To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 9 June 1783
From Edmund Pendleton
Tr (LC: Force Transcripts). In the left margin at the top of the transcription, Peter Force’s clerk wrote “MSS. McGuires.” See , I, xxii, xxiii.
Virga. June 9th. 1783
Dear Sir
In answer to yr favr of the 27th past, I should be glad to give you a full detail of the Sentiments of the Assembly, upon the Budget before them,1 but having left Richmond a fortnight,2 I can say nothing as to individual Opinions, and they have not made any Public determination, except to order in a Bill for the 5 P Cent as mentd. in my last, since which I have heard nothing from them on that subject.3 You’l probably be informed from thence of the Election of Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Hardy, Mr Mercer, Dr Lee & Mr Monroe for our next years Delegates to Congress.4 I was a deal disappointed in not finding you continued, that we might have had yr services ’til February, a point wch seemed agreed on when I left Richmond, but perhaps some letter from you prevented it.5
We are just told of a considerable number of arrivals from Europe, but not the particulars, the price of our tobacco will soon be fix’d.6
Have you yet found out what sort of a wife C. T. has? I want to hear, & yet I fear the Account will be disagreeable—should it be otherwise, my concern will be for her.7 I am
Dr Sir Yr affe & obt Servt
Edmd Pendleton
1. Although the letter of 27th May to Pendleton has not been found, it probably included a sentence similar to that in JM’s letter of the same day to Randolph: “The next post I hope will bring me your remarks on the Budget of Congress, with the pulse of the Assembly with regard to it” (JM to Randolph, 27 May 1783, and n. 4).
2. On 26 May Pendleton had “just returned from Richmond” to his estate of Edmundsbury (Pendleton to JM, 26 May 1783).
3. Ibid., and nn. 5, 11; 2 June; Jones to JM, 8 June 1783, and n. 5.
4. Jones to JM, 8 June 1783, and n. 10.
6. Pendleton to JM, 2 June 1783, and n. 4. Pendleton meant that with peace assured and the law of supply and demand restored to normal operation, the price of tobacco would “soon” be stabilized.
7. Pendleton to JM, 4 May, and n. 10; 16 June 1783.