1. JM probably referred here to a passage in a letter he wrote to Richard Henry Lee (25 Dec. 1784, PJM description begins William T. Hutchinson et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (1st ser.; vols. 1–10, Chicago, 1962–77; vols. 11–17, Charlottesville, Va., 1977–91). description ends , 8:201), in which he noted the possible opposition of the Virginia legislature to a convention for revising the Articles of Confederation. “Virginia seems I think to have excellent dispositions towards the Confederacy,” he wrote, “but her assent or dissent to such a proposition wd. probably depend on the chance of its having no opponent capable of rousing the prejudices & jealousies of the Assembly agst. innovations, particularly such as will derogate from their own power & importance.” The letter was published in Richard Henry Lee, Memoir of the Life of Richard Henry Lee (2 vols.; Philadelphia, 1825; Shoemaker description begins Richard H. Shoemaker, comp., A Checklist of American Imprints for 1820–1829 (11 vols.; New York, 1964–72). description ends 21184), 2:220–21.