21Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 30 April 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Addressed, “His Excelly. B. Harrison Esqr.” Entirely in JM’s hand except for the signatures of the other delegates. The words in the official cipher are here italicized. Accompanying the recipient’s copy is a sheet upon which the second paragraph of the letter was decoded by Archibald Blair, clerk of the Council of State. We have not the honor of acknowledging any...
22Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 7 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand. Addressed to “His Excelly. The Governor of Virginia.” Docketed: “Virga. Delegates Letter May 7th recd May 16. 82[.] Will soon send information as to Inhabitant[s] transfered from Jurisdiction of Virginia to that of Pensylvania. Fifty commissions forwarded by Secretary of Congress for armed Vessels. A vigorous effort to expel the enemy from our country...
23Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 14 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (McGregor Library, University of Virginia). In JM’s hand. Docketed: “Lr. from the Virga Delegates[.] May 23d. 1782[.] referred to the Committee appd: to prepare Instructions to the Delegates in Congress.” This statement is discussed in n. 13. In our letter of the 17th Ulto. we informed your Excelly. that we had called upon Congress for a decision on the report of the Committee on the...
24Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 28 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Theodorick Bland except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “Letter from Virga Delegates recd June 6 1782.” The words written by Bland in the official cipher are italicized below. Accompanying the letter are three pages upon which the cipher was decoded by Archibald Blair, clerk of the Council of State. The state of News as it respects the action of the French...
25Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 4 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Theodorick Bland, except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “1782. June 4th.” Our last of the 28th. Ultimo informed your Excelly. fully of the State of News at this place, Since which nothing material has happened, except what the enclosed News Paper contains. There yet remains some doubt relative to the event of the Action of the two fleets in the West...
26Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [11] June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (New York State Historic Sites, Albany, N.Y.). Entirely in the hand of Theodorick Bland, Jr., except for JM’s signature. Although the cover is missing, the title by which the recipient is addressed, along with the contents of the letter, establishes the identity of the addressee. The complete date probably should be 11 June 1782 in view of the nature of the information in the dispatch and...
27Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 18 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand except for Bland’s signature. JM wrote all italicized words in the official cipher. Docketed, “Virga Dels Lr. June 18th 1782.” Accompanying the manuscript in the Virginia State Library is a page upon which the second paragraph of the letter was decoded by Archibald Blair, clerk of the Council of State. The Post having been robbed of his mail on his...
28Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 25 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand, except for Bland’s signature. Docketed, “Lr. f’m Del. in Congress June 25 82.” Your Excellency’s favor of the 15th. came safe to hand yesterday. The loss of the mail of the preceding week is the more regretted, as we understand that a packet from N. York for England which had been intercepted and carried into N. Carolina, made a part of it. A private...
29Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 2 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand, except the signatures of Bland and Lee. Addressed to “His Excellency. The Honble B. Harrison.” Docketed: “Virga Delegates Lr. July 82[.] July 2d 1782.” We had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor of the 22. Ultimo by yesterday’s mail. All the late intelligence from Europe which has not been already communicated, is contained in the gazettes...
30Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 9 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand except for Arthur Lee’s signature. Addressed to “His Excelly. Governor Harrison.” Docketed, “Virga Delegates Letter July 9th 1782.” Your Excellency’s favor of the 29th. of June inclosing a letter to Mr. Irwin & a bill of exchange in his favor from Mr. O. Pollock was received this morning. The defect of intelligence which rendered our last so...
31Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 16 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Arthur Lee except for Theodorick Bland’s signature. Docketed, “Virga Delegates Letter July July 16th 1782.” Although JM did not sign the letter, it clearly was written on his, as well as Bland’s and Lee’s behalf. The omission of his signature may be explained by the comment at the close of JM’s letter to Pendleton of this date ( q.v. ). We had the honor...
32Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 23 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In Arthur Lee’s hand, except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “Lr. from Virga Delegates rec’d Augst 1st. 82 July 23d. 1782.” The cover is missing. The Letter of the 11th. with which your Excellency honord us, came safe with the enclosd Resolves, which we shall lay before Congress The Super-intendant’s Contract, for the main Army, is ten pence pensylvania curry. per...
33Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 30 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In Theodorick Bland’s hand, except for JM’s and Lee’s signatures. Addressed to “His Excellency the Governor of Virginia.” Docketed, “Virga Delegates Lr., July 30. 82 July, 1782.” Cover missing. We deliverd the Letter to the Chevalier de la Luzerne, enclosd in that your Excellency honord us with on the 19, together with the apology you desird for your...
34Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 6 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed copy ( Burnett, Letters Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). , VI, 427–28, and n. 6). Around 1930 the manuscript was owned by Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia. Arthur Lee rather than JM seems to have been the draftsman. See n. 9, below. Endorsed by Harrison, “to be laid before Ass.” We received the Letter your Excellency...
35Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 9 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Arthur Lee, except for the signatures of Theodorick Bland and JM. The third page of the letter is docketed, “Virginia Delegates to Govr of Virginia Augt 19. 1782.” The cover is franked by “A. Lee,” addressed to “His Excellency The Governor of Virginia,” and docketed, “Lr. f’m Virga. Del. August 19. 82.” The dates on these two dockets should have been “9”...
36Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 13 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Theodorick Bland, except for the signatures of JM and Arthur Lee. The last (fourth) page of the letter is docketed, “Letter from Delegates Augt 13th 1782.” Filed with the letter is its enclosure—a copy of a letter of 12 August from Secretary at War Benjamin Lincoln to Bland. This and the delegates’ letter were placed, after receipt, in a paper wrapper...
37Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [ca. 20] August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Theodorick Bland, except for the signatures of JM and Arthur Lee. Lacks cover and docket. Both the contents of this letter and the delegates’ practice of writing weekly to the governor on Tuesday, the post day, make it probable that 20 August is the correct date. We have been duely hond. with your Excellys of the 8th Inst. Since our last such a dearth of...
38Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 27 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (New-York Historical Society). Written by Theodorick Bland, except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “Lr. f’m Virginia Delegates August 27th.” We were yesterday Hond. with your Excellys letter by post dated Augt. 16th. together with the resolution of the Assembly 2d. July 1782. we shall pay due attention to your desire concerning the Resolution and in our next transmit your Excelly. an account...
39Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [3 September] 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed extract (Parke-Bernet Galleries Catalogue No. 2124 [20 September 1962], p. 30). The letter is described as follows: “ Madison, James ; Theodoric Bland, and Arthur Lee. A.L.s. by Bland, signed also by Madison as ‘ J. Madison Jr .’ and by Lee as ‘ A. Lee ’; 2 pp. 4to, integral blank leaf docketed on verso; Philadelphia, 3 Sept. 1782; with an erroneous pencil note suggesting that the...
40Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 10 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand, except for the signatures of Bland, Lee, and Jones. Addressed by JM to “His Excelly. Govr. Harrison.” Docketed, “Lr. f’m Virga. Delegates Sept. 10. 82.” The cover is missing. Your Excellency’s favors of the 23. and 30. Ulto. were recd. yesterday. Not recollecting that any resolutions of Congress declaratory of their ultimate sense with regard to...
41Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [ca. 17] September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Pierpont Morgan Library, New York City). In JM’s hand, except for Arthur Lee’s signature. Addressed to “His Excelly. Governor Harrison.” Cover missing. The copy of sundry late resolutions of Congress herewith inclosed will inform your Excellency of the necessity they have been under of enlarging their requisitions on the States. This necessity has resulted in part from the perseverance of...
42Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 24 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (American Philosophical Society). In JM’s hand, except for signatures of Joseph Jones, Arthur Lee, and Theodorick Bland. Cover missing but contents make certain that the letter was addressed to Governor Harrison. Yesterday’s post brought us no letter from your Excellency. That of the 5th. instant which had not arrived at the date of our last was received a few days after. By the two...
43Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 1 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand, except for the signatures of Joseph Jones and Arthur Lee. Addressed by JM to “His Excelly. Govr. Harrison.” Docketed, “Lr frm Virga Delegates Oct. 1. 82.” Your Excellency’s favor of the 20th. of Sepr. was recd. yesterday. Whatever curiosity or wonder might be excited by the letter in the post office addressed to you from Sr. G. Carlton with an...
44Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [8 October] 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In Joseph Jones’s hand, except for JM’s signature. Although the top of the manuscript is torn so that the date is missing, the docket reads, “Lr f’m Virga Delegates Oct. 8. 82.” The mutilated condition of the bottom of the manuscript obliged the bracketed insertions of words and letters which may have been there originally. The cover is missing. We are honoured...
45Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [15 October] 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed copy ( Burnett, Letters Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). , VI, 507). The contents of the letter and the fact that the dates of the Virginia delegates’ letters of 1 , 8 , and 22 ( qq.v ) are established permit little doubt that the present dispatch was dated on 15 October, the Tuesday post day. The original manuscript...
46Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 22 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand. Addressed to “His Excelly Govr. Harrison.” Cover missing. Docketed, “Lr f’m Virginia Delegates inclosg Memorial of S. Nathan 1782 Oct 22d.” Your Excellency’s favor of the 12th. instant came duly to hand yesterday. A Vessel lately arrived at Boston brought Congress a letter from Mr. Adams dated Hague Aug: 18th. 1782. The paper No. 1. herewith inclosed...
47Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 29 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed copy ( Burnett, Letters Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). , VI, 527–28). Addressed to “His Excell’y Govr. Harrison.” Around 1930 Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia owned the manuscript. Judging from the style of the letter, it was written by JM, except for Bland’s signature. We yesterday recd. your Excellency’s favor of...
48Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 5 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed copy ( Burnett, Letters Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). , VI, 532). Another copy of the letter, which omits its date line, salutation, first sentence, and complimentary close, is in Samuel T. Freeman & Co. (Philadelphia), Catalogue, 1947, Peck Sale, Part I, item 151. Except for these omissions, the text of the two...
49From James Madison to Benjamin Harrison, 15 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Princeton University Library). Cover reads: “His Excellency Benjamin Harrison Esqr. Richmond Hon’d by Col: Bland.” Theodorick Bland left Philadelphia on 15 November to return to Virginia. See JM to Randolph, 12 November 1782 (first letter), n. 5 . I send you as a peice of information of which you will be the best judge of the use to be made, an extract of a letter laid before Congress by...
50Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 19 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Virginia Miscellaneous Collection, 1773–1789). In JM’s hand, except for Joseph Jones’s signature. Addressed to “His Excy. Govr. Harrison.” We had the honor yesterday of your Excellency’s letter of the 8th. inst. on the several subjects of which we must postpone an answer untill the next mail. We are sorry to be obliged to repeat our inability to add any intelligence relative to the...
51Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 26 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand. Docketed, “Letter f’m Virga Del—Nov. 26. 82.” In answer to your Excellency’s letter of the 8th. as far as it relates to Capt: Pierce, we inclose the late Acts of Congress making further reductions in the army, with the remarks of the Secy at War on the operation of those acts in the case of that officer. In the latter will also be found such...
52Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 3 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand. The cover is franked by “J. Madison Jr.,” addressed to “His Excellency Benjamin Harrison Esqr. Richmond,” and docketed, “Letter from Virg Dels Decr. 3d. 82.” The words italicized in the letter are those written by JM in the official cipher. From a consultation with the Secy at War we concluded that it would be fruitless, and therefore unadvisable to...
53Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [10 December] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS (Virginia State Library). Extract of letter in the hand of Thomas L. Savage. Docketed in an unknown hand, “Letter from Virginia Delegates in Congress to the Governor 1782.” Both the retained copy, if any, and the recipient’s copy of the complete letter are missing. The style of the letter strongly suggests that JM was its author. For subjects probably taken up in the dispatch, but not...
54Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 17 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Joseph Jones, except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “Virginia Delegates to Govr of Virginia Decr 17th 1782.” We are honoured with your Excellencys favor of the 7th. Our last communicated the measures that had been taken for supplying the unfortunate captives then on their way to Virginia, which we hope will meet the approbation of the Executive. We have...
55Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 24 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Joseph Jones, except for JM’s signature. Docketed, “Virga Delegates Lr. 24. Decr. 82.” We have no southern mail this week. Since our last a Frigate from France has arrived in Delaware Bay, by her we have Letters from our Commissioners at Paris so late as the 14th. day of Octr. inclosing a Copy of a Com[miss]ion to Mr. Oswald of the 21t. of Sepr. revoking...
56Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 31 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In Joseph Jones’s hand, except for JM’s signature. Cover franked by Jones and addressed to “His Excellency The Governor of Virginia.” Docketed, “Virga. Delegates Letter 31. Decr.” Yesterdays post brought us your Excellencys favor of the 21st. intelligence being received the last week that Virginia had repealed her Law imposing a duty of 5 PCt. on imported articles...
57Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 7 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
Draft ( LC : Madison Papers). Written and initialed by JM. Addressed by him to “Govr of Virginia.” For JM’s docket, see JM to Jones, 6 Jan. 1783 , hdn. and ed. n. Recipient’s copy not found, but it was advertised for sale by George H. Richmond of New York City in his catalogue of November 1902, part 1, p. 28, item 430. JM designated the letter “official.” See JM to Randolph, 7 Jan. 1783 . Your...
58Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 14 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). In JM’s hand, including the signature for “Jos: Jones.” Addressed to “His Excy. The Govr. of Virginia.” Docketed, apparently by Harrison, “Virginia Delegates in Congress Jany 14. 83.” In LC : Madison Papers is JM’s file copy of this letter. Except for a few differences in punctuation and abbreviations and only “We have the hon” as the complimentary...
59Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 21 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand, except for Joseph Jones’s signature. Docketed by Harrison, “Virginia Delegates Jany 21st 1783.” The Post which arrived late yesterday evening brought us your Excellencys letters of the 4th. and 11th. with their several inclosures. we shall loose no time in carrying into execution the intentions of the Executive respecting the settlement with Mr....
60Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 28 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Arthur Lee, except for JM’s signature. Addressed to “His Excellency The Governor of Virginia.” Docketed by Harrison, “Lr. fm our Delegates in Congress Jany 28 ’83.” Below this, “Jany 28 1783” is written in an unknown hand. Your Excellency’s favors of the 4th. & 11th. are before us. We have laid before Congress the Enclosures which were intended for...
61Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 4 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Theodorick Bland, except for the signatures of the other three delegates. Cover addressed to “His Excellency The Governor of Virginia” Docketed in an unknown hand, “Lr. from the Delegates in Congress. February 4th. 1783.” Neither this post nor the preceding one brought us any letter from your Excellency The affair with Nathan is now under...
62From James Madison to Benjamin Harrison, 11 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Jasper E. Crane, Wilmington, Del., 1963). Cover addressed to “His Excellency Benjamin Harrison Esqr Richmond.” Docketed by Harrison, “Lr. from the Hon. James Madison February 11th. 83.” Your Excellency will receive this from the hand of Mr. Dunlap who will represent the advantages which his press at Richmond will derive from a payment of the allowance made for his losses in establishing...
63Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 11 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). In the hand of Joseph Jones, except for the signatures of JM, John Francis Mercer, Arthur Lee, and Theodorick Bland, Jr. Addressed to “His Excellency the Governor of Virginia.” Docketed by Harrison, “Lr: from the Delegates in Congress February 11th. 1783.” We had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor, of the 31st. of Jany.; & sympathize very...
64Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 18 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Arthur Lee, except for the signatures of the other four delegates. Docketed, “Lr. from the Delegates in Congress—February 18th. 83.” We had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s letter of the 7th. & shall communicate what it contains relative to the supply of the Post at Winchester to the Financier, & transmit you his answer. We have reason to...
65Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 4 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Jasper E. Crane, Wilmington, Del., 1957). In the hand of John F. Mercer, except for the other four signatures. Cover franked and addressed by him to “His Excellency Benjamin Harrison Esqr. Governor of Virginia.” Docketed, “Lr. from the Delegates in Congress—March 4th. 1783.” We have receiv’d your Excellency’s Letter of the 26th. Ult, enclosing a copy of the King of Great Britain’s speech,...
66Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 11 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of John Francis Mercer, except for the signatures of the four other delegates. Docketed, “Lr. from the Delegates in Congress—March 11th 1783.” Cover franked by Mercer and addressed by him to “His Excelly. Benjamin Harrison Esqr. Governor of Virginia.” The second paragraph of the letter explains why Harrison wrote on the cover, “The Treasurer B H.” Yr....
67Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 12 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of John Francis Mercer, who signed his own name. Arthur Lee signed for the other delegates. Cover missing, but the delegates were undoubtedly addressing Harrison, even though his name is not shown either at the beginning or the close of the letter. Docketed, “Lr. from the Delegates in Congress—March 12th. 1783.” The words italicized in the present copy...
68Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, [18 March] 1783 (Madison Papers)
Printed summary ( Calendar of Virginia State Papers , III, 458). The original letter has not been found, but the enclosure and a portion of the cover are in the Virginia State Library. On this fragment of the cover is “His Excellency Ben” in the hand of John Francis Mercer and also his signature below the franking word “Free.” As a rule the member of the Virginia delegation who drafted its...
69Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 24 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of John Francis Mercer, except for the signatures of the other delegates. Cover addressed by Mercer to “His Excellency Benjamin Harrison Esqr. Governor of Virginia.” Mercer signed his name on the lower left, and wrote “(On public Service)” on the upper right portion of the cover. The letter was carried to Richmond by a special courier. The cover is...
70Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 25 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of John Francis Mercer, except for the two other signatures. Cover missing. Docketed, “March 25th. 1783 Letter from Repsts in Congress.” Having dispatched an Express yesterday, by whom we communicated to your Excellency, the substance of the important & happy advices, receiv’d by the Ch: du Quesne. We now enclose yr. Excellency the days papers, in which...