Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 16 December 1801

From Bishop James Madison

Decr. 16th. 1801, Wmsburg.

Dear Sir

I recd. your Favr. by the Son of Dr Logan; & tho’ I cannot take him into my Family, at present, yet I will, with great Satisfaction, make a Point of having him established in a Manner which cannot fail of being agreable. I will also superintend his Education with Zeal; & I trust, with that Success which will neither disappoint the Solicitude of a Parent, nor be unworthy of your Recommendation. Nothing shall be wanting on my Part; & if the young Gentleman should discover Talents for Improvement, & the requisite Disposition, I am assured his Friends will have no Reason to regret his having become a Student of this Place.

I cannot refrain from expressing the real Pleasure which I have felt in the Perusal of your Message to Congress. You have brought Government back to it’s original & proper objects; and every1 Friend to the union must rejoice at the Prospect, which is now before them, of experiencing the Blessings which such a Government is capable of dispersing, when virtuously & wisely administered. I hope Congress will second your Views with Ardour;—and then, we shall have, at least, one Example of a Govt. which will be faithful to the Purposes of it’s Institution—

With the sincerest Regard & Esteem, I am Dr Sir, Yr. Friend & Sert.

J Madison

RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 21 Dec. but recorded in SJL at 22 Dec.

Your favr.: TJ to Bishop James Madison, 8 Dec.

Superintend his education: Albanus Logan enrolled in the College of William and Mary and graduated in the same class as Bishop Madison’s son John in 1803 (List of Alumni description begins A Provisional List of Alumni, Grammar School Students, Members of the Faculty, and Members of the Board of Visitors of the College of William and Mary in Virginia, from 1693 to 1888, Richmond, 1941 description ends , 26).

1Madison here canceled “real.”

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