James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Charles P. Harrison, 7 February 1813 (Abstract)

§ From Charles P. Harrison

7 February 1813, Philadelphia. “Desirous of engaging the patronage of the enlightened and most distinguished men of our country, I submit to you the accompanying annunciation for a subscription list,1 which I am anxious to render as honourable to the patriotism of the present period in our annals, as contributory to the advancement of the Fine Arts in the United States: arts which have ever flourished, and always attained the acmé of glory and perfection in a republic.”

RC and enclosure (DLC: Madison Collection, Rare Book Division). RC 1 p.; printed, with date, address, and signature in Harrison’s hand. For enclosure, see n. 1.

1Harrison, a Philadelphia copperplate printer, enclosed a one-page printed prospectus, headed “ADDRESS,” for a “subscriptive Print” of The American Tar. Emphasizing the influence of the fine arts on the “elevation of national greatness,” Harrison hoped that a nation that supported the arts would not fail to support the relief of seamen’s widows and orphans, the beneficiaries of his print sales (Paxton, Philadelphia Directory and Register, for 1813 [Shaw and Shoemaker description begins R. R. Shaw and R. H. Shoemaker, comps., American Bibliography: A Preliminary Checklist for 1801–1819 (22 vols.; New York, 1958–66). description ends 29456]).

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