From James Madison to James Monroe, 30 January 1799
To James Monroe
Jany. 30. 99.
Dear Sir
We have now been near six weeks settled in our new domicil, where we do not abandon the hope of welcoming you and your amiable family, notwithstanding the damp thrown on it by your last letter. The Season of year, tho’ frequently an obstacle, frequently also presents favorable spells, of which we have had already a fine specimen, & seem to be promised more. Mrs. Monroe’s health might be aided rather than exposed by such an excursion on a well chosen day. And Mrs. Buckner’s company, would truly add to our pleasure, of which we beg you with our compliments to assure her. Perha⟨ps⟩ Mrs. Trist1 may also be able to prevail on herself, to join y⟨ou⟩. Be so good as to tender her our respects and our wishes on this subject which would not a little be gratified by the favor. The Philada. news is greatly in arrears to me. I expect the mail of today may pay them up. I forwarded to Mr. Dawson by Mr. J. the paper you wished to have that destination.2 Very sincer[e]ly I am Dr. Sir Your friend & servt.
Js. Madison Jr
RC (DLC). Addressed by JM to Monroe “near Charlottesville.” Damaged by removal of seal.
1. Elizabeth House Trist, along with her son, Hore Browse Trist, and her niece, Mary House, had moved to Charlottesville in the summer of 1798. Trist was negotiating the purchase of an estate in Albemarle County, Virginia, to which the family eventually moved in April 1801 (Jane F. Wells, “Thomas Jefferson’s Neighbors: Hore Browse Trist of ‘Birdwood’ and Dr. William Bache of ‘Franklin,’” Magazine of Albemarle County History, 47 [1989]: 2–3).
2. See Monroe to JM, 7 Dec. 1798, and n. 5, and JM to Monroe, 11 Dec. 1798.