James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Joshua Gilpin, 28 August 1809

From Joshua Gilpin

Philada. Augt 28th. 1809

Sir,

At the request of the President & Directors of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Company I take the liberty most respectfully to transmit you a Copy of the papers they have at sundry times published for public information particularly in support of the applications made by them to Congress1—as these applications may again probably be renewed, they feel sensible that the object of them will not be deemed unworthy your attention but that the interests of a public improvement promising so much national advantage, will obtain from you as fair a portion of attention as they merit. I have the honor to be With the highest respects Yr. Obt. he. Servt.

Josa: Gilpin2

RC (DLC). Docketed by JM. Enclosure not found, but see n. 1.

1Launched in 1802 after much preliminary study, the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Company suspended construction in 1805 and petitioned Congress for assistance on 1 Dec. 1805 (ASP description begins American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States … (38 vols.; Washington, 1832–61). description ends , Miscellaneous, 1:455–56). Gilpin probably enclosed his 1809 edition of the company’s petitions and annual reports.

2Joshua Gilpin was the eldest son of the company’s founder (Ralph D. Gray, The National Waterway: A History of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, 1769–1965 [Urbana, Ill., 1967], p. 4).

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