From James Madison to Dolley Payne Madison, 2 December 1799
To Dolley Payne Madison
Richmond Monday night December 2d. 1799
My dearest,
Neither the chart of your uncle, or the memory of your brother could save me from two errors on our way down, we made out, notwithstanding to reach Town before sunset.1 I found at Mr. Watson’s a room prepared for me, and an empty one immediately over it, but they are both in a style much inferior to what I had hoped. You must consequently lower your expectations on this subj[e]ct as much as possible before you join me, which I shall look for about the time you suggested. I have found it more convenient to let Sam remain until tomorrow morning, than to start him today. He will be able to execute the journey in one day with ease, with an empty carriage. I have procured for your Uncle, a paper, which is for tomorrow morning, in which there is an account of the success of the Republicans in Holland—against the British and Russians, particularly the latter.2 He will see also, the first fruits of the session in the change of the Speaker and clerk. Colonel Smith had eighty and odd votes, against fifty odd, and Mr. Wirt ninety odd against forty odd.3 The former Chaplain and Sergent at Arms were reelected.
Present me affectionately to all around you—always and truly yours
J. Madison Jr.
Tr (MCR-S: Mary Estelle Elizabeth Cutts Papers).
1. JM had been elected to the Virginia General Assembly on 24 Apr. 1799 (Ketcham, James Madison, 398).
2. For the defeat of the allied forces in the Netherlands, see , 17:286 n. 3.
3. For the election of Republicans Larkin Smith and William Wirt as speaker and clerk of the House of Delegates, see ibid., 17:285 n. 2.