James Madison, Jr. to James Madison, 29 [September] 1801
From James Madison, Jr.
Madison 29th. [September]1 1801.
Dear Uncle.
Since I saw you, I have visited several small Towns on James River, for the purpose of procuring a place for vending Goods; but found them all well supply’d with people of that description. Mr Shepherd2 advises me strongly to go to Stevensburg, as there is not at this time a tolerable Store in that place. He says more goods may be sold there than ever was vended at this Mill, and the payments better. If so the place cannot be a bad one. I have determined to go there with a well chosen parcel of goods, tho at the same time shall be cautious, with respect to the quantity. I leave this early in the morning for Frdbg. and from thence to Baltimore; Mr. S. Stone3 inform’d me some time ago by way of Mr Richards, that he would render me any service in his power, and at the same time observ’d that a letter from you to Mr Saml. Smith of Baltimore wd. be of infinite service. If you will be so good as to furnish me with such a letter, the favor never will be forgotten. Your Nephew.
James Madison jr4
RC (NN).
1. Madison omitted to write the month; it is supplied here by conjecture on the basis of Alexander Shepherd to JM, 8 Oct. 1801.
2. Alexander Shepherd, who had married Elizabeth Madison, the eldest daughter of Francis and Susana Bell Madison, was the brother-in-law of James Madison, Jr. (see “To the honorable George Wythe Judge of the Richmond District Chancery court,” n.d. [InHi: English Collection, Hite-Bowman Papers]).
3. William S. Stone was a Fredericksburg merchant with whom the Madisons had regular business dealings (see , 17:147, 148 n. 2).
4. James Madison, Jr., eldest son of Francis and Susana Bell Madison, had attended Hampden-Sydney Academy and then served as a clerk with the Falmouth, Virginia, merchant Robert Dunbar, who handled wheat crops from Montpelier (, 14:146 n. 1, 15:309–10 and n. 1).