From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 10 April 1783
To Edmund Randolph
RC (LC: Madison Papers). JM wrote on the cover only his own signature and “Edmund Randolph.” On the cover in another hand appears also “Favd. by Mr. Sitgreaves” (Delegates to Harrison, 10 Apr. 1783, n. 1). Randolph docketed the cover of the present letter, “J. Madison. April 10, 1783,” and wrote “J. Madison” in the left margin of the text.
Philada. Apl. 10. 1783
Dear Sir,
The important contents of the inclosed paper1 were brough[t] hither yesterday2 by a British officer sent for that purpose by Sr. G. Carlton. To day Congs. recd. letters from Dr. F. & Mr. Adams3 inclosing a declaration entered into by them & the British Plenipoy. by which the epochs at which hostilities are to cease between France & G. B. are adopted between the latter & America. a great diversity of opinion prevails as to the time at which they were to cease on this Coast.4 The Merchants & the lawyers are most affected by the question.5 Yrs affy.
J. Madison Jr
1. Probably the Pennsylvania Packet of 10 April 1783.
2. If the Pennsylvania Journal of 12 April is correct, the “British officer” had reached Philadelphia on the evening of 8 April rather than “yesterday” (JM to Randolph, 8 April 1783, n. 4).
3. JM Notes, 10 Apr. 1783, and n. 2.
4. For “the epochs,” see Delegates to Harrison, 25 Mar., n. 4; JM Notes, 10 Apr., nn. 2, 3. For the ambiguity about “the time,” see JM Notes, 11 Apr. 1783, and n. 3.
5. For illustrations of why merchants and lawyers were especially “affected,” see JM to Randolph, 15 Apr.; JM Notes, 18 Apr. 1783, and n. 1; , VI, 136, 137, first n. 2, 138–39.