To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 25 July 1805
From Thomas Jefferson
Monticello July 25. 05.
Dear Sir
Your letter of July 22. finds me in the hurry of my departure for Bedford. I return you Erving’s letter, and inclose Rankin’s petition for a pardon;1 as also a correspondence sent me by Lee of Bordeaux,2 which tho’ a little long, is entitled to a reading, as it throws light on subjects we ought to understand. I sincerely regret that mrs. Madison’s situation confines her & yourself so long at Washington. I think it very unsafe for both. The climate of our quarter is really like that of another country. I have not felt one moment of disagreeable warmth since I have been at home. The thermom. has generally been, at it’s maximum from 86. down to 81. In hopes that on my return I shall learn that mrs. Madison is much better, & safely moored in Orange I tender you my affectionate salutations.
Th:Jefferson
P.S. I inclose you the list of the members appointed to the legislative council of Indiana, to be recorded.3
RC (DLC); FC (DLC: Jefferson Papers). Enclosures not found, but see nn.
1. On 30 July 1805 Jefferson pardoned Robert Rankin, who had been jailed at Alexandria, and remitted the fine and court costs associated with his sentence (DNA: RG 59, PPR).
2. This was probably William Lee’s 17 May 1805 letter to Jefferson in which Lee enclosed copies of correspondence that he believed would vindicate his character and refute attacks made on him (DLC: Jefferson Papers).
3. This was probably the list of names contained in William Henry Harrison’s 18 June 1805 letter that Jefferson received on 25 July (ibid.; printed in 7:293–96).