1From James Madison to Horatio Gates Spafford, [ca. 25 July] 1810 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of July 7. accompanied by your printed circular on the subject of your proposed Gazetteer of the State of N. York. It is certainly a commendable undertaking, and I wish you success in it. An extension of it to all the States would proportionally extend the value of the Work. It is an inconveniency incident to publications of this kind in our Country, that its rapid...
2From James Madison to Horatio Gates Spafford, 16 April 1822 (Madison Papers)
I have but just recd. your letter of March 15th. I wish you success in your new Edition of the Geographical Dictionary for N. York; as I do in the other literary tasks you have in hand, and in petto. I am not enough acquainted with our Booksellers and Printers to judge how far a Gazetteer for this State on the plan & terms you suggest would be espoused by them. A survey of the State is now on...
3From James Madison to Horatio Gates Spafford, 5 December 1822 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 25. Ult: in which you state your discovery of a process which gives a greater purity & cheapness to Steel & Iron than any yet known. Iron is the metal and even the article which has been justly considered as causing more than any other, the civil[iz]ation & increase of the human race. Every improvement therefore in the preparation & uses of it has been deemed a...
4From James Madison to Horatio Gates Spafford, 1 May 1824 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of Apl 4. on the subject of your Work just published. I am at a loss what to suggest as to the mode of transmitting it. If you can find a conveyance to Mr. Cutts 2d. Comptroller at Washington, he will be able to forward it thence. I will endeavor to remit thro’ the same channel the price of the volume. It is not easy to obtain a note of so small an amount, nor...
5From James Madison to Horatio Gates Spafford, 23 March 1825 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 8th. instant. It can not be doubted that such a pocket Companion as you have projected would be acceptable to Travellers & Tourists: and I wish the result of the publication may be in every respect satisfactory to you. I am sorry I cannot aid you wth. the information you desire with respect to the Mineral Springs in this State; being without the requisite...
6From James Madison to Horatio Gates Spafford, 22 July 1825 (Madison Papers)
I delayed answering your[s] of May 10. in the hope of finding a private conveyance; having experienced in several instances a miscarriage of such remittances by the mail. Seeing now little chance of any other opportunity I commit to that hazard a bank note of $10.* which will discharge the debt, and make up for the delay. With friendly respects *of Bank of Virga No. 8428 date June 9. 1821 [...
7From James Madison to Horatio Gates Spafford, 21 August 1825 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. with your friendly letter of the 29th ult: the little volume now returned to which it refers; and I thank you for the kind feelings with which you recommend the perusal of it. I am too old to enter the wide field which the subject of the work opens for investigation. Mr. Jefferson is still older, and very infirm also. You have time enough before you to re-examine adopted opinions,...