From George Washington to James Madison, 11 May 1789
To James Madison
New York, May 11th 1789.
My dear Sir,
The enclosed were communicated to me, as you will perceive, to make a confidential use of—upon receipt of the first letter, I expressed a desire to be informed (if there was nothing improper in it) through what channel the report came, and what reliance could be placed in the authenticity of it—This gave rise to the second letter 1—As you are upon business which requires every information of the state of the union, and knowledge of our relative situation with G.B. I give you the perusal of them—This you can do at your leisure as I am in no immediate want of them. I am always Your affectionate
G. Washington
LB, DLC:GW; ALS, sold by Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., 29–30 April 1958, catalog no. 1825, item 445. In Stan V. Henkels catalog no. 694 (1892), the transcription, taken from the receiver’s copy, varies slightly in wording from the letter-book copy.
1. The enclosure may have been a report in 1787 of the committee of the council of Quebec to Lord Dorchester, sent to GW by Robert Dick. See Dick to GW, 14 and 28 Mar. 1789, and GW to Dick, 21 Mar. and 1 April 1789.