James Madison Papers

From James Madison to Henry Wheaton, 10 August 1826

To Henry Wheaton

Montpellier Aug. 10. 1826

Dear Sir

I received some days ago your favor of July 26: and the “Life of Mr. Pinkney” referred to, is now also come to hand:1 I return without delay, my thanks for the work, well assured that it will be found to merit them.

I am not surprized that your known occupations did not permit you to mingle with the biographical topics, more of the historical notice of the period which you had once intended. I shall not be singular in regretting, at the same time, that the task could not be executed by the pen, which furnished such a specimen of judicious and interesting observations, as distinguished the elegant address of the opening of the N. York Athenaum.2

To my thanks for the biographical volume, I have to add those due for the “Report of the Revisors of the Statute laws of N. York,”3 and to both, assurances of my great esteem, and my best wishes.

James Madison

RC (NNPM).

1. JM referred here to Wheaton’s Some Account of the Life, Writings, and Speeches of William Pinkney (Shoemaker description begins Richard H. Shoemaker, comp., A Checklist of American Imprints for 1820–1829 (11 vols.; New York, 1964–72). description ends 25781).

2. Henry Wheaton, An Address, Pronounced at the Opening of the New-York Athenaeum, December 14, 1824 (New York, 1824; Shoemaker description begins Richard H. Shoemaker, comp., A Checklist of American Imprints for 1820–1829 (11 vols.; New York, 1964–72). description ends 19256). JM’s copy is in the Madison Collection, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library.

3. Report from the Commissioners Appointed to Revise the Statute Laws of the State of New-York, Prepared in Obedience to a Resolution of the Hon. the Assembly: Communicated March 15, 1826 (Albany, N.Y., 1826; Shoemaker description begins Richard H. Shoemaker, comp., A Checklist of American Imprints for 1820–1829 (11 vols.; New York, 1964–72). description ends 25555).

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    Source Project
    Madison Papers
    Title
    From James Madison to Henry Wheaton, 10 August 1826
    Author
    Madison, James
    Recipient
    Wheaton, Henry
    Date
    10 August 1826

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From James Madison to Henry Wheaton, 10 August 1826,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/04-04-02-0093. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, Retirement Series, vol. 4, 3 March 1826–29 February 1828, ed. Armin Mattes, David B. Mattern, J. C. A. Stagg, Anne Mandeville Colony, Ellen D. Goldlust, Mary Parke Johnson, Katherine E. Harbury, and Mary K. Wigge. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2023, pp. 76–77.]

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