To James Madison from George Washington Campbell, 18 June 1826
From George Washington Campbell
Nashville 18th. June 1826.
Dear Sir,
This will be handed you by Mr. Cramer,1 a gentleman of respectable commercial connections in St. Petersburg; who is prosecuting his travels in this country. Having had some acquaintance with his family connections, while at that place, some years ago, he called on me here, and expressing a particular desire to pay his respects to you, I have, at his request, given him this note of introduction.2 With very great pleasure, I embrace the occasion this affords, of renewing to you, assurances of the very High respect, & distinguished consideration, with which, I have the honor To be, Sir, Your Most Obedt,
G. W. Campbell
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. Charles Cramer (1799–1879) was born in Russia to Benedict Cramer, a merchant and director of the Russian-American Company in St. Petersburg. Charles traveled extensively in the United States in the 1820s and 1830s and was Russian vice-consul for the Port of New York beginning in 1836. An enthusiastic mineralogist, he was a member of several scientific institutions in Europe and the United States (Michael Stillman, “Cummins and Reese Offer the Charles Cramer Archive,” Book Catalogue Reviews [March 2011]: https://rarebookhub.com/reviews/1139; Bashkinaet al., United States and Russia, 1131; New-York Spectator, 11 Aug. 1836; Herman Le Roy Fairchild, A History of the New York Academy of Sciences: Formerly the Lyceum of Natural History [New York, 1887], 89–90).
2. Cramer described his visit to Montpelier: “I proceeded to Mr. Madison’s 60 Miles, in a Wretched Waggon, with a still more wretched Rosinante; & halted some distance from the house—ashamed of displaying this elegant ‘attelage,’ but was not a little surprized to learn from Mr. Madison, that he was quite familiar with the same, & that most of his Visiters were in the habit of using it. It being a very dark night, I was obliged to hold a lantern suspended from my travelling Companion, ‘a flute Stick.’
“Montpellier is situated in Orange Cty. Virginia; & is the residence of Mr. Madison, who lives in a respectable style—every thing elegant, without fastiduousness.
“I was recieved with much politeness by Mr Madison, & entertained 2 days at his house. I parted from him with great regret.
The “Wretched Waggon” transporting Charles Cramer to Montpelier.
Sketch of Montpelier, Orange County, Virginia, as seen by Charles Cramer.
“He was an active co-operator with Mr. Jefferson, in behalf of the University […] of Virginia & has at present the Sole Management of the same.
“Mrs. Madison is an extremely accomplished Lady, & must have graced the ‘Drawing Room’ during the 8 years’ presidency of her husband, in every sense of the Word” (Charles Cramer, “A General Tour thro’ the United States & British Provinces of North America” [5 vols.; St. Petersburg, 1830], 5:[54]–59 [owned by Harlan Crow Library, Dallas, Tex., 2019]).