Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 February 1823
To James Madison
Monticello Feb. 24. 23.
Dear Sir
I have read mr Cox’s letters and some of his papers, which I now return you.1 it is impossible for me to write to him.2 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, nor3 even express a sentiment4 on the subject of the Candidates. as you propose to write to him, will you be so good as to add a line for me of the above purport? it will be a great relief to me; as it hurts me much to take no notice of the letter of an old friend.
The acceptance of the loan being now approved by five of us I shall proceed immediately to have the workmen engaged. as there are some very important points to be decided on previously to embarking in5 such a building, I sent to request Genl Cocke to join me in setting the thing agoing. but he had engagements which prevented his leaving home; and as the case admits no delay, I shall proceed according to the best of my judgment, with the aid of mr Brockenbrough, and with all the caution the case admits.6 ever & affectionately yours
Th: Jefferson
RC (DLC: Madison Papers). Dft (DLC); on verso of top portion of reused address cover of Tarlton Saunders to TJ, 15 Sept. 1821; endorsed by TJ as a letter to “Madison James.” Enclosures: Tench Coxe to Madison and TJ, 31 Jan., 1 Feb. 1823, and enclosures.
Madison advised Coxe from Montpellier, 1 Mar. 1823, that TJ had just returned to him Coxe’s letters and some of his papers, and added: “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. I find he thinks it best to abstain strictly from the Presidential Question, not expressing even a sentiment on the subject of the Candidates. Having thus made the communication desired, I have only to repeat assurances of my continued esteem & friendly wishes” (RC in possession of Roger W. Barrett, Chicago, 1947; Dft in DLC: Madison Papers; printed in , Retirement Ser., 3:1). On 21 Feb. 1823 Madison had already replied to Coxe refusing for his own part to comment on the upcoming election (, Retirement Ser., 2:666–7).
such a building: the University of Virginia Rotunda.
A letter from Madison to TJ of 23 Feb. 1823, not found, is recorded in SJL as received two days later from Montpellier.
1. Preceding five words interlined in Dft.
2. Reworked in Dft from “to write him an answer.”
3. Dft: “never.”
4. Reworked in Dft from “express an opn.”
5. Preceding two words interlined in Dft in place of “engaging for.”
6. Preceding three words interlined in Dft in place of “practicable.”
Index Entries
- Brockenbrough, Arthur Spicer; as University of Virginia proctor search
- Cocke, John Hartwell (1780–1866); and University of Virginia construction search
- Cocke, John Hartwell (1780–1866); as member of University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
- Coxe, Tench; on presidential election of1824 search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Correspondence; fatiguing or painful to search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; elections search
- Literary Fund; and loans for University of Virginia search
- Madison, James (1751–1836); and presidential election search
- Madison, James (1751–1836); and T. Coxe search
- Madison, James (1751–1836); as member of University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
- Madison, James (1751–1836); letters from accounted for search
- Madison, James (1751–1836); letters to search
- politics; elections search
- United States; and presidential election of1824 search
- Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; and loans for University of Virginia search
- Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; Rotunda (library) search
- Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; workmen at search