130621To James Madison from Charles J. Ingersoll, 25 December 1817 (Madison Papers)
I have amused my mind for a year or two past with a literary project, in which you would have a principal interest, and to the furtherance of which you have it in your power to contribute so essentially, that I have determined to address myself to you with a request, upon which I rely on your deciding with perfect freedom. My speculation is, if I live ever to enjoy some liesure, to write...
130622To James Madison from Edmond Kelly, 25 December 1817 (Madison Papers)
Confident that you feel in retirement the same anxiety as when in office to preserve that Independence which your administration secured under perilous Circumstances I have addressed you without Ceremony but I hope with that respect which is the meed of true & exalted patriotism & virtue from an Idea that it was my duty to make the Communication and that whatever the public safety rendered...
130623To James Madison from John Trumbull, 26 December 1817 (Madison Papers)
I feel it my Duty, to give you some account of the progress which I am making in the Work which the Government of the US was pleased to confide to me during your Administration & in which I flatter myself with the hope you feel some interest. It has proved impossible to procure in this Country Cloths of the Size required, & to have them properly prepared. I feared this, & therefore as soon as...
130624From James Madison to James Monroe, 27 December 1817 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 22d. has been duly recd. I am so much aware that you have not a moment to spare from your public duties, that I insist on your never answering my letters out of mere civility. This rule I hope will be applied to the present as well as future letters. My quere as to the expedition agst. Amelia Island turned solely on the applicability of the Executive Power to such a case....
130625To James Madison from Ebenezer Huntington, 30 December 1817 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose to your Excellency a copy of the documents presented by the Officers of the Revolutionary Army accompanying their petition to Congress for half pay from the year 1793. Recollecting the part your Excellency took at the time the funding system was adopted, in Endeavoring to obtain for the original holders, the difference between the Nominal price and the price at...
130626To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 December 1817 (Madison Papers)
I returned from Bedford a week ago, after an absence of 6. weeks, and found here the Palladio, with your two favors of Nov. 29. & Dec. 1 & with 3. from Dr. Cooper, written before he had received one from me of Nov. 25. from Poplar Forest. It was agreed, you know, that we should make a report of our proceedings & prospects to the Govr. as our patron to be laid before the legislature. Being...
130627From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 1 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
Yours by the bearer of this was safely delivered last evening. I return the letter to the Govr. which is well adapted to its object. The pencelled marks will merely suggest for your consideration, whether the term Monastic , tho’ the most significant that could be chosen, may not give umbrage to the Institutions to which it is applicable; and whether the idea of seeking professors abroad , may...
130628To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 2 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
Expecting daily an answer from the President authorising me to sign the within for him I had rather not take on myself a 3d. and therefore send it to you. I have adopted your amendments and made some other small ones. To economise writing I make one letter do for the other gentlemen, joining you with them, altho’ it contains no more than I had before written to you. After signing yourself be...
130629From James Madison to David Watson, 3 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. from Mr. Jefferson the inclosed letters to the Visitors, and to the Govr. the latter for their signatures. According to his request, I forward it to you for that purpose, by his Messenger, who will carry it to General Cocke. Mr. Jefferson will afterwards, with the signature of the President send it to Mr. Cabell. Be pleased to accept assurances of my friendly esteem RC ( ViU...
130630From James Madison to Ebenezer Huntington, 4 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have duly reced. your letter of the 30th. Ult; in which you ask “whether the proposition to commute the half pay was suggested by Congress to the army, or by the army to Congress.” Not being able at this moment to consult the Journals of Congress, or the co[n]temporary documents, I cannot answer the enqui[r]y with the certainty & precision I would wish. I beleive that the measure was brought...
130631From James Madison to Charles J. Ingersoll, 4 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 25th. Ult. Believing that the late war merits a historical review, penetrating below the surface of events, and beyond the horizon of unexpanded minds, I am glad to learn that the task is contemplated by one whose talents, and, what is not less essential, whose fairness of dispositions, are entitled to so much confidence. Whatever be the light in which any...
130632From James Madison to Richard Cutts, 6 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have not yet found it convenient to ascertain the deficiency in the numbers of Niles’ Register. I can only at present say that I have not recd. a single no. since I left Washington, whence I conclude that those addressed to me have taken some other permanent direction, which will on explanation not deprive me of the claim to have them replaced. I wish however to apply at once for both the...
130633From James Madison to John L. E. W. Shecut, 6 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I duly recd. your favor of Dcr. 11. with a Copy of your “Essay on the yellow fever of Charleston.” I have perused it with pleasure; as valuable in my view for its facts, and interesting for its theoretic observations. I offer this tribute with a consciousness that that of better judges of Medical subjects will be more worthy of your acceptance. Permit me, to add to it my thanks for your polite...
130634To James Madison from Richard Bache, 8 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I cannot suffer the enclosed proposals to issue to the public, without sending you a copy. Could I succeed in putting an end to News-paper war in Penna., as it is at present conducted, and abolish all personal & private abuse from the presses, I shall gain one of the objects for which I establish the paper, & relieve my native State from what may at present be termed, the horror of an...
130635From James Madison to Richard Bache, [post–8] January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 7th inclosing the prospectus of a Gazette which is to be devoted to the cause of public liberty & free from the personal abuse which infects so many presses. I sincerely wish the example may have as much effect in exciting a laudable emulation, as examples of an opposite character have in provoking slanderous competitions. It is not within the rule I have laid...
130636From James Madison to John Trumbull, 10 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 28th. Ult: and learn with pleasure the success of your preliminary steps for the interesting work committed to you by the act of Congress. Retaining all the confidence in its satisfactory execution, which led me to participate in the provisions for it, I have only to express my wishes that you may find every further facility for doing justice to your talents,...
130637To James Madison from John W. Green, 10 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 7th Inst. as well as your former favour covering subscription papers for the central colledge. I have given such attention to the subject as my engagements from home and the urgency of my professional business would permit But have been wholly unsuccessful. Upon my return from Richmond whither I go tomorrow I will renew my efforts. But do not...
130638To James Madison from Richard Rush, 14 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have great pleasure in sending you by a conveyance, which I hope will prove a safe one, Eustace’s tour and Malthus on population. In place of the most approved answer to the latter work, which, as yet, I have not been able to ascertain, I send the 34th number of the Quarterly review, which you will find to contain a more full notice of its doctrines than, I believe, has heretofore been taken...
130639To James Madison from James B. Johnson, 17 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I Have I beleive written to thee on the subject of slavery, but have at no time requested or received an answer, nor known whether what I had w[r]itten was ever received or not. The bringing of the wretched sons of Africa into the then colonies of England was certainly an evil of the blackest kind, and one that I am far from being able to paint in its propper colours. Let this at present...
130640To James Madison from Jacob Gideon Jr., 19 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
Being about to commence the publication of [a] new Edition of that highly estimable work, the “Federalist,” within the district of Columbia, I have taken the liberty of inclosing herewith, a list of the several numbers composing that valuable book, with a request that you would do me the favor of adding the names of the authors to their respective numbers. I am induced to make this request of...
130641To James Madison from Philip Slaughter, 23 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 8th Instant Came Safely to hand Wherein you Request that I will inform you of the Success I have Met with, in this County Culpeper, in Obtaining Subscriptions for the Central College. One of the papers I put in the hands of Coll. Armistead Long, Who lives in the lower part of the County. I have not heard from him Since the Receipt of your last letter. I am Concern’d to State,...
130642To James Madison from Gales & Seaton, 26 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
Hereto adjoined is a copy of a letter which we have addressed to each Member of both Houses of Congress. We consider the work therein suggested, important to the public, but otherwise feel little anxiety for the result. We deem it respectful to trouble you with our views, as, if the work be undertaken, we shall look with confidence to your advice and direction, as to the authorities proper to...
130643To James Madison from John R. Phillips, 27 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
The establishment named in the address I have taken the liberty to call your attention to, was first put in operation by my Father and myself, at a very considerable expence, in the Summer of Eighteen hundred and twelve, and the business, (Woollen Cloth Manufacturing,) conducted under the firm of Robert & J. R. Phillips; from various combined causes, unfavourable in their operation to the...
130644From James Madison to Jacob Gideon Jr., 28 January 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 19th. and in consequence of the request it makes, I send you a copy of the 1st. Edition of the “Federalist,” with the names of the writers prefixed to their respective numbers. Not being on the spot, when it was in the press, the errors noted in mine were not then corrected. You will be so good as to return the 2 vols. when convenient to you. The 2d. Edition of...
130645From James Madison to Gales & Seaton, 2 February 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of Jany. 26. The work to which you have turned your thoughts is of a character which justly claims for it my favorable wishes. A Legislative History of our Country is of too much interest not to be, at some day, undertaken; and the longer it be postponed, the more difficult & deficient must the execution become. In the event of your engaging in it, I shall...
130646To James Madison from Samuel Dana, 6 February 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have lately read in a Gazette, that an Agricultural Society has been established in Virginia, & that you have consented to preside over its concerns. Masa. incorporated such a Society many years since—for a long period its usefulness was doubted—but lately is fully acknowledged. Their first publications were very meagre, & lean, their late reports appear to do honor to the Society who...
130647To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 February 1818 (Madison Papers)
I inclose you a letter from Dr. Cooper, considerably important to the first successes of our college. I will request you to return it to me. I inclose also the answer which I think should be given. If you think so likewise be so good as to seal & forward it. If not, return it, as I should be unwilling to take on myself alone so important a relinquishment. Yet I think it right that we should...
130648To James Madison from Robert Mallory, 7 February 1818 (Madison Papers)
I take this opportunity to inform you of your Election to the Board of public works. A knowledge on my part of the deep interest which you feell in the improvement and prosperity of your Native State inducd me to introduce you to the attention of the house. I cannot but indulge the hope that the appointment will meet your approbation. If however you should determine not to accept (which I...
130649From James Madison to Robert Mallory, 11 February 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 7th. inst: mentioning my appointment to a place in the Board of public works. Notwithstanding my respect for such a mark of confidence from the General Assembly, and the wishes I feel for the progress of the Internal Improvements committed to that Institution, I am constrained to decline the trust allotted to me. And I comply with your request that this should be...
130650From James Madison to an Unidentified Correspondent, 11 February 1818 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 11 February 1818. Offered for sale in the Heartman Catalogue No. 206 (12 Oct. 1929), item 180, where it is listed as a draft letter in the third person in JM’s hand. Attached is a short letter, also in the third person, in Dolley Payne Madison’s hand.