From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 September 1801
To James Madison
Monticello Sep. 11. 1801.
Dear Sir
I have no letter from you by the mail, whence I conclude I may possibly recieve something by private conveyance. a letter from miss Paine to Virginia Randolph saying nothing of your health makes me hope it is reestablished. I inclose you a letter from Genl. Saml. Smith with Barney’s letter to him. it contains matters worthy of some attention. I do not believe that Murray would endeavor to defeat the treaty. on the contrary I believe he would be anxious to get it through. however the more I reflect on it the more I am satisfied it’s non-1 ratification is unimportant, and will give us all the benefits of peace & commercial relations without the embarrasments of a treaty.—you will recieve by this post my letter to the Bey of Tunis, & one to Rob. R. Livingston on Neutral rights; both open, & to be forwarded. I have recieved no letter by this post from mr Gallatin which augurs ill of the situation of his family, as he has had occasion to write me weekly on a great variety of matter. Accept assurances of my constant & affectionate esteem & great respect.
Th: Jefferson
RC (NjP); at foot of text: “The Secretary of state.” PrC (DLC). Enclosures: (1) Samuel Smith to TJ, 29 Aug., enclosing Joshua Barney to Smith, 11 July. (2) TJ to Hammuda Pasha, Bey of Tunis, 9 Sep. (3) TJ to Robert R. Livingston, 9 Sep.
Virginia Randolph: a sister-in-law of Martha Jefferson Randolph and the youngest child of Anne Cary Randolph and Thomas Mann Randolph, Sr. Commonly known as “Jenny,” she became a permanent resident at Monticello until her marriage in 1805 to her cousin, Wilson Jefferson Cary. TJ’s granddaughter named Virginia Randolph was born at Monticello on 22 Aug. 1801 ( , xii, xiii, 133, 134, 214, 240; , 4:160).
1. Prefix and hyphen interlined.