas thro’ your hands. You will see that the turn which the subject is likely to take, will relieve you from further trouble with respect to it. I have recd. your favor of . We regret that we shall not have the pleasure of seeing you, and we...
24From James Madison to Richard Rush, 1 August 1825 (Madison Papers)
The Mail of yesterday brought us the first information of your having reached Washington, where alone a letter would be sure of finding you; and I avail myself of the first moment to congratulate you on your safe return to your country; as I do your Country on your acceptance of a new & more important career in its service. Mrs. Madison joins me in these congratulations, as I do her in those...
25From James Madison to Richard Rush, 24 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
You will observe in one of the inclosed letters several legal points stated by Commodore Patterson relating a distribution of property taken in the Fort on Apalachecola. Will you be so good as to examine them, and communicate the result? The report of the Land Commander has not yet come to hand but will probably not be delayed. It may throw light on some of the facts. In consequence of your...
26From James Madison to Richard Rush, 29 May 1816 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison requests a consultation with the heads of Departments to day at 12 o’clock. RC ( PHi : Richard Rush Papers). Docketed by Rush, with his note on verso: “The Cabinet met accordingly. The deliberation was, relative to some important instructions to be given to Mr Erving, our Minister at Spain. It was determined, (nem con.) that he might offer to the Spanish all the territory that we...
27From James Madison to Richard Rush, 4 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
Since my last which was of Aug: 12. I have been favoured with yours of Aug: 30. with which was returned my letter to Mr Keilsall; whose evanishment is not a little remarkable. Notwithstanding the trouble given you by that letter, I am not deterred from relying on your goodness to have the two now inclosed forwarded to the parties. To one of them the direction is so precise that it will readily...
28From James Madison to Richard Rush, 24 September 1815 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Richard Rush. 24 September 1815, Montpelier. “I have recd. yours of the 21st with its inclosures. I retain the interesting & well written letter of Mr. Dick, for the perusal of Mr. Monroe, expected here in a day or two on his way to Washington, which with your side of the correspondence will be useful to him, in his communications with Mr. Onis. This Quoad Ambassador is as teazing on all...
29From James Madison to Richard Rush, 21 April 1821 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Novr. 15. came safe to hand, with Mr. R’s farming Pamphlet, for which I return my thanks. The inflexibility of G.B. on the points in question with the U.S. is a bad omen for the future relations of the parties. The present commercial dispute, tho’ productive of ill humour, will shed no blood. The same cannot be said of Impressments and Blockades. I have lately recd. also Mr....
30From James Madison to Richard Rush, 26 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
¶ To Richard Rush. Letter not found. 26 June 1816. Acknowledged in Rush to JM , 29 June 1816 , wherein he states, relating to a legal matter described by William Wirt: “I have thrown a few remarks upon the enclosed sheet, to be read as an addendum to Mr. Wirt’s letter […]. This I have done in compliance with the request contained in your favor of the 26th instant.” Cover with JM ’s free frank...