1From John Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 16 December 1823 (Jay Papers)
On the 13 th . Inst, I rec d . your Letter of the 28 th . ult— together with the Copy of your Report on Indian affairs— The Copy of the Constitution of “a New Society for the Benefit of Indians” the Copy of a Resolution of the American Board of Com rs . for foreign missions—and the Prospectus of the New York Observer, which you had the Goodness to send with it— Understanding that your Report...
2To James Madison from Jedidiah Morse, 9 April 1823 (Madison Papers)
J Morse presents his respects to Mr Madison, & thanks him for his valuable answers to the questions sent to him, relative to the treatment &c. of Negroes. The information whh they contain shall be faithfully used, as requested. RC ( DLC ); draft ( ViU : Special Collections). RC docketed by JM . Draft written at the bottom of JM to Morse, 28 Mar. 1823 . JM to Jedidiah Morse, 28 Mar. 1823 .
3From James Madison to Jedidiah Morse, 28 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to Docr. Morse with the annexed answers to the Queries accompanying his letter of the 14th. inst: as far as they were applicable to this State. The answers could not be conveniently extended as much as might perhaps be desired. Their brevity & inadequacy will be an apology for requesting that if any use should be made of them, it may be done without reference...
4To James Madison from Jedidiah Morse, 14 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
The foregoing was transmitted to me from a respectable Correspondent in Liverpool, deeply engaged in the Abolition of the Slave Trade, & the Amelioration of the Condition of Slaves. If, sir, your liesure will allow you, & it is agreeable to you, to furnish brief answers to these questions, you will, I conceive essentially serve the Cause of humanity, & gratify & oblige the Society above named,...
5From James Madison to Jedidiah Morse, 8 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to the Revd. Dr. Morse & to his son, with acknowledgments for the Copies of “The New system of Modern Geogy.” and “The new System of Geogy. antient & Modern,” with which he has been favored. He has not been able to give them a particular examination. A very cursory one, has left no doubt that each will bear a very advantageous comparison with any similar...
6To James Madison from Jedidiah Morse, 20 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
I have just read, in Niles’ Register, your letter to Lt. Governor Barry, on the subject of a “general system of Education.[”] The sentiments you have expressed in this Letter, are so just & excellent, & comport so well with the present state of the World, & specially of our own favored country, that I cannot but thank you for them, & express my hope, that, from the influence you have acquired...
7From John Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 10 June 1822 (Jay Papers)
I have recieved the Pamphlet you had the Goodness to send me relative to the Society for the Benefit of Indians; with a manuscript Note subjoined, inviting a full Communication of my views and opinions on the Subjects in question. My Health neither is, nor probably will be such, as to enable me to take comprehensive views of those Subjects, and form mature and satisfactory opinions on the...
8Thomas Jefferson to Jedidiah Morse, 6 March 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your letter of Feb. 16. and have now to express my sense of the honorable station proposed to my ex-brethren and myself in the constitution of the society for the civilisation and improvement of the Indian tribes . the object too expressed as that of the association is one which I have ever had much at heart, and never omitted an occasion of promoting while I have been in...
9From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 2 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received the honour of your respectful Letter of the 16th. February, With the Constitution of a Society which has relation to the Aboriginal Natives of the Country. I wish every thing to be done for the happiness of the Indians, which that Constitution proposes; but I have great doubts of the propriety of a voluntary Association, for such purposes The President, Senate, and House of...
10From James Madison to Jedidiah Morse, 26 February 1822 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 16th. with the printed constitution of a Society for the benefit of the Indians. Esteeming as I do the objects of the Institution, I can not decline the honorary relation to it which has been conferred on me; though good wishes be the only returns I shall be able to make. Beside the general motive of benevolence, the remnants of the Tribes within our limits...
11To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 16 February 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor, in fulfilment of my official duty, to transmit to you a copy of the Constitution of a Society, just established, which recognizes the general policy in regard to the Indian tribes in our country, pursued during your administration. From this consideration, I am permitted, sir, to indulge a confident hope, that this Constitution, & the Office under it to which you are...
12To James Madison from Jedidiah Morse, 16 February 1822 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor, in fulfilment of my official duty, to transmit to you a copy of the Constitution of a Society, just established, which recognizes the general System of measures, or rather the spirit of them, which were pursued during your Administration in reference to Indians. From this consideration, I am permitted to indulge a confident hope, sir, that this Constitution, & the office...
13Jedidiah Morse to Thomas Jefferson, 16 February 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor, in fulfilment of my Official duty, to transmit to you a copy of the Constitution of a Society , just establid established , which recognizes the general System of measures, or rather the spirit of them, which were pursued during your administration in reference to the Indian tribes in our country . From this consideration, I am permitted to indulge
14Jedidiah Morse to Thomas Jefferson, 24 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
In behalf of the Compiler of the enclosed Work, I transmit to you a copy of it for your acceptance, with a request, that you would do him & me the favor, to give your opinion of its merits as a school book. He is a young man of taste, without property, has completed a course of Law studies, & is now a student in Theology. Your patronage of the work, if, on examining the work it, you shall see...
15To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 11 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have to ask your pardon for delaying to answer Your’s of the 26th. ulto. & returning the enclosed pamphlet, till now—Your letter found me in the busiest season of the year, engaged to the full—& I have been kept so till this time—I wished to give it another reading before returning it—as it contains some important facts & opinions, recorded at the time , of whh I shd. wish to avail myself,...
16From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 26 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the Second of this Month, and the Letters I lent you of Governor Mackean: but not the Pamphlet I lent you at the Sametime, So improperly entitled by British Editors, “History of the disputes with America.” This Pamphlet, the only one I know, at present, I pray you to return as Soon as possible; because I have immediate Occasion for it. I am, Sir, very...
17To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 2 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
I am on the wing for N. York, where I hope for an interview with Gov. Jay & Dr. Boudinot, who I expect will both be present to give their influence in the formation of a National Bible Society , after the manner of those in Europe. I wish Sir, you could be present, & give, (shd you think it proper) your sanction to such an Institution—If you approve of the measure, & will drop me a line, to...
18From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 20 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
In the Order of Time, I have passed over a Tragical Event, which excited much interest, and contributed largely, to render the Sovereignty of Parliament odious, detestable and horrible to the People. And I can consionscously add, accellerated the Catastrophy of the fifth of March 1770. In 1769 a little before the Recall of Governor Bernard, The British Frigate, The Rose Sent a Lieutenant, a...
19From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 5 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
The trials of the officer & Soldiers, who were indited for the slaughter in King Street were pending, for the greatest part of the year 1770, & when they came on, consumed six, or seven days each; the discussions & Decisions, in those cases, convinced the people that they could depend on no protection, against the Sovereignty of Parliament but Providence, & their own Arms. Accordingly they...
20From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 1 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
From 1760 to 1766 was the purest period of patriotism, from 1766 to 1776 was the period of corruption from 1775 to 1783 was the period of war; not a revolutionary war, for the revolution was complete in the minds of the people & the Union of the Colonies before the war commenced, in the Skirmishes of Concord & Lexington on the 19th of April 1775. In 1766 commenced the seperation of parties,...
21From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 22 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
You are examining me upon Interrogatories. I must tell you the Truth and nothing but the Truth. But to tell you the whole Truth is impossible. It would require more Volumes than I can calculate. I am as in capable of composing or Writing them as I am of commanding the Sun to Stand Still. I can only note a few broken Hints. In 1765 the Colonies were more unanimous than they ever have been...
22To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 21 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 28th. is before me, My son, & his parents feel much obliged to You for your polite & kind invitation to him, to visit you at your house for the purpose of taking your Portrait. He will deem it an honor & a privilege to enjoy the Society of Mrs Adams & yourself for a few days. He, therefore, authorises me to say to you, sir, that should it not be convenient to you to visit him...
23From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 18 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
In your favour of the 15th of November, you ask, in the Name of your eldest Son, the Liberty to take my Buste By Saturdays Mail I recd a Letter dated Philadelphia Decr. 6th. from Mr Joseph De la Plaine, a Gentleman whom I know not, who Says “A respectable Young Gentleman, Mr Morse, lately from London, Son of the Revd. Dr Morse is an excellent Artist I learn. I beg you to do me the honour of...
24To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 18 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you very sincerely for your two last very valuable communications, one of the 5th. inst—& the preceding one—They throw light on a very interesting period of our history—They contain many unrecorded facts, known probably to no other man living, except yourself, & whh a historian ought to know. I pray that your health may be continued, that you may be enabled to put into a State to be...
25From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 5 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
If such was the Spirit of the English Church in America, and especially in Virginia before the Revolution: Can you wonder, that Men So enlightened as Richard Henry Lee and his Brothers, Patrick Henry Chancellor Wythe Chief Justice Pendleton, Mr Jefferson Mr Madison &c, though they had been all educated in that Church, became afterwards Disciples of Lock, Blackburne, Fourneux and William Penn,...
26From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 2 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
If I ever comply with your request, I must make haste, & employ the few intervals of light which my eyes afford me. Where is the man to be found, at this day, when we see Methodistical Bishops, Bishops of the Church of England, & Bishops, Archbishops, & Jesuits of the Church of Rome, with indifference; who will beleive, that the apprehension of Episcopacy, contributed 50 years ago, as much as...
27To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 2 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
I am confined to my house with the epidemic cold—& much enfeebled by it. I cannot refrain, however, just thanking you for your two last very valuable letters—to me, with my views, peculiarly valuable—The No. of Histories published & in contemplation, of this country, & of our war, is no discouragement to me—as the one whh I contemplate is to be of a different character from either of them—it...
28From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 29 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
There are thirty or forty Histories of the American Revolution and consequent War now upon the Stocks and ready to be launched, as soon as the Weather and the tide will permit. The Chevalier Botta, an Italian Knight has already written one, which is Said to be the best that ever had appeared. Mr Mackean and Mr Pollard have written two others. Mr Randolph of Virginia has left one Soon to be...
29From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 20 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
The Pamphlet I lent you and the Letters from Governor Mackean you may retain for the time you mention. The Pamphlet I would give you, if I had or could procure another. The rise and progress of that pamphlet is this. On my return form Phyladelphia in November 1774, I found that Mrs Drapers Massachusetts Gazette had been long pouring forth torrents of scurrility against the Whigs, and dreadful...
30To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 15 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
I acknowledge my fault this day. I have two of your valued letters, of Sep. 11th. & Nov. 2d. now before me unanswered. My absence a part of the time, since they were recd. & continual & very pressing engagements the rest of the time, have occasioned the delay. The enclosures in yours of the 11th. of Sept. were to me very interesting & acceptable. I am extracting from them the information...