You probably have seen a controver[s]y in the Herald respecting the authorship of the respective individuals who contribute to The Fœderalist.1 The correspondent of the National Intelligencer claims for Mr. Madison several, I believe, nearly 30 numbers, that we have always been led to suppose were written by Hamilton, & upon his own authority; were written & one number, that we have always upon the same authority, ascribed to your pen; viz, 54. I have just received a letter from Chancellor Kent,2 in answer to one I wrote him on the suggestion of Gen. Lewis, who informed me, that Hamilton told him, that he had given the Chancellor, (then judge) a corrected key, in which two more numbers had been credited to Mr. Madison than had been usually allowed him: the letter, however, which I have received, does not exactly tally with any key I have, (for I have three different ones). Will you have the condescention to communicate to me, then, any information you may possess & on which you can rely; if you should not be able to ascertain either from written documents or recollection, the particular information I am in search of, as respects all the numbers, can you not, at any note, speak with certainty as to the numbers written by yourself, & whether there were 4 or 5.3 I shall not say any further until I have the pleasure to hear from you. Your kindness, I hope, will excuse this intrusion on your retirement. I am, Dear Sir, respectfully, Your very hum. ser.