61From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., [1–15 June] 1776 (Madison Papers)
would be adviseable to make the best terms you can with him. I intend to apply myself to him on my return home. I have not had an opportunity since I red. your last of taking the opinion of Col Pendleton on Ignatius’s Queries, but I shall speak to him on the subject as soon as I can find him at leasure, which his close engagement in business occasions to be not very often the case. Col. Henry...
62From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., [29] March 1777 (Madison Papers)
The family have been pretty well since you left us except Anthony. He was taken on Wednesday morning with a strong Ague succeeded by a high fever and accompanied with a pain in his Stomach and side. The Swelling in his Arm also increased very considerably and became hard and painful. I was a good deal at a loss in what manner to proceed with him being unable to form any Judgmt. of the nature...
63From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 27 June 1776 (Madison Papers)
I this day disposed of the Bill of Exchange I brought down to Col. Zane at 42%. and filled up the Blank for the sum with £.180. I take this earliest opportunity of acquainting you with it that no inconvenience may arise from your making any engagements inconsistent with the sale I have made. I was unwilling to take so low a price for the Bill but thought it the best that could be done at this...
64From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 23 January 1778 (Madison Papers)
I got safe to this place on Tuesday following the day I left home, and at the earnest invitation of my Kinsman Mr. Madison have taken my lodgings in a Room of the Presidents house, which is a much better accom[mo]dation than I could have promised myself. It would be very agreeable to me if I were enabled by such rarities as our part of the Country furnishes, particularly dried fruit &tc which...
65From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 8 December 1779 (Madison Papers)
Having an opportunity by Mr. Collins I add a few lines to those I sent by Col. Burnley on the Subject of your’s by him. The Assembly have not yet concluded their plan for complying with the requisitions from Congress. It may be relied on that that can not be done without very heavy taxes on every species of property. Indeed it is thought questionable whether it will not be found absolutely...
66From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 30 September 1769 (Madison Papers)
I recieved your letter by Mr. Rosekrans, and wrote an Answer; but as it is probable this will arrive sooner which I now write by Doctor Witherspoon, I shall repeat some circumstances to avoid obscurity. On Wednesday last we had the annual commencement. Eighteen young gentlemen took their Batchelors’ degrees, and a considerable number their Masters Degrees; the Degree of Doctor of Law was...
67From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 25 June 1779 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. from Mr. Hunter £2000. I shall not put it into the loan office as it is does not appear that Certificates will be taken in payment for land. I have applied to Col Zane on the subject of Iron, but can not get a positive promise. He has taken a Mem. and says he will write to you immediately on his return home. I was sorry to find the Horse you sent me in such meagre plight. The dry...
68From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 6 March 1778 (Madison Papers)
Since I wrote to you by Mr. Cave I have taken the freedom to give an order on Mr. Lee who is at present at Nants for the money due to you in favour of the Revd. Mr. Madison who wanted to procure from Europe a few literary curiosities by means of a French Gentleman just setting out on public Business for this State, addressed to the management of Mr. Lee. I take the opportunity by Mr: Harrison...
69From James Madison to Reverend Thomas Martin, 10 August 1769 (Madison Papers)
I am not a little affected at hearing of your misfortune, but cannot but hope the cure may be so far accomplished as to render your journey not inconvenient. Your kind Advice & friendly cautions are a favour that shall be always gratefully remembered, & I must beg leave to assure you that my happiness, which you and your brother so ardently wish for, will be greatly augmented by both your...
70From James Madison to Richard Paterson, 24 March 1770 (Madison Papers)
Recievd of Mr. Richard Patterson by order of Mr. Adam Hoops twenty two Shillings and six pence on acct. of Mr. Robert Patterson. Richard Paterson’s mercantile establishment in Princeton, situated on Main Street next to the well-known tavern of Jacob Hyer at the sign of Hudibras, appears to have had an important place in the life of the college. Paterson (d. 1781) was the father of William...
71From James Madison to Richard Paterson, 3 April 1770 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Richard Patterson Please to let the bearer Mr. Wm. Livingston have fifteen Shillings on acct of your Obliged Humble Servant The date was written over by JM. He may have intended it to be “April 1.” On the back of this draft is the endorsement: “Received this 4 of April 1770 of Richd. Paterson the sum of fifeteen shillings on Acct. of James Madison by me. William S. Livingston.”...
72Patrick Henry in Council to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 14 November 1778 (Madison Papers)
The Executive power of this State having been impressed with a strong apprehension of incursions on their Frontier Settlements from the Savages situated about the Illinois & supposing the Danger would be greatly obviated by an enterprize against the English Forts & possessions in that Country which were well known to inspire the Savages with their bloody purposes against us, sent a Detachment...
73Patrick Henry in Council to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 4 December 1778 (Madison Papers)
The great distress our Trade has of late and does at present suffer from the Ships & privatiers of the Enemy which infest our Coast has given the Executive power inexpressible uneasiness. A great number of Captures have been made not only of Vessels belonging to this State but of those belonging to our Allies and the other States. And as the long nights and windy Season during which it is well...
74Patrick Henry in Council to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 20 January 1778 (Madison Papers)
Francis Lightfoot Lee Esquirs Letter for the Committee on the Subject of provisions filled me with Concern & astonishment. I applied to the Deputy Commissary General to furnish some Active persons for throwing an instant Supply of Provisions to the Army to answer the present Exigency. I was told by him that he could get none such immediately but he would write to his Deputy to do the Business....
75Petition of Orange County Planters to the Virginia House of Delegates, [ca. 5 December] 1777 (Madison Papers)
The Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Orange Hum[b]ly Sheweth That your Petitioners having nothing so much at heart as the Liberty and Independance of their Country are Extreamly Anxious to See every regulation take place that may be Conducive to their Final Establishment. That convinced of the Expediency at all times and the indispensible Necessity at Present of improving our...
76Thomas Jefferson in Council to Thomas Whiting, 26 June 1779 (Madison Papers)
At the request of the directors of the public Buildings in Richmond, I am to desire that you will provide for them locks of different kinds fit for house doors, hinges for do., window glass, putty, lathing nails and shells. For the quantities I must refer you to the Directors themselves. I am Sir Your Humble Servant, Memod. for the Board of Trade. 800 feet of Glass—10 by 12. 300 lb Putty 500...
77Notes (Madison Papers)
For many years everyone interested in the Declaration of Rights, including JM, believed that Mason’s first draft of it was a paper in his hand, bearing the caption, “Copy of the first Daught [ sic ] by GM.” This paper has been reproduced in facsimile at least twice—once between p. 240 and p. 241 of Vol. I of Kate M. Rowland, Life of George Mason , and again in Virginia Cavalcade , I [1951],...
78Election to Virginia House of Delegates Voided, 27 May 1778 (Madison Papers)
Resolved , That James Madison, jun. Esq. who at the last election for the county of Orange, was elected and returned one of the delegates to serve in General Assembly, being at the time of election a member of the Council of State, was incapable of being elected a member of this House; Ordered , That the Speaker be desired to issue a writ for the election of a delegate for the county of...
79The Madison Family Tree (Madison Papers)
This family tree, framed under glass, is in LC: Madison Miscellany. For reasons given below, JM could hardly have prepared the chart earlier than the close of 1813 or later than September 1819. He apparently left among his papers at the time of his death a brief statement about his forebears. This document, now lost, came into the possession of his niece, Mrs. Lucie Hartwell Conway. She...
80Case of William Aylett, [8–22 May] 1776 (Madison Papers)
[8–22 May 1776] When JM, a delegate from Orange County, took his seat in this Convention on 8 May 1776, he was at once appointed to the Committee of Privileges and Elections. This large group, ultimately numbering nearly half of the 130 delegates, concerned itself primarily with the validity of their election and with alleged instances of individual Virginians manifesting disloyalty to the...
81Session of Virginia Council of State, 29 March 1779 (Madison Papers)
The official manuscript “Journal of the Council of State of Virginia,” from which the earlier samples of the minutes of this body were taken for reproduction in the present volume, is missing for this session. The minutes given below reproduce those entered in rough form by the secretary of the council in the “Council Minute Book.” present Jno Page Esqr. Lieut Govr D Digges D Jameson Jas...
82Session of Virginia Council of State, 14 January 1778 (Madison Papers)
The eleventh article of Virginia’s Form of Government ( Hening, Statutes William Waller Hening, ed., The Statutes at Large; being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619 (13 vols.; Richmond and Philadelphia, 1819–23). , IX, 116) provided for a Privy Council, or Council of State, of eight members to be chosen by the legislature....
83Money, [September 1779–March 1780] (Madison Papers)
Observations written posterior to the circular Address of Congress in Sept. 1779, and prior to their Act of March, 1780 . It has been taken for an axiom in all our reasonings on the subject of finance, that supposing the quantity and demand of things vendible in a country to remain the same, their price will vary according to the variation in the quantity of the circulating medium; in other...
84Session of Virginia Council of State, 27 February 1778 (Madison Papers)
present His Excellency; Dudley Digges James Madison jr John Blair And David Jameson Bolling Stark Esquires On Considering the proceedings of a general Court Martial of Militia Officers held in Louisa County on Richard Anderson Esquire County Lieutenant: the Board approve the Sentence of the Court Martial & advise His Excellency to discontinue the said Richard Anderson as County Lieutenant...
85Session of Virginia Council of State, 12 February 1778 (Madison Papers)
present Dudley Digges David Jameson & } Esquires John Blair James Madison jr The Express sent with a Letter written by the Board Yesterday to the president of the Council at Rosewell being returned & unable to Cross York river by the Wind; and sundry other Matters of Importance presenting for the Consideration of the Council, a Letter was written to the Governor by Express informing him...
86George Mason’s Proposed Declaration of Rights, [ca. 20–25 May 1776] (Madison Papers)
This document is probably the paper mentioned by Thomas L. Lee in his letter of 1 June 1776 to his brother, Richard Henry Lee , then in Philadelphia attending the Second Continental Congress: “I enclosed you by last post a copy of our declaration of rights nearly as it come through the committee” (Kate M. Rowland, Life of George Mason , I, 240). The articles in this copy are unnumbered. They...
87Record of Birth and Baptism of James Madison, Jr., [16 March] 1751 (Madison Papers)
James Madison junr. was born on Tuesday Night at 12 o’Clock it being the last of the 5th. & begining of the 6th. day of March 1750–1 & was Baptized by the Revd. Mr. Wm. Davis, Mar. 31. 1751 and had for God-Fathers Mr. John Moore & Mr. Jonatn. Gibson & for God-Mothers Mrs. Rebecca Moore, Miss Judith Catlett and Miss Elizabeth Catlett. The 1759 publication date of the Bible indicates that this...
88Madison’s Amendments to the Declaration of Rights, [29 May–12 June 1776] (Madison Papers)
There is no certain evidence known to the editors which fixes the time when either JM’s first or second amendment was laid before the Convention or its committee of the whole. The official journal of the Convention merely reveals that the drafting committee’s report, having been printed, was debated on 29 and 30 May and 3, 4, 5, and 11 June 1776. The session of 11 June seems to be the most...
89Session of Virginia Council of State, 30 April 1778 (Madison Papers)
present His Excellency the Governor; John Page David Jameson & Dudley Digges James Madison jr Esquires The Business hitherto done without a regular Board was this day laid before them and was approved of. Adjourned till Tomorrow 10 oClock This action demonstrates the council’s method of procedure relating to earlier business done by too few members of that body to constitute a quorum. Thus, at...
90Notes on a Brief System of Logick, 1766–1772 (Madison Papers)
MS ( LC : Madison Miscellany). One hundred and twenty-two pages of this copybook are filled with writing in JM’s youthful hand. They are preceded by four almost blank pages and followed by fourteen others devoted to the drawings described in the editorial note below. JM’s great-nephew, James Madison Cutts II, gave this manuscript to the Library of Congress in 1881. On the manuscript’s...