To James Madison from Robert Briggs, 5 July 1821
From Robert Briggs
Madison July 5. 1821
Dear Sir
I received yours of the 12 Ultimo1 several days since but my time has been so occupied as to prevent me from noticing its contents sooner. It affords me pleasure to lern that you are at length likely to be freed from so unpleasant a visitant as the disease with which your family has been long disturbed. Agreeably to your request I enclose a statement of my account. Accompa[n]ying this are the several numbers of the Journal you were so good as to loan me which I hope you will receive safe.
Please present my thanks to Mr Todd for his kindness in procurings [sic] the work which I receivd with your friendly letter. With sentiments of high respect & sincere esteem I am Dear Sir Yours &c
Robert Briggs2
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. Letter not found.
2. Robert Briggs (1785–1838) of Madison County, Virginia, was JM’s physician for at least two years after the death of Charles Taylor in 1821 (see Briggs to JM, 26 July 1823, DLC). Briggs served as the corresponding secretary of the American Bible Society for Madison County and after his removal to Richmond, Virginia, as an officer of the Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society (William Armstrong Crozier, ed., The Buckners of Virginia and the Allied Families of Strother and Ashby [New York, 1907], 116; Annual Reports of the American Bible Society … [169 vols.; New York, 1838–1995], 1:221; “Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society,” Southern Literary Messenger 1 [1835]: 257).