3971From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, 18 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
The reasonable and friendly views with which you have been instructed by the President to enter into negociations with the French Government justify him in expecting from them an issue favorable to the tranquillity and to the useful relations between the two Countries. It is not forgotten however that these views, instead of being reciprocal, may find, on the part of France, a temper adverse...
3972Virginia Delegates in Congress to William Livingston, 21 December 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC (New York Public Library). The text of this letter is in Madison’s hand. The letter and its address sheet have become separated—the former is in the Emmet Collection and the latter among the papers of William Livingston. We received this morning a letter subscribed by Peter Thornton informing us that he is the son of a gentleman in Virginia, that he lately made his escape from N. York and...
3973From James Madison to Thomas Lloyd, 1 January 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 January 1813. “J. Madison will see Mr. Lloyd as he requests tomorrow morning at 10. OC.” RC ( PPACHi : Thomas Lloyd Papers). 1 p. Dated “Jany. 1.”; year assigned on the basis of evidence presented in n. 1. Thomas Lloyd (1756–1827), a Federalist sympathizer and skilled stenographer, had edited the Pennsylvania ratification debates on the Constitution published in 1788 and had reported the...
3974From James Madison to J. F. Daniel Lobstein, 28 October 1822 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 19th. inclosing a specification of the contents of a work you are about to publish. The topics you have selected will afford ample scope for information and observations on the State of this Country. An eye which is aquainted with Europe will be best able to mark such features of America, as will present a comparative view doing justice to one without injustice...
3975From James Madison to George Logan, 19 January 1810 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favour of the 10th. Your anxiety that our country may be kept out of the vortex of war, is honourable to your judgment as a patriot, and to your feeling as a man. The same anxiety is, I sincerely believe, felt by the great body of the nation, & by its public councils; most assuredly by the Executive Branch of them. But the question may be decided for us, by actual...
3976From James Madison to William Logan, 12 August 1819 (Madison Papers)
I have received under your cover of the 28. Ult: the copy of Mr. Condy’s oration delivered before the ’76 Association on the last anniversary of American Independence; and I beg that the Association may be assured of the pleasure with which I accept this further specimen of the talents selected, for commemorating that event, & cherishg the spirit which produced it. I tender you Sir, my...
3977From James Madison to John Tayloe Lomax, 23 March 1827 (Madison Papers)
I inclose a communication from President Cooper of the S. Carolina College. I have apprized him of the enactment in our University Code, as applicable to the occurence he describes, and to which the Faculty wd. doubtless conform, with a just sense of the Obligation every where to discountenance so pernicious an example. With great esteem Draft ( DLC ). Addressed by JM to Lomax, “Chairm⟨an⟩ of...
3978James Madison to John Tayloe Lomax, 30 January 1830 (Madison Papers)
I recd last evening your letter of the 25th. and sincerely regret both on acct. of the University & the public the final determination which will separate you from the former. The regret will I am sure be equally felt by my Colleagues. I hope it can be alleviated by the advantages ensuing to yourself. On the subject of your continuance in the professorship, untill the end of the Session, with...
3979James Madison to John Tayloe Lomax, 10 November 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours dated 8th. post mark 6th Being absent at the last meeting of the Visitors, I am ignorant of the particular view they had on the order to which you refer Your Statement seems to shew that a deviation from the letter of it, whilst an accomodation to yourself & others, would not be objectionable in any quarter. I forward your letter however to Genl. Cocke my Extive....
3980From James Madison to John Tayloe Lomax, 10 March 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 5th. instant. Considering the Law publications you point out as very proper for the Library of the University & that they can be procured out of a part of the appropriation, not needed for the periodicals, I join Genl. Cocke in his opinion on the subject; with a reliance however on the retrospective sanction of the Visitors if deemed necessary, as much as on the claim...
3981From James Madison to John Tayloe Lomax, 10 September 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 6th. on the non-descript case of Mr. Egan & his associate. If thei[r] attendance on Lectures be not in the character of Students of the University, or Students of a religious School within or adjoining its precincts, no provision of the enactments can be applicable to it, and the peculiarity of the case seems to take it out of the reason of the rule on the subject of...
3982James Madison to James B. Longacre, 27 August 1833 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. your letter of the 21 inst I am aware of the wish you naturally feel for such a biographical sketch of me as will preserve a uniformity in your Gallery; and I am glad that you are sensible of the controul I may feel in supplying materials for it. A friend will attempt a brief chronicle of my career, with perhaps a few remarks & references, and will forward the paper when...
3983From James Madison to George Long, [Post–26 December 1824] (letter not found) (Madison Papers)
¶ To George Long. Letters not found. Post - 26 December 1824. Mentioned by Long in his letter to Henry Tutwiler, 30 May 1875, published in Thomas Fitzhugh, ed., Letters of George Long (Charlottesville, Va., 1917), 24–25: “Soon after my arrival in Virginia, and it was either in December 1824 or in January 1825, I received a letter from Mr. Madison, whom I had not then seen. He asked me if I...
3984From James Madison to George Long, 4 January 1828 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of Monday last came to hand yesterday, and the same mail brought me the letter from Mr Brougham, bearing date Ocr. 20th. He refers to the choice made of you for the Greek professorship in the London University; and to the 1st. of October as the time when its duties would require you to be there; and communicates the anxiety felt for a release from your engagements here upon the...
3985James Madison to George Long, 30 March 1830 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed to you by the Revd. Mr. Smith of the Episcopal Church in Virginia, who crosses the Atlantic for the improvement of his health. The character you left with us makes him wish to be made known to you during his short stay in England, and I am justified by the respect due to his personal & pastoral virtues, in presenting him to you as entirely worthy of your friendly...
3986From James Madison to George Long, 8 September 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 31. was duly recd. by the Mail preceding the last. Altho’ it ought not to produce surprize, that you should, on the expiration of your engagement here, prefer a residence in your native Country, I am very sure that I express a regret common to the Visitors that the University should lose a professor, whose qualifications, can scarcely be hoped for in a Successor whether...
3987James Madison to George Long, 8 June 1829 (Madison Papers)
Your obliging letter of Decr—came duly to hand. Having heard nothing since either from you or from Mr. Barbour, I infer that our field of choice for the vacant Chair in our University will be limited to our own Country: In this event, your favorable estimate of Mr. Harrison’s qualifications will doubtless be a weight in his scale, when compared with the pretensions of others. Of the standing...
3988From James Madison to George Long, 3 November 1827 (Madison Papers)
My communication with the other Visitors on the subject of your several letters necessarily retarded by their scattered & distant situations was unfortunately still further delayed, by four of their letters having entered mail for Montpr. in Vermont. I am at length authorized to confirm my anticipation of the regret of the prospect of losing your valuable services in the University; and their...
3989From James Madison to Louis Lambert & Company (Abstract), 9 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
9 May 1805, Department of State . “I have received your letter of yesterday [not found] and have to inform you, in answer, that Mr: Wm: Lyman the successor of Mr. Erving in the Agency at London, will of course superintend your appeal, on application; but as he is neither to expend monies nor make pecuniary engagements on accot: of the public, it is necessary that you should make provision for...
3990From James Madison to James Lovell, 20 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 20 March 1805 . Described in Lovell to JM, 29 Mar. 1805 , as dealing with financial matters.
3991James Madison to John E. Lovell, 31 March 1832 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your letter of the 22d. It was a little delayed by being addressed to Charlottesvill instead of the P. Office near me. There must be some mistake in the circumstances refering to a conversation with Mr Colton. I have no recollections that coincide with them. Notwithstanding the qualifications and accomplishments of Mr. Cardella I can authorize no expectation that he would find an...
3992From James Madison to William Lowndes, 16 October 1816 (Madison Papers)
The resignation of the Treasury, by Mr. Dallas, drawing after it a vacancy in the War Department, now to be filled, I am desirous of availing our Country of your talents & services in the latter. With a hope of obtaining your assent, I addressed a letter to you, which, from the course of your journey can not have reached you; and as soon as I ascertained that you had arrived in Washington, I...
3993From James Madison to William Lowndes, 3 October 1816 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Dallas being on the point of retiring from the Treasury Dept. and the event drawing after it a vacancy in the Dept. of War, will you permit me to avail our Country of your services in the latter? It will be convenient to know your determination as soon as you have formed it; and it will afford me great pleasure if it accede to my request. Accept Sir assurances of my great esteem and of my...
3994From James Madison to Nicholas Low, 13 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
In consequence of yours to me, of the 6th. inst. I send you herewith a letter for Mr. Pinckney and one for Mr. Jarvis. The last is nearly a copy of the first, which goes to you under a flying seal. You will see by that, that you are relied upon for a full Communication to these Gentlemen of the business recommended to their care by these Letters. I request you [to] forward the other letter for...
3995From James Madison to John B. C. Lucas (Abstract), 22 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
C. Lucas. 22 March 1805, Department of State . “The President of the United States being desirous of availing the public of your Services as a Judge of the Territory of Louisiana, I have the p<leasure> t<o> inclose your Commission.” RC ( MoSHi ); letterbook copy of enclosure ( DNA : RG 59, Temporary Presidential Commissions). RC 1 p.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by JM. For enclosure, see n. 1....
3996Hobohoilthle to John Roger Nelson Luckett, 24 October 1810 (Madison Papers)
… I am now speaking to the President you have appointed an officer to act in your business I am not vexed but I am speaking plain, I am the President of this nation of people and so I give an Answer to it. I call myself Muscogee A nation of people, I am so, I wish to be friendly I am a native master of this country and I wish to be good neighbours, you are too gready after my land, I am...
3997From James Madison to George Luckey, ca. 15 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 15 July 1809. Acknowledged in Luckey to JM, 10 Aug. 1809 . Comments on Luckey’s views on dueling.
3998From James Madison to Benjamin Ludlow, 25 July 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. the address from “The Convention of Republican Delegates from the several counties of the State of New Jersey,” explaining the sentiments entertained at this crisis, by that portion of my Constituents. The sentiments are worthy the character of Citizens, who know the value of the national rights at stake in the present contest; and who are willing to do justice to the sincere &...
3999From James Madison to James B. Sheys and Peter Ludlow Jr., 22 February 1819 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your letter of the 11th. inst. The unbiassed history you have in view, of the Seminole war & the events growing out of it, is an undertaking of much interest, and I wish you a success which may be satisfactory to yourselves, and to the public. It is not in my power, however to make the contributions which you request. Waving every other obstacle, my time has other appropriations...
4000From James Madison to William Lyman, 26 August 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To William Lyman. 26 August 1806, Department of State. “Mr. T. Martin of Portsmouth (N.H.) has exhibited documents, which indicate that his Ship James & William, together with her Cargo, was captured within the jurisdictional limits of the United States and condemned nevertheless at Bermuda. Mr. Martin having interposed an appeal for the intervention of the government to enable him to insist...
4001From James Madison to William Lyman (Abstract), 7 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
7 March 1805, Department of State . “As Mr. Erving will probably have left London before the receipt of the third Instalment under the late Convention with G. Britain, you will after ascertaining that point, give notice thro’ the public prints in London, that the drafts upon him of the American claimants under the Convention so far as they shall be conformable with the advertisment enclosed,...
4002From James Madison to William Lyman, 29 April 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To William Lyman. 29 April 1806, Department of State. “Observing by the charges contained in the accounts you have rendered to the close of last year, that you have incurred various expences not authorized by law, I have thought it necessary to observe, that no Clerk hire except five hundred dollars annually and no office expences are admissible, and that the charges which alone are to be...
4003From James Madison to William Lyman, 28 January 1805 (Madison Papers)
In addition to the ordinary duties of Consul at London resulting from the several acts of Congress, and the instructions from this Department with which you have been furnished, you are to take upon yourself the Agency for Seamen and claims for captured property in Great Britain, for which latter services you will receive a compensation at the rate of two thousand dollars to commence on your...
4004From James Madison to William Lyman, 2 September 1806 [letter not found] (Madison Papers)
¶ To William Lyman. Letter not found. 2 September 1806. Acknowledged in Lyman to JM , 5 Dec. 1806, as having to do with the British Admiralty’s handling of impressment cases ( DNA : RG 59, CD , London, vol. 9).
4005From James Madison to William Lyman, 14 January 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 January 1805, Department of State. “I have the honor to enclose your commission as Consul for London [not found] with the standing instructions. In the course of a few days I shall forward the instructions under which you are to exicute the agency for claims and seamen.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). 1 p.; addressed to Lyman at New York. For JM’s Standing Instructions to...
4006From James Madison to Dominick Lynch Jr., 27 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 18th. inst. informing me that “the Amn. Society for the encouragemt of domestic manufactures,” have been pleased to elect me one of its members. Altho’ I approve the policy of leaving to the sagacity of individuals, and to the impulse of private interest, the application of industry & capital, I am equally persuaded, that in this as in other cases, there are...
4007James Madison to Isaac S. Lyon, 20 September 1834 (Madison Papers)
I must apologize for the great delay in acknowledging your letter of Apl. 20th, by referring, (now a common and necessary resort) to the feebleness of age, accompanied by severe & continued inroads on my health. My respect for your object, would make it very agreeable to me, to aid it in the way you mention. But on looking into the parcels of pamphlets I possess, I find none that would supply...
4008From James Madison to William MacCreery, 24 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison, presents his respects to Mr. MacCrary, and has the honor, in pursuance of the wishes of Judge Woodward of the Michegan Territory, to enclose some documents for his perusal, as Chairman of the Committee upon the laws of that Territory. Mr. MacCrery is requested to have the goodness to return the documents after perusing them. DNA : RG 59—DL—Domestic Letters.
4009From James Madison to Seth G. Macey, 11 January 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 January 1805, Department of State. “I have received your letter of the 3d. inst. [not found] & its inclosures respecting Patrick Cunningham. As it does not appear that he is a Citizen of the United States, it would not be conformable with usage, nor would any success be expected from the measure, to apply for his release, as an individual case. In the mean time the right of the British to...
4010From James Madison to James Machir, 23 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
In answer to your letter of the 4th. inst., I have to state that a patent for 1000 acres, issued to Samuel Haws, appears to have been delivered to Anthony New Esqr., but whether it is that to which you refer is uncertain. With respect to the papers lodged for patents in the name of Fenn, the claim of assignments is imperfect, there being none from Smith to Marshall, and that from Fenn to Smith...
4011From James Madison to Mackay & Campbell, [ca. 15 October 1821] (Madison Papers)
I returned the note covered by yours of the 4th duly signed. I forwarded some days ago one to meet the object of it, which I hope reached you on Friday morning. Should it have miscarried that now sent will replace the advance which you will have been good enough to make. The Articles of furniture marked R. Cutts were intended for me & early measures will be taken to have them brought up. With...
4012From James Madison to Mackay & Campbell, 18 December 1821 (Madison Papers)
The bills on M. & L. lately sent you expressed the balance due to me as stated in the Acct. Sales. The Acct current just come to hand, contains a few items of which I was not aware, reducing the balance from £28.3.5. to £21.15.2. Should the Bills not be out of your reach be so good as to let me replace them with a correct set. Should the oppy. be past, I must ask the favor of you to adjust the...
4013From James Madison to Mackay & Campbell, 14 May 1821 (Madison Papers)
I am to receive from Mr. Cazenove of Alexa several Bbles &ca which I took the liberty of requesting him to address to your care. Shd they have come to hand, the Waggoner Aleck will bring them up. The cost of these articles is $243.36. If you can witht. inconvenience make Mr. C. this remittance you will oblige me: if not let me know. I have a little more flour to send down wch. will follow the...
4014From James Madison to Mackay & Campbell, 21 July 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. your favor of the l9th. and inclose the Blank bills filled with a draft on Maury & Latham for $250 Stirling [ sic ]. I lose no time in sending them; because I understand there is an advantage in having bills in the market in time for the Monthly Packet from N. York. I wish as much of the proceeds to be applied to the Bank in Fredg. as will cancel the discount and reduce my...
4015From James Madison to Mackay & Campbell, 29 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 18th. & have delayed the answer a few mails hoping for a letter from Messrs. M. & L. of a like date with their last to you. The last to me was of Sepr. 13, at which time the whole of my Tobo. had not been sold, and the invoice of the goods sent me not inclosed. Perhaps a letter for me may be in the Country & you can give me some account of it. The Tobo. seems to have...
4016From James Madison to Robert Mackay, 7 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
An accident to the Saw of my Sawmill requires a new one immediately, the season being now favorable for using it. Will you be so obliging as to have a good one chosen, & held ready for the application of Mr. Howard’s waggoner, who will be down very quickly after this reaches you. If he shd fail, I will authorise some other waggoner to bring up the Saw. The sickness in my family and other...
4017From James Madison to Robert Mackay, 20 February 1821 (Madison Papers)
I duly recd. yours of . The Mill saw was safely brought by the Waggoner. I am sorry to observe that it was not only without the usual holes for fixing it in the wooden frame; but had a flaw inward from the teeth near the middle of the saw, visible at the slightest glance. This defect is particularly unfortunate, as it requires a slackness in working the Saw, that loses both time & water, the...
4018From James Madison to Robert Mackay, 1 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
I inclose a Bill on Mr. Maury for £100 Sterling which will cover your advance of $300. and leave a balance of , which if convenient I shall be glad of by our Court day for this month. I have ventured to draw for that much, as the bill is at 60 days & as I rely on the quality of the Tobo. I have sent, and the amount of the ensurance, to make the payment safe. I have written for a few articles,...
4019From James Madison to Robert Mackey, 1 April 1822 (Madison Papers)
I must again avail myself of your aid in prolonging the loan to me from the Bank. The note per the purpose is inclosed. I must also again refer to your judgment the time for disposing of the flour & Wheat you have recd on my acct. I had inferred from the character of the last crop of Grain in parts of Europe, particularly G.B. and from other circumstances, that the prices wd. be likely to rise...
4020From James Madison to John Maclean Jr., 27 August 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. your letter of the 20th. communicating the proceedings of a meeting of the Alumni Association of Nassau-Hall, and the unanimous appointment for its President. I hope it will not be doubted that I feel all the value of such a mark of respect from a source so respectable. Nor can I be insensible to the distinguished names with which mine is officially united. It is with much...