131581From James Madison to Littleton Dennis Teackle, 12 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
I received a few days ago your letter of the 4. Instant, enclosing the copy of a bill to provide for the public instruction of youth, and to promote the interest of Agriculture; and requesting observations thereon. I wish I were less incompetent to a satisfactory compliance with the request. The wisdom of providing a system of diffusive education must at once, be universally approved. Of the...
131582From James Madison to James Monroe, 13 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
I have rcd. your favor of the 3d. I am much obliged by the kind manner in which you speak of my Nephew. I hope you will always consider expressions of my good will in such cases as perfectly subordinate to public considerations, and superi[o]r pretensions. In the present case I am not sure that the appt. of my nephew to the place in question ought to be desired even by himself, unless Col:...
131583To James Madison from Elisha Callender, 16 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of 16 April came in due cource to hand, a leisure moment now offers, to notice the contents; I have Sir, a full view of your Just observations, on the cultivation of the olive in your State, which I greatly regret. On mature reflection, Since writing you, I have had my doubts, whether the climate of your State, was not two intemperate, to indulge much hope of Success. I flatter my...
131584To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 16 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
You already know that the legislature has authorised the literary board to lend us another 60.000 D. It is necessary we should act on this immediately so far as to accept the loan, that we may engage our workmen before they enter into other undertakings for the season. But the badness of the roads, the uncertainty of the weather and the personal inconvenience of a journey to the members of our...
131585To James Madison from George W. Spotswood, 17 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
The Legislature of Va. having appropriated a sum of money to be applied to the finishing of the University, I presume that Institution will be in operation the next year. I will take the liberty, of again, soliciting your Friendly influence in my behalf, in obtaining a Stewartship, and if the request should not be considered unreasonable, I beg your goodness, in naming the subject to Mr....
131586From James Madison to Edward Everett, 18 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favour of the 9th. inst: and with it the little pamphlet entitled “Notes &c.” forwarded at the request of your brother; for which you will please to accept and to make my acknowledgments. The pamphlet appears to have very ably & successfully vindicated the construction given in the Book on “Europe,” to the provision article in Mr Jay’s Treaty. History, if it should notice...
131587From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 19 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letters & papers being addressed to you as well as me, I am not at liberty to withold them, tho’ I know the disrelish you will feel for such appeals. I shall give an answer, in a manner for us both, intimating the propriety of our abstaining from any participation in the electioneering measures on foot. I congratulate you on the loan, scanty as it is, for the University; in the...
131588To James Madison from Jedidiah Morse, 20 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
I have just read, in Niles’ Register, your letter to Lt. Governor Barry, on the subject of a “general system of Education.[”] The sentiments you have expressed in this Letter, are so just & excellent, & comport so well with the present state of the World, & specially of our own favored country, that I cannot but thank you for them, & express my hope, that, from the influence you have acquired...
131589From James Madison to Tench Coxe, 21 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
Since I recd. your two letters of I have hitherto been prevented from acknowledging them first by some very urgent calls on my time, and afterwards by an indisposition which has just left me. I have forwarded the letters with the printed papers to Mr. Jefferson. I know well the respect he as well as myself attaches to your communications. But I have grounds to believe that, with me also, he...
131590To James Madison from Mason Locke Weems, [21 February 1823] (Madison Papers)
This is just to tell you that the Life of Wm. Penn is launchd. and, thank Heaven, nearly half seas over, of the 1st. Edition. It is not for me to open my lips about it—but I am happy to know that sundry great men—of the Bench, also, to my huge amazement, of the Pulpit, are pleasd to say of it, as Mr Monroe at first reading of it said of my Marion—that, it is a book that will travel . However...
131591From James Madison to Richard Peters, 22 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. the copy of your Agricultural Address in Jany. last, which I have read with much pleasure, and as always, not without finding instructive ideas. You have done very right in taking occasion to record the fact which shews that your Society is the Mother of the American family, and to present a fair view of its public services; with respect to which you might say, tho’ you will not...
131592To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
I have read mr. Cox’s letters and some of his papers, which I now return you. It is impossible for me to write to him. With two crippled hands I abandon writing but from the most urgent necessities; and above all things I should not meddle in a Presidential election, nor even express a sentiment on the subject of the Candidates. As you propose to write to him, will you be so good as to add a...
131593To James Madison from Peter Perpignan, 26 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed you will find the smallest representation, of our departed patriot Genl. Geoe. Washington, that has ever been presented to our Countryman. Should you be pleased to accept it, your answer, to its reception, will Serve Your friend and fellow Citizen RC ( DLC ). Docketed by JM. Enclosure not identified. Peter Perpignan was a watchmaker and jeweler who had a shop at 356 North Front...
131594From James Madison to Tench Coxe, 1 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has just returned me your two letters & the papers accompanying them. Supposing that I had yet to acknowledge them he annexes a line requesting me to do it for him also: observing that it would hurt him much to leave unnoticed an old friend, and that the difficulty of using his pen with his crippled hand, had compelled him to abandon writing, but from the most urgent necessities....
131595To James Madison from Richard Peters, 4 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
I received with great pleasure your letter of the 22d Feby, not for any polite expressions it contains, so much as the gratification I enjoy when I see the hand writing I have been accustomed to be familiar with, in olden times, & days of tribulation. So few of us remain, of those who bore the burthens, & encountered the dangers of those times & days; & so dispersed in distant sections of our...
131596From James Madison to Peter Perpignan, 5 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
J Madison presents his respects to Mr Perpignan, with thanks for his minute & neatly executed representation of General Washington. RC ( NjP : Jasper E. Crane Collection of James and Dolley Madison). See Perpignan to JM , 26 Feb. 1823 , PJM-RS David B. Mattern et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Retirement Series (3 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 2009–). , 2:670.
131597From James Madison to Jedidiah Morse, 8 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to the Revd. Dr. Morse & to his son, with acknowledgments for the Copies of “The New system of Modern Geogy.” and “The new System of Geogy. antient & Modern,” with which he has been favored. He has not been able to give them a particular examination. A very cursory one, has left no doubt that each will bear a very advantageous comparison with any similar...
131598From James Madison to Creed Taylor, 8 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Decr. 21. with a Copy of the “Journal of the Law School,” taken charge of by Mr. Stringfellow, were handed to me a few days ago only. The delay will have been explained to you by himself. Having never engaged in the practice of the law, and the very limited knowledge of it acquired in the Closet being much obliterated, I find myself little qualified to appreciate the merits of...
131599To James Madison from Isaac Briggs, 8 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
On the 30th. of January last the Board of Public Works of Virginia elected, for their principal engineer, Col. William McRee. This gentleman, who is beyond question a very accomplished military engineer, has declined the acceptance of that office on the ground that “its duties embrace the business of civil engineering in general, and its particular application to such objects of internal...
131600To James Madison from Charles Yancey, 11 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
Enclosed is Mr. Crawfords Rect. for his paper One Year Agreeable to your Request. I am Dear Sir, Your Most Obed. Sert. Ps Messrs Jefferson, & Monroe, & all the heads of Department, ordered said Paper. RC ( DLC ). Docketed by JM . See JM to Yancey, 4 Jan. 1823 , PJM-RS David B. Mattern et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Retirement Series (3 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 2009–). ,...
131601To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 12 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
Having received from all our brethren approbations of the loan, I authorised Mr Brockenbrough to engage the work of the Rotunda and have it commenced immediately. We had only two bricklayers and two carpenters capable of executing it with solidity and correctness, these had not capital sufficient for so great an undertaking, nor would they have risked their little all but for a great advance...
131602To James Madison from James Taylor, 12 March 1823 (letter not found) (Madison Papers)
¶ From James Taylor. Letter not found. 12 March 1823. Offered for sale in the American Art Association, Illustrated Catalogue of President Madison’s Correspondence from American Statesmen and Patriots … Collection of the Late Frederick B. McGuire … , 26 Feb. 1917, item 148, where it is described as a two-page autograph letter signed “relative to the selling of some horses, mentions Judge Todd...
131603To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 14 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed lre. in Gr. Lat. Fr. and Eng. with it’s accompaniments being intended for your inspection as much as mine, is now forwarded for your perusal. You will be so good as to reinclose them that I may return them to the writer. The answer I propose to give is, what I have given on all similar applications, that until the debt of the University is discharged, and it’s funds liberated, the...
131604To James Madison from Jedidiah Morse, 14 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
The foregoing was transmitted to me from a respectable Correspondent in Liverpool, deeply engaged in the Abolition of the Slave Trade, & the Amelioration of the Condition of Slaves. If, sir, your liesure will allow you, & it is agreeable to you, to furnish brief answers to these questions, you will, I conceive essentially serve the Cause of humanity, & gratify & oblige the Society above named,...
131605From James Madison to Isaac Briggs, 17 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his friendly respects to Isaac Briggs, and incloses a letter to the President of the Board of Public Works at Richmond. As it may be expected to reach Washington within the time named, this is directed to “Sandy Spring Maryland.” RC ( DLC : Isaac Briggs Papers); draft and draft of enclosure ( DLC ). Draft of enclosure, addressed to James Pleasants Jr. and dated 17 Mar., is...
131606From James Madison to James Pleasants Jr., 18 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
I find that in consequence of the failure of the Board of Public Works to obtain the services of Col. McRee as its principal Engineer, the vacancy in the office remains to be filled. Not knowing whether Isaac Briggs may have yet received the consideration of the Board, I am led by my acquaintance with him to express the belief that he possesses a full measure of the Science, with a...
131607To James Madison from Caleb Atwater, 18 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
I herewith forward to you, the Report of our commissioners of common schools, to our late General Assembly. The bill is badly printed, which I have corrected. This system is now before the people of this state and will be acted on at the next Session of our Legislature. Should your leisure permit, I should feel myself greatly obliged to you, for any suggestions you may think proper to make, as...
131608From James Madison to Edward Everett, 19 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
I recd. on the 15th. your favor of the 2d. instant; with the little pamphlet of remarks on your brothers work on Europe. The pamphlet would have been much improved by softer words and harder arguments. To support its construction of the 18th. art: of the Treaty of 1794. the writer ought to have shewn that there are cases in which provisions become contraband according to the Law of Nations;...
131609To James Madison from William F. Gray, 20 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 17th. as well as a former note on the subject of the Reviews, has been duly recd. Your wishes shall be complied with. Your subscription to the London Quarterly Review is discontinued, and I send to you by this Mail the North American Review for Jan. 1822. The subsequ[e]nt Nos. shall be forwarded as soon as I recieve them. At present I have none in store but what were already...
131610From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 21 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two letters of the 12 & 14. inst. You will have inferred my approbation of the course taken in order to avoid a loss of time in executing the Rotunda. I shall be with you at the Meeting of the Visitors if possible. The letter from O. Flaherty with its companions, are herewith inclosed. It is quite presumable that he possesses the technical qualifications for the professorship...