11To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 July 1797 (Madison Papers)
In hopes that mrs. Madison & yourself & miss Madison will favor us with a visit when Colo. Monroe calls on you, I write this to inform you that I have had the Shadwell & Secretary’s ford both well cleaned. If you come the lower road, the Shadwell ford is the proper one. It is a little deepened, but clear of stone & perfectly safe. If you come the upper road you will cross at the Secretary’s...
12To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 August 1797 (Madison Papers)
One of the documents Jefferson enclosed in his letter to JM of 3 August 1797 was a draft petition in response to a federal circuit court grand jury presentment handed down in Richmond 22 May. The presentment, issued on a charge given by Judge James Iredell, condemned Samuel J. Cabell and other United States representatives for writing circular letters that endeavored “at a time of real public...
13To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 January 1798 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of Dec. 25. came to hand yesterday. I shall observe your directions with respect to the post day. I have spoken with the Depy. Post. M. Genl. on the subject of our Fredericksburg post. He never knew before that the Fredsbg. printer had taken the contract of the rider. He will be glad if either in your neighborhood or ours some good person will undertake to ride from April next. The...
14To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 January 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 2d. inst. on which day I recieved yours of Dec. 25. I have not resumed my pen because there has really been nothing worth writing about but what you would see in the newspapers. There is as yet no certainty what will be the aspect of our affairs with France. Either the Envoys have not written to the government, or their communications are hushed up. This last is...
15To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 February 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 25th. Ult. since which yours of the 21st. has been recieved. Bache had put 500. copies of Monroe’s book on board a vessel, which was stopped by the early & unexpected freezing of the river. He then tried in vain to get them sent on by fifties at a time by the stage. The river is now open here, the vessels have fallen down and if they can get through the ice below, the...
16To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 February 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 8th. We have still not a word from our envoys. This long silence (if they have been silent) proves things are not going on very roughly. If they have not been silent, it proves their information if made public would check the disposition to arm. I had flattered myself, from the progress of the public sentiment against arming, that the same progress had taken place in...
17To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 February 1798 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 12th. is recieved. I wrote you last on the 15th. but the letter getting misplaced, will only go by this post. We still hear nothing from our Envoys. Whether the Executive hear we know not. But if war were to be apprehended, it is impossible our envoys should not find means of putting us on our guard, or that the Executive should hold back their information. No news therefore is...
18To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 22d. since which I have received yours without date, but probably of about the 18th. or 19th. An arrival to the Eastward brings us some news which you will see detailed in the papers. The new partition of Europe is sketched, but how far authentic we know not. It has some probability in it’s form. The French appear busy in their preparations for the invasion of England:...
19To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 2d. inst. Your’s of the 4th. is now at hand. The public papers will give you the news of Europe. The French decree making the vessel friendly or enemy according to the hands by which the cargo was manufactured has produced a great sensation among the merchants here. It’s operation is not yet perhaps well understood; but probably it will put our shipping out of...
20To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 21 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 15th. Since that, yours of the 12th. is recieved. Since that too a great change has taken place in the appearance of our political atmosphere. The merchants, as before, continue, a respectable part of them, to wish to avoid arming. The French decree operated on them as a sedative, producing more alarm than resentment. On the Representatives differently. It excited...