James Madison Papers

To James Madison from William Maury, 19 June 1820

From William Maury

Richmond 19 June 1820

My Dear Sir,

I received, & thank you for your very friendly letter to me at Charleston last year,1 which set my mind at ease, as you would accept no apology for a Merchants interference with Agriculture.

This letter relates only to my proper department, it is to ask you to ship your Crop (which I am informed is now in Fredericksburg), on board the Arethusa, a remarkably fine coppered Ship, now loading at Bermuda Hundred to my Fathers address—she will sail 1 August, which will insure its arrival in good order.2

Since my last, I have been over the Upper Counties of Georgia where I met a number of old Virginians. Of course I felt at home, particularly as many were acquainted with my Father, so that I think the old Man would find more pleasure in visiting his Native County than he supposed.

If you would ask him & offer quarters for himself & Daughter, I really should not be surprized at his coming over on a visit next Spring, she is coming, & as she is the only one, I hardly think he would trust her with any but himself.

I saw about a fortnight ago a Mr Insinger3 who told me he had received much pleasure from his trip & visit to yourself & Mrs Madison, to whom pray present my respects, & In hopes of doing that personally in 3 or 4 weeks I have the honor to be With high respect Your obedient servant

William Maury

RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.

1JM to William Maury, 24 Dec. 1819, PJM-RS description begins David B. Mattern et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Retirement Series (2 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 2009–). description ends 1:575–76.

2In a letter of 20 July 1820 from James Maury in Liverpool to William Maury, the former wrote: “I thank Mr. Madison for his intended consignment. I have had Tobo from him” (Maury, Intimate Virginiana, 9).

3John Peter Insinger, a young member of the Amsterdam merchant family, accompanied John Labouchère on his visit to JM in February 1820 (Langdon Cheves to JM, 7 Feb. 1820; John Quincy Adams diary, 15 Feb. 1820, MHi: Adams Papers; Marten G. Buist, At Spes Non Fracta: Hope & Co. 1770–1815 [The Hague, 1974], 551 second n. 4, 647 n. 3).

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