1To James Madison from John Dawson, 20 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your goodness will excuse me, for addressing this letter to you, when you consider of what consequence it may be to me. The General Assembly, at their Session in October last, I find, had it in contemplation to pass an Act respecting Naval Officers, by which Collectors are to be appointed to the several Districts; and altho it did not then pass for want of a sufficient number of members to...
2To James Madison from John Dawson, 15 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
I am honourd with your letter of the 1 Int. and must request you to receive this, not as a piece of cold formality, nor simply as a return for yours but as a testimony of a much dearer principle; a principle of honest friendship—our acquaintance I esteem too high ever to forget it—I wish it continued. I wish it cultivated. I flatter myself the desire may be mutual and with pleasure did I...
3To James Madison from John Dawson, [12 June] 1787 (Madison Papers)
After an absence of near three weeks I have just return’d to this place and am favourd with your letter of the 27 of May. The prospect of a general convention of the States appears to me very faint, and I wish to be informd, whether the states assembled, or those that probably will meet, will proceed to any business. I apprehend that nothing decisive can be done, without the concurrence of the...
4To James Madison from John Dawson, 14 July 1787 (Madison Papers)
It is now some time since I was honourd with a letter from you. Either your engagements in public business, or the want of something new, I presume has been the cause of it. Nothing has taken place in this state worth communicating. The people in general appear much discontented. To make property receivable in payment of debts appears to be the most favour’d plan at present. The people of this...
5To James Madison from John Dawson, 5 August 1787 (Madison Papers)
Two days before I left Frdksburg I did myself the pleasure of addressing a letter to you, and have not receivd one since my arrival at this place. By directing to the care of Majr. Magill, Winchester, there would be a certainty of my receiving any communications you will honour me with. Yesterday I visited “a flowing spring” abt. thirteen miles from this place, in the state of Pennsylvania and...
6To James Madison from John Dawson, 25 September 1787 (Madison Papers)
On my arrival in this town, on the last evening, I was much disappointed in receiving no letter from you. The proceedings of the Convention have been forwarded by Mr. Randolph to Messrs. Mercer and Monroe, and are at this moment the subject of general conversation in every part of the town, and will soon be in every quarter of the state. Opinions have already been deliver’d, and that work,...
7To James Madison from John Dawson, 19 October 1787 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 2d. Int. I received in due time. Before this I presume you have heard that one hundred and five members attended at the state-house on the first day. Whether this is to be attributed to the ten pounds, or to a proper sense of duty I leave with you to determine—perhaps to both. On motion of Colo Mathews, seconded by Mr. B. Harrison, Mr. Prentis was call’d to the chair,...
8To James Madison from John Dawson, [ca. 10 November] 1787 (Madison Papers)
Accept my thanks, my dear Sir, for your two favours of the 21st. and 28th. of the last month, which, with the enclosures, came to hand in due time. On the receipt of a letter from you, some time since, I calld the attention of the Legislature to the Act of the last session, which is the subject of Mr. Vanburkels complaint. That it is a violation , tho not an intended one, appears to be the...
9To James Madison from John Dawson, 18 February 1788 (Madison Papers)
It is now several months since I was honord with a letter from you. During the recess of Congress, while your attention was not closely confind to public business, and while the situation of the Union must have furnishd you with daily information which woud have been interesting to you, I flatterd myself you woud not have neglected your friend. The approaching elections are the subject of...
10To James Madison from John Dawson, 20 August 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have not been honour’d with a letter from you since your return to New York, for which I must express my disappointment, altho I am more willing to attribute it to the many engagements which you have than to any other cause—the want of something new has prevented my writing. The rejection of the constitution by the State of N. Carolina, at this period, has been the cause of as much surprise...