To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 May 1811
From Thomas Jefferson
Monticello May 26. 11.
Dear Sir
As I sent you my first effort to keep Duane right, so I communicate the second,1 which the failure of our measures to help him obliged me to write. It probably closes our correspondence as I have not heard a word from him on the subject. Ritchie is correct as to the administration generally. I have written to a friend there2 what I am in hopes will put him right as to mr. Gallatin, altho, as my friend thinks, it is not certain.
⟨We have had much alarm as to the fly in our wheat. Some friendly rains however have enabled much of it to out-grow that danger. Good lands & husbandry have recieved little injury from it. But the indifferent present as yet rather a meagre appearance. You will be so good as to return me the inclosed after perusal & to accept the assurances of my constant affection.
Th: Jefferson⟩
RC (DLC); FC (DLC: Jefferson Papers). Second paragraph and signature, clipped from the RC, have been supplied within angle brackets from the FC.
1. Jefferson enclosed a copy of his 30 Apr. 1811 letter to Duane (DLC: Jefferson Papers; printed in , 9:314–16), explaining that the attacks on JM and the administration printed in the Aurora General Advertiser in the first two weeks in April made it impossible to raise funds for the newspaper in Richmond. “The President’s popularity,” Jefferson wrote, “is high thro’ this state,” and he strongly hinted that once Duane learned of “such a mass of opinion variant from your own,” he should reconsider the wisdom of his editorial policies. “The example of John Randolph,” Jefferson added, “is a caution to all honest & prudent men, to sacrifice a little of self-confidence, & to go with their friends, altho’ they may sometimes think they are going wrong.”
2. Jefferson was probably alluding to his letters of 30 Mar. and 3 May 1811 to William Wirt (, 9:316–19).