181From 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)...
182Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 27 April 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Charles Hay. By some queries that have been presented to the Attorney General there is reason to apprehend that the people who inhabit the lands that were in dispute with the State of Pennsylvania are likely to suffer, not only in the property of their lands but by a reversal of the decrees of the Courts whilst they were look’d on as subjects of this...
183From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 15 January 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The cover is missing, but the letter was docketed by Jefferson, “Madison Jas. Jany. 15. 1782.” Your favor of the day of written on the eve of your departure from Richmond came safe to hand by the last week’s post. The result of the attack on your administration was so fully anticipated that it made little impression on me. If it had been consistent with your...
184From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 22 January 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The post having not yet come in I have not the pleasure of acknowledg[in]g yours which I make no doubt he brings for me. Congress are much occupied & perplexed at present with the case of Vermont. The pretensions of that settlement to the character of an independt. State, with the grounds on which they are made & the countenance given them by Congress are I presume...
185Note on Motion on Illicit Trade with the Enemy, 17 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 186, fol. 36). 17 June 1782. On 14 June 1782 Congress named eleven of its members, including JM, to be a committee under Samuel Osgood’s chairmanship, “To devise & report ways & means to prevent an illicit trade with the Enemy.” Three days later this committee was “discharged on a Motion of Mr. Madison & the business referred to a comee. of five” (NA: PCC , No. 186, fol....
186Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 18 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand except for Bland’s signature. JM wrote all italicized words in the official cipher. Docketed, “Virga Dels Lr. June 18th 1782.” Accompanying the manuscript in the Virginia State Library is a page upon which the second paragraph of the letter was decoded by Archibald Blair, clerk of the Council of State. The Post having been robbed of his mail on his...
187John Bradford to Virginia Delegates, 20 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
Copy (Virginia State Library). This copy, in JM’s hand, is docketed by him, “Letter from J. Bradford Boston March 20th. 1782 to J Madison & J Jones relating to certain Stores belonging to Virginia No. 1. 1782. March 20th.” The Virginia delegates enclosed the copy in their letter of 23 April 1782 to Harrison . Your favor under the 5th. currt. reached me last evening by the post, to which I beg...
188To James Madison from David Jameson, 23 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by JM, “March 23d. 1782.” I have your favour of the 12t. and have reason to suppose I did not express my meaning, properly when I mentioned the Associate to Mr. Andrews. there cannot be a doubt but a person skilled in Astronomy ought to be preferred. I intended to say, if such a person could not be got, a Man of Integrity & Abilities in other requisites...
189From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 16 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Docketed by Randolph, “July 16. 1782.” The cover is missing. What may have been a brief complimentary close and signature are too faded to be legible. The italicized words are those written by JM in cipher, except in the one instance mentioned in n. 10. For the passage which he encoded in the Lovell rather than the official cipher, see n. 27. Many years after writing...
190To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 20 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). Another copy, also made from the original manuscript, is in the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society , 2d ser., XIX (1905), 152–53. An extract is in Stan. V. Henkels Catalogue No. 694 (1892), pp. 89–90. Your favr of the 7th brought me the debates in Parliament on which I suppose had been founded the story mentioned in my Last of their having...
191Report on Mission To Inform States of Financial Crisis, [22 May] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 47, fols. 341, 343). Docketed by JM, “Report of The Committee Appointed to confer with the Superintendt of Finance on the subject of his letter of the 17 day of May 1782.” Below this on the docket, the words “Delivered May 21.—Passed.” appear to have been written by Charles Thomson. An incomplete copy of the report, in Thomson’s hand and signed by him, is in the Henry E....
192Motion Approving John Jay’s Negotiations with Spain, [30 April] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 36, IV, 7). In JM’s hand. Docketed, “Motion of Mr Madison seconded by Mr Jones. That Congress approved of the Conduct of the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Madrid.” In view of the Report Approving John Jay’s negotiations with Spain, 22 April 1782 ( q.v. ) and the fact that between that date and 30 April Congress received no dispatches from Jay or William...
193From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 1 May 178[2] (Madison Papers)
Printed text ( Madison, Papers [Gilpin ed.] Henry D. Gilpin, ed., The Papers of James Madison (3 vols.; Washington, 1840). , I, 90–93; and Madison, Letters [Cong. ed.] [William C. Rives and Philip R. Fendall, eds.], Letters and Other Writings of James Madison (published by order of Congress; 4 vols.; Philadelphia, 1865). , I, 43). The third paragraph of the letter, as here printed, is taken...
194Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 24 January 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (University of North Carolina Library: Southern Historical Collection). The letter was written by Edmund Randolph. It is docketed: “Lre from our Delegates in Congress Janry 24. 1782. Reced Febry 7th:” The minister plenipotentiary of France communicated to us this afternoon the inclosed extract from a letter of Count de Vergennes. We are happy to find, that the supplies, which your...
195Report on Congressional Inspection of Departments, [17 June] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 28, fol. 321). In JM’s hand. The docket reads: “Report of Mr Madison Mr Witherspoon Mr Izard On a Motion of Mr. Madison. passed June 17th, 1782. Committees to be appointed to examine into the conduct of Heads of Departments & report.” In the PCC there are at least two other copies of this report. One is apparently in James Duane’s hand (No. 142, II, 5–6) and the other in...
196Report on Illicit Trade with the Enemy, [19 June] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 24, fols. 53–56). In JM’s hand. Docketed: “recommendation to the States. Report of Committee for suppressing the illicit Trade with the Enemy—Mr Madison Mr Lowell Mr Scot Mr Wharton Mr Witherspon June 19. 1782 Read. June 20. 1782 recomd. Passed June 21.” The Committee to whom was recomitted the Report concerning illicit trade with the Enemy, recommend the following act...
197Report on New Hampshire Requisition, 25 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 20, I, 19–21). Written and docketed by JM: “Report of Committee on the Letter from President Weare of 23d. of Feby. 1782[.] 25th. March 1782. Monday next assigned[.]” Between “Feby. 1782” and “25th. March,” Charles Thomson, secretary of Congress, later inserted “Agreed to May 22d. 1782.” The Committee to whom was referred the letter of the 23d. of Feby last from the...
198Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 19 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Archibald Blair. I enclose you a copy of the direction of a Letter dated 14th. May which came to me from Winchr. three days ago which I shou’d not have open’d but for its being frank’d by Mr. Livingstone, I am really concernd that so little care should have been taken in Communicating the Birth of a Dauphine to me, it may perhaps induce a belief in...
199Instructions to Virginia Delegates, 24–25 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of John Beckley, clerk of the House of Delegates, with the exception of the attestation by William Drew, clerk of the Senate. Resolved unanimously that a Proposition from the Enemy to all or any of these United States for Peace or Truce, separate from their Allies, is insidious and inadmissible. Resolved unanimously that a Proposition from the Enemy for...
200Report on Communication from La Luzerne, [1 May] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 25, II, 95). The manuscript, written by JM, is docketed: “Report of Committee on foreign Communications. Passed May 1st 1782.” The Committee to whom were referred the Communication &c laid before Congress by the Secy. of F. Affairs, submit the following resolutions. Resolved. The Secretary of Fo. Affairs be directed to make a confidential communication to the Several...
201Motion on Delegates’ Financial Interest in West, [2 May] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 36, I, 293). Docketed by JM: “Motion of Mr Bland seconded by Mr Madison[.] May 2d 1782. Rejected as out of order.” Although Bland presented the motion in Congress, the manuscript is in JM’s hand. Also in his hand, on the page containing the docket, appear the words, “assistance from the fleets of his M C or C M as can be afforded for the like purpose.” This passage was...
202To James Madison from David Jameson, 26 January 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Rives Collection of Madison Papers). Docketed by JM, “Jany 26. 1782.” I am sorry to inform you we have had no Mail this week from the North of Potowmack In my last I mentd. Gen Greenes requisition and I believe told you the Executive have no power to send Militia out of the State nor have they power to raise supplies of any sort. I expected they would call the Assembly but that is...
203Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 2 February 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Charles Hay. We have received none of your Favors by the last two posts, nor has any Northward Mail come in. I suppose the Badness of the Weather as usual stopped them on the road. On looking over your letter by Captn Irish I find that you suppose the bill drawn payable to him was for part of the four tenths of the new Congress money as it is called;...
204From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 23 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (New York Public Library). Docketed by Pendleton, “James Madison Esqr. July 23d. 1782.” Cover missing. The sterility of my late correspondence will be compensated by the contents of the inclosed paper, which besides other interesting particulars sufficiently confirms the recognition of our Independence by the States General. Among the numerous good consequences of this event to us I wish...
205To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 20 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned letter, in Randolph’s hand, addressed to “The honble James Madison jr. of congress Philadelphia.” Docketed by JM, “June 20. 1782.” To the left of this date and at a right angle to it, he also wrote “Rept. on Instruction.” This jotting apparently bears no relation to the contents of the letter. The italicized words are those written by Randolph in the...
206From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 26 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed text ( Madison, Papers [Gilpin ed.] Henry D. Gilpin, ed., The Papers of James Madison (3 vols.; Washington, 1840). , I, 116). The letter has not been found. A letter has been lately received from you by the President of Congress, accompanied by a bundle of papers procured from the Cherokees by Colonel Campbell. As it appears that these papers were transmitted at the request of the late...
207From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 2 April 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). That Pendleton was the addressee is made clear by his letter of 15 April to JM ( q.v. ). The only event with which the period since my last has enabled me to repay your favor of the 25th. Ulto. is the arrival of four Deputies from Vermt. with a plenipotentiary commission to accede to the confederacy. The business is referred to a Committee who are sufficiently...
208Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 23 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In Arthur Lee’s hand, except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “Lr. from Virga Delegates rec’d Augst 1st. 82 July 23d. 1782.” The cover is missing. The Letter of the 11th. with which your Excellency honord us, came safe with the enclosd Resolves, which we shall lay before Congress The Super-intendant’s Contract, for the main Army, is ten pence pensylvania curry. per...
209Motion on Instructions to Francis Dana, [27 May] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 36, II, 137). In JM’s hand. Docketed by him: “Motion of Mr. Madison seconded by Mr. Rutledge[.] Passed May 27 1782.” When Robert R. Livingston, secretary for foreign affairs, asked Congress to approve his proposed letter of 10 May to Francis Dana, he suggested the advisability of recommissioning Dana as minister resident rather than as minister plenipotentiary at the court...
210Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 28 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Theodorick Bland except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “Letter from Virga Delegates recd June 6 1782.” The words written by Bland in the official cipher are italicized below. Accompanying the letter are three pages upon which the cipher was decoded by Archibald Blair, clerk of the Council of State. The state of News as it respects the action of the French...