51Session of Virginia Council of State, 29 March 1779 (Madison Papers)
The official manuscript “Journal of the Council of State of Virginia,” from which the earlier samples of the minutes of this body were taken for reproduction in the present volume, is missing for this session. The minutes given below reproduce those entered in rough form by the secretary of the council in the “Council Minute Book.” present Jno Page Esqr. Lieut Govr D Digges D Jameson Jas...
52From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 25 June 1779 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. from Mr. Hunter £2000. I shall not put it into the loan office as it is does not appear that Certificates will be taken in payment for land. I have applied to Col Zane on the subject of Iron, but can not get a positive promise. He has taken a Mem. and says he will write to you immediately on his return home. I was sorry to find the Horse you sent me in such meagre plight. The dry...
53From James Madison to William Bradford, 17 July 1779 (Madison Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 29th.[?] Ulto. by yesterday’s post, and agreeable to your request take this immediate opportunity of acknowledging it. The Inhabitants of this City roused by the extortions of the times and the example of your State are instituting regulations similar to those you mention. Whether they will have the necessary prudenc[e,] firmness & perseverence, or...
54Money, [September 1779–March 1780] (Madison Papers)
Observations written posterior to the circular Address of Congress in Sept. 1779, and prior to their Act of March, 1780 . It has been taken for an axiom in all our reasonings on the subject of finance, that supposing the quantity and demand of things vendible in a country to remain the same, their price will vary according to the variation in the quantity of the circulating medium; in other...
55Advertisement for Missing Horse, 25 October 1779 (Madison Papers)
Strayed or stolen from the common of this city, a sorrel horse, about 12 years old, and upward of 14 hands high, with a hanging mane and switch tail; he is of a strong make, his hind feet are white and he has a few saddle spots. He formerly was owned by Mr. Edwin Fleet of King & Queen , deceased. Whoever will deliver the said horse to me in Williamsburg , or to Col. James Madison in Orange ,...
56From James Madison to William Bradford, [30 October–5 November] 1779 (Madison Papers)
satisfaction, a visit from I must own as your not any beneficial affects fro[m] a satisfaction should be your health, than that the waters have been as I flatter myself they have for a confirmation of it to future season when it may be convenient for you to extend your ride as far as Orange; where I may generally be found in those months in which the Springs are most used. The abrupt arrival...
57From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 8 December 1779 (Madison Papers)
Having an opportunity by Mr. Collins I add a few lines to those I sent by Col. Burnley on the Subject of your’s by him. The Assembly have not yet concluded their plan for complying with the requisitions from Congress. It may be relied on that that can not be done without very heavy taxes on every species of property. Indeed it is thought questionable whether it will not be found absolutely...
58From James Madison to Benjamin Harrison, 16 [December] 1779 (Madison Papers)
Being notified that the General Assembly have honoured me with a delegation to serve this commonwealth in general Congress, I beg the favour of you Sir to communicate to them my acceptance thereof, and my assurances that as far as fidelity and zeal can supply the place of abilities the interests of my Country shall be punctually promoted. I have the honor to be with great respect Yr. Most Obt...
59From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 20 March 1780 (Madison Papers)
FC ( LC : Madison Papers). In this retained copy, JM omitted “Hon’d Sir,” his usual salutation when writing to his father. The extreme badness of the roads and frequency of rains rendered my journey so slow that I did not reach this place till saturday last. The only public intelligence I have to communicate is that the great and progressive depreciation of the paper currency had introduced...
60From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 27–28 March 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Nothing under the title of news has occurred since I wrote last week by express except that the Enemy on the 1st. of March remained in the neighbourhood of Charlestown in the same posture as when the preceding account came away. From the best intelligence from that quarter there seems to be great encouragement to hope that Clinton’s operations will be again...
61William Ellery and JM to the Committee of Congress at Washington’s Headquarters, 5 May 1780 (Madison Papers)
Printed text (John Sanderson, ed., Biography of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence [2d ed.; 5 vols.; Philadelphia, 1828], I, 388–89). Nothing is said there of its source except that it had “fallen into our hands.” References to the existence of the letter are made in Brant, Madison Irving Brant, James Madison (6 vols.; Indianapolis and New York, 1941–61). , I, 90; Burnett, Letters...
62From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 6 May 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The manuscript is much faded and barely legible. In his old age JM evidently selected this letter for inclusion in the first printed edition of his papers. With this purpose in mind he added at the beginning of the first paragraph and at the close of the long final one a bracket and quotation mark. Apparently at eight places in the letter he crossed out a word or...
63From James Madison to John Page[?], 8 May 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC (University of Chicago Library). Docketed: “James Madison, Philadelph[ia,] May 8th 1780” in a hand which resembles that of John Page. By yesterday’s post I had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 27th. Ulto. The price of Dunlap’s paper I understand will be 204 Drs. per annum besides the gratification to the Post which will be not much less. But if there were less objection against...
64From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 2 June 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I have written several private letters to you since my arrival here, which as they contained matters that I should be sorry should fall into other hands, I could wish to know had been received. If your Excellency has written any acknowledgments of them, they have never reached me. Mr. Griffin tells me he has seen several letters just recd. by Mr. Bingham from...
65From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 6 June 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). A Vessel from West Florida has brought to the President of Congress intelligence from Govr. Galvez of the surrender of Mobile. No other particulars than those contained in the inclosed paper are mentioned, except the verbal report of the Capt. that the Garrison consisted of about 800 including inhabitants &c. Seven or eight vessels have just arrived from the W....
66From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 23 June 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Nothing material has taken place since my last. The fact is confirmed that Clinton has returned to N.Y. with part of the Southern army, and has joined Kniphausen. They are at present maneuvering for purposes not absolutely known, but most probably in order to draw Gnl Washington to an action in which they suppose he may be disabled to give the necessary co-operation...
67Committee Report on Letter from Nathanael Greene, [22 July] 1780 (Madison Papers)
FC ( NA : PCC , No. 19, II, 449–51). This report is in JM’s hand. The Committee to whom was referred the letter of the 19th. of June last from General Greene, desiring the sense of Congress on his responsibility as Q. M. General for the expenditures of his Agents submit the following report. They conceive it to be essential to the public interest as well as incident to the nature of all...
68Committee Report on Letter from Jonathan Trumbull, [29 July] 1780 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 20, I, 261). In JM’s hand. Docketed by Charles Thomson “Report of the Comee on the letter of May 1. 1780 from Govr Trumbull—Delivered July 29. 1780 passd.” The Committee to whom was referred the letter from Governor Trumbull of May 1. 1780, report as their opinion that Jeremiah Wadsworth late commissary general be directed to make sale of the public sugars stated in the...
69Committee Report on Letter to Rochambeau, [17? August] 1780 (Madison Papers)
Draft ( NA : PCC , No. 78, XVIII, 319–20). Proposed reply to be made by the president of Congress to the Comte de Rochambeau’s letter to him of 3 August 1780. Except for minor amendments noted below, the letter was drafted by JM between 12 and 17 August 1780. The Committee to whom was referred the letter of the 3d. inst: from le Compte de Rochambeau, report the following answer to be given by...
70Certification That Six States Have Complied with 18 March 1780 Resolutions of Congress, 5 September 1780 (Madison Papers)
MS (Virginia State Library). The text is in JM’s hand. We, Delegates from the Commonwealth of Virginia do certify that Congress have received authenticated copies of Acts of the Legislatures of the following States, complying with their resolutions of the 18th. of March last relative to the public finances, viz. 1. An Act of the Legislature of Maryland passed the 12th. day of June 1780....
71From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 12 September 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The address sheet is missing, but Pendleton wrote on the letter: “James Maddison, Esqr. Sepr. 12. 1780.” Although the originals of most of the letters from Pendleton to JM have not been found (see headnote to Pendleton to JM, 27 August 1780 ), JM’s letters to Pendleton, insofar as their present location is known, are with one exception in two repositories—the Library...
72Notes on Territorial Claim of New Hampshire, 1780 (Madison Papers)
MS ( LC : Madison Papers, Vol. 91). Undated memorandum docketed by JM, “Livermore’s state[ment] of the Territorial claim of N Hampshire.” To give this memorandum even an approximate date depends upon what JM meant by “state[ment].” If it signifies an oral statement to which JM listened and upon which he took this obviously hurried note, it must date between 20 March 1780, when he first entered...
73Resolutions Respecting Vermont Lands, [16 September] 1780 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 20, II, 249–52). These resolutions were merely one episode in an exceedingly difficult and prolonged controversy into which Congress was first drawn on 8 May 1776 ( Journals of the Continental Congress , IV, 334–35, 405). During the war, the concern of Congress about the dispute among New Hampshire, New York, and, to a lesser degree, Massachusetts over jurisdiction and land...
74From James Madison to Joseph Jones, 19 September 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Wishing to recover his letters to Jones, JM wrote for them on 21 October 1817 to James Monroe , the nephew of Jones and custodian of his papers. Monroe returned eleven, all dated in 1780. Of these, the one given below is the earliest. JM, or some other person at an undetermined time, bracketed portions of these letters for publication. The last two paragraphs of this...
75From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 19 September 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I was in hopes when I wrote my last that I should be able by this post to congratulate you on the arrival of the french fleet from the W. Indies But so far is this from being the case, that it comes from authority which seems to have a just claim to our faith that Admiral Rodney is actually at the Hook with 12. Sail of the line & 4 frigates. It is still said however...
RC (Mrs. Henry M. Sage, Albany, N.Y., 1958). The inclosed is a state of my receipts and expences from the 20 of March to the 20 of Sepr. being two complete quarters. I am sensible that the law directs that it should have been transmitted at the end of the first quarter, but my account of extra expences, being mixed with that of some Gentlemen of the family who were absent, I could not then do...
77Expense Account as Delegate in Congress, [25 September] 1780 (Madison Papers)
Dr. James Madison Junr. in account with the Commo[n]wealth of Virginia Cr. 1779 Dollars 1780 Dollars December To cash received from the Treasury of Virginia. 6666⅔ March 20 By ferriages in travelling to Philadelphia 122 By allowance of 2 dollars per mile for do 520 1780 April 7 To the moity of a draught on the Auditors for 30,000 dollars in favor of S. C. Morris by C. Griffin & J. Madison Jr....
78From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 26 September 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Although the cover sheet is missing with the name of the addressee, “Madison Jas.” is written above the date in Jefferson’s hand. I am at length able to give you some answer on the subject of the map in the hands of Dr. Smith. As the Docr. lived out of Town and it was difficult to know when he was to be found in it, and as I supposed the request would go with greater...
79From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 26 September 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Yesterday’s post disappointed me of the expected pleasure of a line from you. I hope the next will not fail to make amends for it. I have nothing to add to the inclosed paper except that Ternay is yet unreinforced, Graves at Sea no one knows where or for what purpose, and Rodney with 10 Ships of the line still at the Hook, though according to some private accounts he...
80From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 3 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 25 ulo. yesterday and am sorry it is not yet in my power to gratify your hopes with any prospect of a successful issue to this campaign. The reports of the approach or arrival of a French fleet continue to be circulated, and to prove groundless. If any foreign operations are undertaken on the continent it will probably be...
81Notes on Observations of Barbé-Marbois on Western Boundary of the United States, [6–16 October] 1780 (Madison Papers)
MS ( LC : Madison Papers). On 6 October 1780, having agreed two days before upon its instructions to John Jay, United States minister to Spain, Congress named a committee comprising JM as chairman, John Sullivan, and James Duane to draft a letter to Jay “explaining the reasons and principles” underlying the instructions ( Journals of the Continental Congress , XVIII, 908). At some time between...
82From James Madison to Joseph Jones, [10 October] 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I received yesterday yours of the 2d. inst: Some of the questions mentioned in it I anticipated in my last. The clause of the resolutions you left on the table relating to Indian purchases is still undetermined. Many attempts have been made to bring the Vermont dispute to an issue, but the diversity of opinions that prevail on one side & the dilatory artifices...
83From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 10 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Your favor of the first Inst. came safe to hand yesterday. The inclosed was sent to Mr. Pendleton who is still in town. All we know of the several fleets in the American Seas is that Rodney with a few ships at N. York, the remainder having joined Graves & Arbuthnot whom we know nothing about: Ternay is still at Rhode Island. The main french fleet under Guichen left...
84Draft of Letter to John Jay, Explaining His Instructions, [17 October] 1780 (Madison Papers)
Draft ( NA : PCC , No. 25, I, 239–49). This letter in JM’s hand constituted the report of the Madison (chairman)-Sullivan-Duane committee appointed on 6 October (above, Notes on Observations of Barbé-Marbois, [6–16 October 1780] , headnote). Submitted to Congress on 16 October, the letter was agreed to the next day in slightly amended form, as indicated below. The version printed in the...
85From James Madison to Joseph Jones, 17 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The Post having failed to arrive this week, I am deprived of the pleasure of acknowledging a line from you. Congress have at length been brought to a final consideration of the clause relating to Indian purchases. It was debated very fully and particularly, and was in the result lost by a division of the house. Under the first impression of the chagrin I had...
86From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 17 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The Southern Post having not yet arrived, I have not the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt of your favor, which I have found you too punctual to doubt his havg. for me. The best news I have to give you is contained in the inclosed paper in a letter from Eustatia, which comes from a person known to many Gentlemen here who say it may be fully credited. The Saratoga...
87From James Madison to Joseph Jones, [24] October 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). JM neglected to include the day of the month in the date line of this letter. The first paragraph, however, makes it almost certain that he was writing on 24 October. Many years later he or a member of his family bracketed the second, fourth, and fifth paragraphs with a view to their publication. Your favor of the 9th. which ought to have come on Monday last did not...
88From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, [24] October 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). In its present state the original letter lacks its last line. In the copy below, this line is taken from Madison, Writings (Hunt ed.) Gaillard Hunt, ed., The Writings of James Madison (9 vols.; New York, 1900–1910). , I, 75. At the head of the letter, JM left a space between “Octr” and “1780” without filling in the date of the month. In view of what he states in the...
89From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 31 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Your favor of the 23. came to hand yesterday. We received notice of the invasion of Virga. yesterday morning and more fully last evening. I am sensible of the great difficulties you will have to contend with and that no practicable exertions can save the State from much injury whilst the Enemy have a total command of the Bay & rivers. The meeting of the Legislature...
90From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 7 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Your favor of the 30 of last month came by yesterday’s post, and explained a report which had amused us here for several days. It was said that some movements of the French to the Southward, had alarmed the enemy to such a degree that they had suddenly re-embarked their troops and were leaving Virginia. The re-embarkation of the detachment which had taken possession...
91From James Madison to Joseph Jones, 14 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I am glad to find by your favor of the 5th. inst: recd. yesterday that your health & that of your family have admitted of your going to Richmond. The tardiness of other members is very unfortunate and inexcusable at the present critical moment. I wish when they do meet the vigor & wisdom of their measures may make amends for it. I do not learn that any of the States...
92From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 14 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Yr. favor of the 6th. inst: came to hand yesterday. Mr. Griffin by whom you appear also to have written has not yet arrived. It gives me great pleasure to find that the Enemy’s numbers are so much less formidable that [than] was at first computed, but the information from N. York makes it not improbable that the blank in the computation may shortly be filled up. Genl...
93Certification to a Committee of Congress, [16–17 November] 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( NA : PCC , No. 62, fol. 435). [At] the request of the Honble. T. Matlack Esqr. I received the enclosed papers from him Octr. 27. and have since had them in my care. The two certificates of faithful “each”[?] entry, on the margin of two[?] of the sheets by Mr. Walker were signed in my presence at the time I received them. Mr. Walker was not desired to certify the like with regard to the...
94From James Madison to Joseph Jones, 21 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Your favor of the 10th. came by yesterday’s post. I am glad to find you have at last got a house [of Delegates] and have made so auspicious a beginning, as a unanimous vote to fill up our line for the war. This is a measure which all the States ought to have begun with. I wish there may not be some that will not be prevailed on even to end with it. It is much to be...
95From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 21 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Your favor of the 13th. came safe yesterday. The past week has brought forth very little of consequence, except the disagreeable and I fear certain information of the arrival of the Corke fleet. Our last account of the embarkation at N. york was that the Ships had fallen down to the Hook, that the number of troops was quite unknown, as well as their destination,...
96From James Madison to Joseph Jones, 25 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Probably at the time that JM recovered this letter from Jones’s nephew, James Monroe ( JM to Jones, 19 September 1780 , headnote), he wrote on the last page, parallel to its right hand margin, “Georgia & S. C.—uti possidetis.” On 8 January 1822 JM sent a copy of the letter, together with copies of other letters relating to the same issue, to Hezekiah Niles, who...
97From James Madison to Joseph Jones, 28 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Yrs. of the 18th. came yesterday. I am glad to find the legislature persist in their resolution to recruit their line of the army for the war, though without deciding on the expediency of the mode under their consideration, would it not be as well to liberate and make soldiers at once of the blacks themselves as to make them instruments for enlisting white Soldiers?...
98From James Madison to Joseph Jones, 5 December 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I had yours of the 25th. Ulto. by yesterdays post. I congratulate you, on the deliverance of our Country from the distresses of actual invasion. If any unusual forbearance has been shewn by the British Commanders, it has proceeded rather I presume from a possibility that they may some time or other in the course of the war repossess what they have now abandoned than...
99From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 5 December 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I have your favor of the 27th. ulto. and congratulate you on the deliverance of our Country from the distresses of actual invasion. The spirit it has shewn on this occasion will I hope in some degree protect it from a second visit. Congress yesterday received letters from Mr. Jay & Mr. Carmichael as late as the 4 & 9th of Sepr. The general tenor of them is that we...
100Motion on Instructions to John Jay, [8 December] 1780 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 36, I, 115). The manuscript, in JM’s hand, is endorsed, “Motion from the Delegates of Virginia, Decemr 8th: 1780 postponed.” Whereas the propositions moved by the Delegates from Georgia and taken into consideration on the 5th. instant: do essentially affect the claims of Virginia as defined & recognized by Congress in their instructions both to their Minister Plenipo: for...