From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 September 1801
To James Madison
Monticello Sep. 11. 1801.
Dear Sir
I have no letter from you by the mail, whence I conclude I may possibly recieve something by private conveyance. a letter from miss Paine to Virginia Randolph saying nothing of your health makes me hope it is reestablished. I inclose you a letter from Genl. Saml. Smith with Barney’s letter to him. it contains matters worthy of some attention. I do not believe that Murray would endeavor to defeat the treaty. on the contrary I believe he would be anxious to get it through. however the more I reflect on it the more I am satisfied it’s non-1 ratification is unimportant, and will give us all the benefits of peace & commercial relations without the embarrasments of a treaty.—you will recieve by this post my letter to the Bey of Tunis, & one to Rob. R. Livingston on Neutral rights; both open, & to be forwarded. I have recieved no letter by this post from mr Gallatin which augurs ill of the situation of his family, as he has had occasion to write me weekly on a great variety of matter. Accept assurances of my constant & affectionate esteem & great respect.
Th: Jefferson
RC (NjP); at foot of text: “The Secretary of state.” PrC (DLC). Enclosures: (1) Samuel Smith to TJ, 29 Aug., enclosing Joshua Barney to Smith, 11 July. (2) TJ to Hammuda Pasha, Bey of Tunis, 9 Sep. (3) TJ to Robert R. Livingston, 9 Sep.
Virginia Randolph: a sister-in-law of Martha Jefferson Randolph and the youngest child of Anne Cary Randolph and Thomas Mann Randolph, Sr. Commonly known as “Jenny,” she became a permanent resident at Monticello until her marriage in 1805 to her cousin, Wilson Jefferson Cary. TJ’s granddaughter named Virginia Randolph was born at Monticello on 22 Aug. 1801 (, xii, xiii, 133, 134, 214, 240; , 4:160).
1. Prefix and hyphen interlined.