651To James Madison from Bernard Smith, 6 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
Having voted against the proposed restriction on Missouri, attempts are making to prevent my re-election to a seat in Congress. This question is not generally understood and the restrictionists are actively employed in endeavoring to destroy the popularity of those who opposed the measure. In 1804, you appointed me to a situation in the Dept. of State, which I held for Six years. Soon after my...
652From James Madison to Bernard Smith, [13 September 1820] (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 6th. inst. Knowing nothing that could in the least detract from the respect & confidence of which you have had successive marks from me, I should always be ready to bear the testimony, requested under circumstances not liable to be misconstrued or misrepresented. How far those under wch. it would not be given are of that character I can not but think may deserve...
653To James Madison from Maury & Latham, 13 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
We beg leave to inform you that by the Scipio, Capt Drummond, for Norfolk, we shipped the goods you directed should be purchased, and consigned them to Mess Moses Myers & Son, requesting them to receive Mess Mackay & Campbells instructions respecting them. We judged it best to send them to Norfolk as there may be no vessel from hence to the Rappahannoc this twelvemonth. We must apprize you...
654To James Madison from George Hay, 18 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
When I left Montpelier, I did not imagine that we should bring away more than we had carried. I find however, that three books belonging to the library, and a fourth belonging to Mr. T’s room, were transferred from the apartment to which Mrs. Scott was conducted, to Mrs. Hay’s chamber, and stowed away by her maid among her baggage. This petty larceny was not discovered until several days after...
655To James Madison from Bernard Smith, 20 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. the letter which you did me the honor to write to me on the 13th. inst. The reasons which you give, for not wishing publicity to be given to your opinion as to the manner in which I discharged my official duties, while you were at the head of the Govt., are satisfactory. It is gratifying to me to learn, that you “should always be ready to bear the testimony requested, under...
656To James Madison from James Monroe, 22 September 1820 (letter not found) (Madison Papers)
¶From James Monroe. Letter not found. 22 September 1820 . Offered for sale in The Collection of Autographs of Hon. James T. Mitchell (Stan. V. Henkels Catalogue No. 731 [1894], 77).
657To James Madison from Edward P. Page, [ca. 24 September 1820] (Madison Papers)
[ … ] I am greatly encouraged to find that what I have been zealously contending for has recently been maintained by the Revd. Holland Weeks of Abingdon Massachusetts. A council of Presbyterian ministers have excommunicated him for entertaining similar dangerous heretical opinions to mine. Glory to God Babylon is on fire he declared before his judges “there is not a single truth remaining in...
658To James Madison from Edmond Kelly, 26 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
I hope you are perswaded that no wish to catch at popularity Induced me to write my former letters—that is the road usually traveled by obscure demagogues whose object it is to exalt themselves, and I wd. deserve contempt had I been actuated by any such motive—every days experience verifies the truth of Lord Mansfields observation that the applause of the mob is not always the meed of merit,...
659To James Madison from Edmond Kelly, 30 September 1820 (Madison Papers)
The conclusion of my last letter was an opinion that if America should manufacture for herself & if Spain should manufacture her own Merino wool & her Iron (& both are unequaled in any other part of the world) that the ship of british Monopoly will loose her Main Anchor—will drift down the current of Adversity & become a wreck on the shore of Mediocrity. This I believe probable but it is so...
660Minutes of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, [2 October 1820] (Madison Papers)
At a meeting of the Visitors of the University of Virginia, at the University, on monday 2d. of Octr. 1820, present Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Robert B. Taylor, John H. Cocke, and Joseph C. Cabell; The Board proceeded to the consideration of the Annual Report, and not having time to go through with the same, adjourned to tuesday 3d. October. Ms ( ViU : Jefferson Papers, Special...
661Minutes of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, 3 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
At an adjourned meeting of the Visitors of the University of Virginia, held on 3d. October 1820, present Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Robert B. Taylor, John H. Cocke and Joseph C. Cabell; The Board approved the arrangement made by the Committee of Superintendence relative to the annulment of the contract with Doctor Thomas Cooper. Resolved, that From & after the first day of October 1820,...
662To James Madison from Joseph Delaplaine, 11 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
At the request of the author, I have the honour of transmitting to you, for your kind acceptance, a volume of poetry, for your good opinion of which, I know he would feel much gratified. An elementary book for the use of schools, new in its design & arrangement, will be issued from the press by the same author, in a fee [ sic ] months; at which time I shall have the pleasure of sending to you...
663From James Madison to Isaiah Thomas, 12 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to Mr. Thomas, with his acknowledgments for the copy of the Transactions of the American Antiquarian Society, and his best wishes for the success of an Institution, the valuable objects of which are so well explained and recommended in the early pages of the Volume. RC ( MWA : Isaiah Thomas Papers). Isaiah Thomas (1749–1831) was a printer, and publisher of the...
664To James Madison from Joel K. Mead, 12 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
I must rely upon the object I have in view to plead my apology for the freedom I take in obtruding upon your leisure this note. I have for some years viewed with some solicitude the want of an institution for the instruction of indigent youth of native genius and talents in the higher branches of literature, the sciences and the liberal arts. I mean more particularly those, who, having...
665From James Madison to Bushrod Washington, 14 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
In fulfilment of my promise I return the letters to General Washington which you were so obliging as to forward to me. I should have done it sooner but that I had hoped to return at the same time the letters expected from Richmond. Will you permit me to recall your attention to the latter portion (which I believe will comprize the letters I could most wish to obtain) that the Chief Justice may...
666From James Madison to Joel K. Mead, 16 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 12th. inst: & I can not speak too favorably of the object which employs your thoughts or of the disinterested zeal with which you devise means for accomplishing it. Of those which have occurred you ask my opinion. I wish it were better entitled to the confidence, you seem to attach to it. Such as it is I give it with the candor, which I can not doubt you will...
667To James Madison from Charles D. Coxe, 20 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
On the dismissal of Lieut Col. Gale from the Marine Corps, The officers have alledged to me, through my friend Mr. Pleasonton of the Treasury Department, that, as they do not conceive I have resigned my commission in that Corps, they would be very glad of my being placed at the head of it; to which the date of my Commission would entitle me. I conceive it now to be in your power to do me a...
668To James Madison from Thomas W. Maury, 23 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
My relation Mr. Wm. Maury of Liverpool will in a short time commence a long tour thro Kentucky, Tennessee & Mississippi, and from thence to New-Orleans. Being now absent on a tour to the eastward, and expecting to have no leisure on his way thro Virginia, he has requested me by letter, to ask the favor of you to give him letters to a few of the distinguished gentlemen in those states. If you...
669To James Madison from Maury & Latham, 24 October 1820 (Madison Papers)
We beg to hand Accot sales of your Tobacco pr. scipio, with your Accot Currt. balance £35..12..5. due to you. By the next vessel for Virginia we shall ship the 10 sacks of Salt which you wish for. Mess MacKay & Campbell handed us your dft for £100. on us, & which we shall accordingly appropriate to them if such is your wish—it will in that case leave a balance of £64.7.7. against you,...
670From James Madison to Joseph Delaplaine, [ca. 31] October 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your note of the 11th. with the little poetical volume of Mr. Mead; for which I desire that my thanks may be accepted. It is so long since I indulged myself in this species of reading, that I can the less venture to pronounce on the merit of the performance. From a hasty glance over it, my attention was caught by passages, which appeared well to accord with the inspiration of the...
671To James Madison from Thomas Read, 1 November 1820 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed by Mr. Helme a late Graduate of Brown University in the state of Rhode Island, who at this time lives with me in the Character of a family teacher of the languages &c. Mr. Helme, has at this time a small Vacation & he & my young son Landon C. Read are visiting the upper country for amusement and instruction. Any civilities which you may please to shew them sir, will be...
672Isaac Briggs’s Account of a Meeting with Madison [1 November 1820] (Madison Papers)
“11 mo. 1—Fourth day of the week. This morning, I went 5 miles to Montpelier, the se⟨at⟩ of James Madison, and arrived there before either James or his wife had proceeded from their lodging-room; Of course, I was there long before breakfast was ready. I remained here the whole of this day, and both James Madison and Dorothy entertained me with much friendly conversation, as well as with the...
673From James Madison to Charles D. Coxe, 7 November 1820 (Madison Papers)
I recd. yesterday only your letter of Ocr. 20. postmarked Philada. Nov. 4. It would give me pleasure to render you any service in which I might be justified by my recollections. But the attention required by other objects during my official period, with the subsequent lapse of time, will well account for my not being now able to throw any light on the circumstances to which you refer. Nor with...
674From James Madison to James Monroe, 8 November 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. a letter from Chs. D. Coxe, appealing to my recollection on certain points, and requesting a line from me to yourself. To let you see what has passed, I inclose his letter to me, and a copy of my answer. The former you will be so good as to return. I presume the views of the case to be gathered from authentic sources will readily decide the question of his actual official...
675To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 12 November 1820 (Madison Papers)
In consequence of a very kind letter of the 13th Ulto. from Mr. Jefferson, in which he recognizes me as one he is pleased to stile “ a fellow laborer indeed, in times never to be forgotten ,” & to treat me as a long tried public and personal friend, I have been led to reply to him, in considerable latitude. I was, at the moment of the receipt of his letter, meditating an application to Mr....
676To James Madison from Francis Corbin, 13 November 1820 (Madison Papers)
In the early part of September I intended to have done myself the Honor and pleasure of paying my respects to you and to Mrs: Madison. But, just about that time, I heard that you had a great deal of company—Mrs. Mayo —Mrs. Scott & c.—and, therefore, fearing that my visit might be inconvenient, at that juncture, I postponed it. Since then Mrs. Corbin has added a 7th Son to my before numerous...
677To James Madison from Richard Rush, 15 November 1820 (Madison Papers)
Your acceptable favor of the 12th of August, reached me about a month ago. I fear that this government will continue deaf to every expostulation that can be addressed to it on the subject of the West India trade. In the negociation of 1818, when Mr Gallatin was here, we made the attempt with all earnestness to prevail upon them to give up their narrow doctrines, but to no effect; whilst...
678To James Madison from James Monroe, 16 November 1820 (Madison Papers)
You will receive by this mail a copy of the message in which I have endeavourd, to place our institutions in a just light, comparatively with those of Europe, without looking at the latter, or even glancing at them by any remark. The state of our finances is I presume more favorable, than was generally supposd. It seems probable that it will improve in future, the quantity of goods which...
679From James Madison to James Monroe, 19 November 1820 (Madison Papers)
Yesterday’s mail brought me your favor of the 16th. with a Copy of your message: the only one reaching me; no newspaper containing it having come to hand. The view you have taken of our affairs can not but be well received at home, and increase our importance abroad. The State of our finances is the more gratifying as it so far exceeds the public hopes. I infer from the language of your letter...
680From James Madison to Frances Wright, 20 November 1820 (Madison Papers)
I received very lately your letter of June 28th. with a Copy of the Tragedy of Altorf. I had not before seen it, although its favorable reception on American Theatres had made it Known to me. This reception is the best species of proof that its dramatic structure is well calculated to give force to the just & lofty sentiments of patriotism by which the performance is distinguished. No better...