1To James Madison from Philip Mazzei, [7 December] 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Water stains have entirely eliminated the last four lines of this letter and largely blotted out what appears to have been the first eight lines. [Questa serv?]irà di supp[lemento alla pr?]ecedente d[el 30 del passato?] unicamente [un’aneddoto che potrebbe causare una revoluzione?] della Regina [d’Ungheria] della guerra [al me questo?] ultimo [L’Imperatore è tutto...
RC (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan). The inclosed extracts appear as sufficiently interesting, to induce us to forward them to you. The reiterated information we have lately received from different quarters leave little room to doubt, that the Southern States, will be the grand theatre of war this ensuing winter and spring. The Waggons with stores for the army under your...
3Virginia Delegates in Congress to Thomas Jefferson, [5 November] 1780 (Madison Papers)
Extract (Virginia State Library). This six-line plea, probably in the hand of Jefferson’s clerk, is entitled, “Extract of a Lre from the Virga Delegates in Congress to his Excellency the Governour dated at Phila: Nov. 5. 1780.” The letter from which this excerpt was taken is lost, but it was probably from the pen of Theodorick Bland. His financial distress appeared to exceed that of his fellow...
4Board of Admiralty to James Nicholson, 22 May 1780 (Madison Papers)
FC ( NA : PCC , Marine Committee Letter Book, fol. 288). The Board are favoured with your letter of the 3d instant acknowledging the receipt of theirs of the 17th ultimo, wherein the[y] expressly directed you to proceed with the Trumbull on A short Cruize so as to return to the Delaware by the latter end of June in Order to join the Confederacy Saratoga & Deane for the execution of a...
5From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 16 January 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I was very glad at not being disappointed in my expectations of a favor from you by yesterday’s post. Several reports in quick succession of the arrival & progress of the predatory band under Arnold had rendered us exceedingly anxious to hear the truth & particulars of the matter. Some letters by the post tell us that the Governor with Baron Steuben was wholly...
6Virginia Delegates in Congress to Thomas Jefferson, 23 January 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (New York State Library, Albany). Except for JM’s signature, this letter is entirely in the hand of Theodorick Bland. It is with much concern that we have learnt from Your Excellencys and the Baron de Steubens letters to Congress, the Misfortunes our Country has sufferd from the Invasion under the command of the detestable Arnold, and that he has ventured with impunity even to our Capitol....
7To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 19 September 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I must Request you will so far oblige me as to enclose me every week Dunlaps paper or either of the others containing any thing worth reading. Mr. Dunlap told me he would furnish you with the papers for me. I must also request you to send me the monthly Jou[r]nals as soon as printed and such information of the proceedings from time to time as you may think necessary....
RC (Mrs. Henry M. Sage, Albany, N.Y., 1958). The inclosed is a state of my receipts and expences from the 20 of March to the 20 of Sepr. being two complete quarters. I am sensible that the law directs that it should have been transmitted at the end of the first quarter, but my account of extra expences, being mixed with that of some Gentlemen of the family who were absent, I could not then do...
9From James Madison to Joseph Jones, 12 December 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The cover sheet bears the penciled note, “returned by Mr. M.” JM probably added this many years later, after retrieving this letter, among others, from Jones’s nephew, James Monroe. Agreeably to your favor of the 2d. instt. which came to hand yesterday I shall send this to Fredericksbg. I am sorry that either your own health or that of your lady should oblige you to...
10To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 6 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). My friend Mr Griffin left me this Morning by whom I sent you my best Wishes for yr health which he told me was low. I hope the Approaching Cold Season may brace up yr Nerves. I judged from yr Account of the number of the Enemy embarked from New York, that they were in pursuit of something to eat; we now hear they have pick’d up a quantum suffici[en]t to load their...
11Patrick Henry to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 23 May 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( NA : PCC , No. 71, I, 339–40, 342). I take the Liberty of introducing to you the Bearer Mr. George Anderson. A Ratification of the French Alliance, together with some other State Papers were sent to me very early while I was in Office & I put them all into Mr. Andersons Hands to go to Paris, but he was unfortunately taken by the Enemy & cary’d into Lisbon where he became acquainted with...
12From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 6 June 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). A Vessel from West Florida has brought to the President of Congress intelligence from Govr. Galvez of the surrender of Mobile. No other particulars than those contained in the inclosed paper are mentioned, except the verbal report of the Capt. that the Garrison consisted of about 800 including inhabitants &c. Seven or eight vessels have just arrived from the W....
13Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 18 January 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( NA : PCC , No. 71, II, 21–26). Docketed “Richmond January 18th 1781 Letter from Govr. Jefferson of Virginia to the Delegates of the State. so much as relates to a supply of ammunition & military stores Referred to the Board of War.” Only the complimentary close and signature are in Jefferson’s hand. A clerk’s copy of this letter is in the Executive Letter Book, Virginia State Library. I...
14Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 26 January 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). I shall now beg leave to answer your Letter of the first inst. which inclosed a Paper from Baron de Arendt. Mr. William Lee was some Time ago invested with a special Agency from this State, having received however no instructions from him of his having engaged any other Person to transact any Part of it, we are uninformed as to his Stipulations with the Baron de...
15To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 13 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). I have yr favr of the 31st past & am pleased to hear the former Account of the Arrival of the Cork fleet proved premature, since we are so bad Christians as to be gratified with the distress of our Enemies. It was probably the transports with their new levies which were mis taken for the others. The Enemy here have collected a handsome recruit of Provisions, but...
16To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 25 September 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). I am made very happy by yr obliging favr of the 12th promising to indulge me in the desireable correspondence; since I requested it I have been informed you have ill health, I cordially wish its speedy restitution, but intreat you’l not Injure it by devoting to me too much of that small portion of time which health as well as vigor of mind requires should be...
17Virginia Delegates in Congress to Thomas Jefferson, 13 December 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC (Henry E. Huntington Library). With the exception of Theodorick Bland’s signature, this letter is in JM’s hand. At JM’s request, William Munford, keeper of the rolls of the Commonwealth of Virginia, sent him a transcript of the letter, attested on 31 August 1819 to be “a true copy of a document communicated by Governor Jefferson to the General Assembly.” This copy, from which JM had a...
18From James Madison to Joseph Jones, 19 December 1780 (Madison Papers)
Printed text ( Madison, Papers [Gilpin ed.] Henry D. Gilpin, ed., The Papers of James Madison (3 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1840). , I, 76–77). The manuscript is now lost. Besides the text below, JM probably added the news about the army mentioned in his letter of the same date to Edmund Pendleton ( q.v. ). Yours of the eighth instant came to hand yesterday. I was sorry to find the Assembly had...
19Board of Admiralty to Jonathan Trumbull, 30 May 1780 (Madison Papers)
FC ( NA : PCC , Marine Committee Letter Book, fol. 289). Pursuant to the Resolutions of Congress passed the 27th inst. relative to the Navy which will be transmitted to your Excellency by their Secretary, I am directed by the Board to Solicit every assistance in your power, by furnishing money and otherwise towards preparing the frigate Bourbon for launching and compleating her for Sea. As...
20From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 23 June 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Nothing material has taken place since my last. The fact is confirmed that Clinton has returned to N.Y. with part of the Southern army, and has joined Kniphausen. They are at present maneuvering for purposes not absolutely known, but most probably in order to draw Gnl Washington to an action in which they suppose he may be disabled to give the necessary co-operation...
21Motion on Navigation of Mississippi, [1 February] 1781 (Madison Papers)
MS ( LC : Continental Congress Miscellany). Entirely in JM’s hand. Docketed by Charles Thomson, “Motion, Respecting the Mississipi by the delegates of Virginia Feby. 1. 1781.” The Delegates from Virginia have received an instruction from the General Assembly of that State which authorises them to inform Congress, that the zeal of their Constituents to promote the general object of the Union...
22From James Madison to Joseph Jones, 14 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I am glad to find by your favor of the 5th. inst: recd. yesterday that your health & that of your family have admitted of your going to Richmond. The tardiness of other members is very unfortunate and inexcusable at the present critical moment. I wish when they do meet the vigor & wisdom of their measures may make amends for it. I do not learn that any of the States...
23From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 26 September 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Yesterday’s post disappointed me of the expected pleasure of a line from you. I hope the next will not fail to make amends for it. I have nothing to add to the inclosed paper except that Ternay is yet unreinforced, Graves at Sea no one knows where or for what purpose, and Rodney with 10 Ships of the line still at the Hook, though according to some private accounts he...
24From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 5 October] 1780 (Madison Papers)
Draft (New-York Historical Society). Although this undated, unsigned, and mutilated manuscript was written by Theodorick Bland, Jr., and endorsed “Rough drt of letter, from Col. Theok Bland Jr to Govr. Jefferson,” its message is phrased as coming from all the Virginia delegates. Whether the letter bore JM’s signature, along with Bland’s and John Walker’s, cannot be known since the recipient’s...
25Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 18 December 1780 (Madison Papers)
Translation (Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation). Jefferson’s original letter is probably not extant. This French version, translated and copied by a person or persons unknown, was in all likelihood sent from Philadelphia on 2 January 1781 by the Chevalier de La Luzerne in his letter to Chevalier Charles René D. S. Destouches, who commanded the French fleet at Newport, Rhode Island, after...
26Expense Account as Delegate in Congress, [20 December] 1780 (Madison Papers)
MS (Virginia State Library). In this instance, unlike on 25 September ( q.v. ) when JM forwarded an expense account to the Virginia Auditors of Public Accounts, he either wrote no covering letter to them or it has been lost. The statement given below covers the quarter from 20 September to 20 December 1780 and is taken from a double-size master sheet on which Madison recorded his debits and...
27Instruction from Virginia General Assembly to Its Delegates in Congress, 12–13 July 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( NA : PCC , No. 71, I, 391). Resolved that the Virginia Delegates to Congress be informed that the people of this Commonwealth are alarmed at the omission of the Yeas and Nays in the Monthly publication of the proceedings of Congress, as the publication of them best ascertains the conduct of their delegates in every important debate Resolved that it be an instruction to the Virginia...
28Committee Report on Tax Status of Friendly Aliens, [5 February] 1781 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 20, I, 9–10). Report entirely in JM’s hand. Docketed “Report of the Committee on Presidt. Ware’s letter of the 20th. of Novr. 1780 part passed Feby 5. 1781.” The Committee to whom was referred the letter of the 20th. day of Novr. 1780 from Presidt. Ware with the papers enclosed having considered the subject to which they relate, and consulted the best sources of information...
29Virginia Delegates in Congress to Thomas Jefferson, 13 February 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Theodorick Bland and signed by Bland and Joseph Jones. We are Just informd from Genl. Varnum a Member now in Congress from Rhode Island that he has received Certain Intelligence that the Culloden of 74 Guns is drove on Shore and all her Crew except 17 men Perishd. the London of 90 Guns is driven out to Sea dismasted and two other 64 Gun Men of War Were...
30George Morgan to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 16 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
Copy (Virginia State Library). The original of this letter is missing. Theodorick Bland made a copy of it and also of the reply to Morgan. The delegates inclosed these in their letter of 22 November 1780 to Governor Jefferson. I hope you will excuse the trouble I give you in calling your attention to a Subject, which is not only interesting to myself and Several other Citizens of America, but...
31To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 2 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I thank you for your favour of the 19th. ult. and the inclosures. It was really a mortifying circumstance to find the French Fleet converted into twelve British Ships of the line and four Frigates from which nothing can effectually relieve us but the arrival of a superior number of French Battle Ships and unless these come I fear many of our people not only here but...
32Notes on Observations of Barbé-Marbois on Western Boundary of the United States, [6–16 October] 1780 (Madison Papers)
MS ( LC : Madison Papers). On 6 October 1780, having agreed two days before upon its instructions to John Jay, United States minister to Spain, Congress named a committee comprising JM as chairman, John Sullivan, and James Duane to draft a letter to Jay “explaining the reasons and principles” underlying the instructions ( Journals of the Continental Congress , XVIII, 908). At some time between...
33From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 20 March 1780 (Madison Papers)
FC ( LC : Madison Papers). In this retained copy, JM omitted “Hon’d Sir,” his usual salutation when writing to his father. The extreme badness of the roads and frequency of rains rendered my journey so slow that I did not reach this place till saturday last. The only public intelligence I have to communicate is that the great and progressive depreciation of the paper currency had introduced...
34Board of War to Virginia Delegates in Congress and Motion of Delegates, [22 December] 1780 (Madison Papers)
Printed text ( Journals of the Continental Congress , XVIII, 1181–82). The letter of 21 December from the Board of War has not been found, but it is summarized in the Journals , preceding the motion made the next day. For the possible context of this item, see Matthias Halsted to Virginia Delegates, 17 December 1780 , and n. 2. The delegates for Virginia laid before Congress a letter, of 21,...
35To James Madison from David Jameson, 26 July 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Rives Collection of Madison Papers). In my last I inclosed you the Journals so far as they were printed, and some other papers, since that I have recd. your favour of the 11th., and now agreable to your request inclose you the papers last published at our printing offices. it will be very agreable to me to continue this weekly Although our Capes & Bay are infested with privateers...
36To James Madison from Reverend James Madison, 3 August 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I recd. your last of ye 18th. July, as well as ye preceeding, enclosing ye European Intelligence. I hope at last ye Blessings of peace cannot be far from us. If Russia adheres to her Memorial, and ye. Dutch have not lost their antient spirit, if ye Irish too proceed in their reasonable & just Demands, wh. I have no Doubt they will, because they are reasonable & just,...
37Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 7 February 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). The Courier d’Europe a vessel from Penet & Coy. having on board military stores for this state was chased into Boston by the enemy in the summer of 1779. They were principally Artillery Stores, too bulky and heavy for us to think of bringing them on by land. By the loss of our papers we are unable to furnish an invoice of them but they are in the hands of a Mr. J....
38Samuel Nightingale, Jr., to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 15 February 1781 (Madison Papers)
Draft (Rhode Island Historical Society). I Recd your Favor of 2nd Jany, and your Order for the Goods, in my hands, in favor of Monsr. La Touch, and have Deliverd them to his Agent Monsr Dubosy ye 31st Jany last as Pr a Rect Inclosed, and hope they will arrive in Virginia in good order. Monsr. Dubosy refused to give a Rect for the paritcular Articles, as he had not seen them. In your Order you...
39Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 17 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
Extract ( NA : PCC , No. 71, I, 523–24). This document, in Theodorick Bland’s hand, is endorsed, “Extract of a letter from the govr. of Virginia dated November 17–80 referred to the Board of Treasury.” To this notation was added, probably by a clerk of Congress or the Board of Treasury, “Treasury Board 21st. Decr. 1780 Make two Copies of the Order of Congress of the 15th Instant respecting...
40To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 20 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC (University of Virginia Library). This is apparently the only one of the many letters written by which still exists in original manuscript form ( Pendleton to JM, 27 August 1780 , headnote). How it alone survived is problematical. Perhaps the neatly printed “To James Madison Nov: 20th: 1780.” near its bottom margin was added by an autograph collector to whom JM gave the letter. The letter...
41To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 8 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). I have yr obliging favr of the 26th past, I know not when my first letter, after you kindly accepted my proposed correspondence, should have reached you, but be assured I have not miss’d a week since, nor shall I unless sickness prevents me, being a very Punctual tho’ not an entertaining correspondent; at this time I have not a word of foreign or domestic...
42Board of Admiralty to Abraham Whipple, 24 March 1780 (Madison Papers)
FC ( NA : PCC , Marine Committee Letter Book, fol. 271). We wrote you the 26th february in answer to your letter of the 7th January, since which we are favoured with yours of the 14th february. In your letter of the 7th. January you request that a quantity of Bread and flour may be sent you from hence, this is not in our power at present to accomplish and if it were the dificulty of Procuring...
43Committee Report on Memorial of New Jersey Legislature, [23 December] 1780 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 41, VII, 64). On 24 November 1780 Congress appointed James Duane, JM, and William C. Houston a committee to report upon a document read in Congress on that day and often called the “New Jersey Remonstrance” ( Journals of the Continental Congress , XVIII, 1087–89; JM to Jones, 21 November 1780 , and n. 6). In this memorial Governor William Livingston in Council and the...
44Motion on Instructions to George Washington, [1 January] 1781 (Madison Papers)
Printed text ( Journals of the Continental Congress , XIX, 2). That so much of the letter from Mr. Adams as relates to the probable operations of the enemy against the southern states be transmitted to the Commander in Chief; and that he be informed that it is the desire of Congress that he should immediately make such a distribution of the forces under his command, including those of our...
45Committee Report on Letter from Jonathan Trumbull, [29 July] 1780 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 20, I, 261). In JM’s hand. Docketed by Charles Thomson “Report of the Comee on the letter of May 1. 1780 from Govr Trumbull—Delivered July 29. 1780 passd.” The Committee to whom was referred the letter from Governor Trumbull of May 1. 1780, report as their opinion that Jeremiah Wadsworth late commissary general be directed to make sale of the public sugars stated in the...
46To James Madison from David Jameson, 16 August 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Rives Collection of Madison Papers). I wrote to you the 12t. or 13t. by a private hand, since which I am favoured with yours of the 1st. I acquainted you with the reason of my silence for sometime past and mentioned to you that the £20,000 for which I had taken out a wart. was sent by Col Bland for the Virga Delegates By a letter from the French Minister to the Govr. I find reason to...
47Virginia Delegates in Congress to Thomas Jefferson, [20?] February 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Theodorick Bland but signed only by JM and Joseph Jones. Docketed by a clerk, “Virga. Delegates Lr. Feby 81.” Since our last in which we informd Yr. Excy of the Arrival of Col. Harrison in this City, his Applications to Congress have been referd to a Special Committee—and the necessary Steps are taking to Answer the wishes and wants of the Southern...
48To James Madison from David Jameson, 18–19 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Rives Collection of Madison Papers). By Post this week I recd your favour of the 7th. and can offer nothing in excuse for my not enlarging on the subject of the Invasion but that I could only have said something similar to what you had from the Govr. or in Dixons paper We have had nothing worth notice from below for several days past, indeed we are not likely to know what the Enemy...
49From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 21 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Your favor of the 13th. came safe yesterday. The past week has brought forth very little of consequence, except the disagreeable and I fear certain information of the arrival of the Corke fleet. Our last account of the embarkation at N. york was that the Ships had fallen down to the Hook, that the number of troops was quite unknown, as well as their destination,...
50From James Madison to Joseph Jones, [10 October] 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I received yesterday yours of the 2d. inst: Some of the questions mentioned in it I anticipated in my last. The clause of the resolutions you left on the table relating to Indian purchases is still undetermined. Many attempts have been made to bring the Vermont dispute to an issue, but the diversity of opinions that prevail on one side & the dilatory artifices...