1From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., [ca. 27 March] 1797 (Madison Papers)
This is committed to M. Collins who will explain to you the time of his arrival, the cause of stay here, and the time of his setting out. We are endeavouring to get away ourselves tomorrow afternoon, and have already seen the greater part of our effects on board the vessels which are to take them to Fredericksburg. The hurry & confusion we are all in, will apologize for no other letters being...
2From James Madison to Hubbard Taylor, 27 March 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 27 March 1797. Acknowledged in Taylor to JM, 1 May 1797 (DLC). Discusses Kentucky lands of Mary Coles Payne.
3To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 23 March 1797 (Madison Papers)
From good information the Poll between Dawson and Posey was as follows— Spots : Dawson 204 Posey 68— Orange Dawson 156. Posey 46— Louisa Dawson 195. Posey 161— Madison I do not recollect the numbers but about 30 Majority for Dawson. Heath and Tayloe having declined a Poll Dr. Jones and Ball were the only Candidates. I have heard only from K. George where Jones had near five for one. The...
4From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 19 March 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have not had a line from you for several mails. I hope it is ascribable to the oppy. of writing by M. Collins with our horses. As yet we hear nothing of him. I have regretted that I did not direct him to be here a little sooner, as the roads are found to be better than usual at this season. If he arrives in a day or two we shall probably leave this the last of the week. We shd. be ready...
5To James Madison from Joseph Jones, ca. 15 March 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 15 March 1797. Referred to in Jones to JM, 23 Mar. 1797 . Mentions arrival in Fredericksburg of a vessel with goods shipped by JM.
6From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 12 March 1797 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you by the last mail, and add this by Mr. Jefferson. Lest my last should by any possibility have miscarried, I repeat my request that my name may not be suffered to get on the Poll for the County election. If Mr. Jefferson should call & say any thing to counteract my determination, I hope it will be regarded as merely expressive of his own wishes on the subject, & that it will not be...
7To James Madison from John Beckley, 11 March 1797 (Madison Papers)
J: Beckley’s compliments to Mr: Madison. Mr: Jefferson will take a family dinner with JB—to morrow at 3 o’clock. Will Mr: Madison join us? RC (owned by Charles M. Storey, Boston, Mass., 1961).
8To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 8 March 1797 (Madison Papers)
Green and Mullin have published the two first numbers of the examination &c and I have delivered to Green three others including No. 5 & to Mullin No. 3—these will I expect appear in the papers as they come out and are all I have yet seen. If they are continued it wod. be well to have them inserted in Bache’s paper which I receive but by no means regularly by the post. On the 30th. Octr....
9From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., ca. 5 March 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 5 March 1797. Referred to in JM to James Madison, Sr., 12 Mar. 1797 . Requests his name not be placed on Orange County ballot for Virginia House of Delegates.
10To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 3 March 1797 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Green and Mullin will republish the Citizen and I observe the 1st. Number in Greens last paper. I have to number four and wish you to have the following numbers inserted in Baches’s paper as from them I can have them republished withot. your inclosing them and being subjected to postage. I understand you will be voted for to represent the County of Orange and will be elected unless you...
11Release of Lafayette, [3 March] 1797 (Madison Papers)
On 2 March, Harper (South Carolina) had moved a resolution that the House inform the president of the United States that it would “see with the highest satisfaction, any measures which he may deem expedient to adopt towards effecting the restoration of their said fellow-citizen to liberty” ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.;...
12From James Madison to Joseph Chew, 28 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 28 February 1797. Acknowledged in Chew to JM, 31 Mar. 1797 (DLC). Encloses a letter to Chew from James Madison, Sr. Also discusses disposal of Chew’s Kentucky lands.
13To James Madison from William Eve, 27 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I hope you will pardon the liberty I now take in begging your attention to the inclosd. power Atto. when you reflect that the smallness of the Sum to be recd., would not be a sufficient inducement for me to be at the expence of a Journey to Philada. on that business only. I hope therefore you will be so very obliging as to call at the Treasury of the United States, and receive the Interest due...
14To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 23 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Jefferson left this yesterday morning before the arrival of the Stage so that your letter to him by the mail is returned—he meant to take one of the Stages at Alexa. leaving his horses there untill his return. Dr Shipen who came in the stage met him about 3 miles above Falmouth. After the receipt of your letter finding the examination continued I went up Town and missed of Green who was...
15Indirect Taxes, [23 February] 1797 (Madison Papers)
On 19 January 1797 the Treasury Department had recommended that the ad valorem duty on several items, including “cotton goods, not stained or colored,” be increased from 10 to 12 ½ percent but subject to some provision for the protection of the business of printing cotton goods. The House Ways and Means Committee on 23 January reported resolutions in favor, which were taken up in a Committee...
16To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 22 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I conclude Mr. Jefferson has gone forward the upper road as he has not yet passed through this Town which ere now he wod. have done unless something prevented his seting out as early as he intended. By the last Mail I recd. A letter from Monroe. He recd. between the 27th. Octr. and the 3d. Nov. his letter of recall dated 22d. Augt. last and says he shall not take his departure till april. He...
17From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 19 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I recd. your weekly letter by the last Mail. This will shew you that I am equally punctual. Fanny puts one in my hand for my Mother. I acquainted my brother William that I had shipped 5 Bushls. of Clover Seed by a Vessel lately sailed for Fredg. The seed is addressed to the care of Mr. Blair. I hope you will attend as well as he to the getting it up & having it sown on my farms with as little...
18From James Madison to Joseph Jones, ca. 19 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 19 February 1797. Mentioned in Jones to JM, 23 Feb. 1797 . Informs Jones about the publication of the essays “An Examination of a Late Letter from Mr. Pickering to Mr. Pinckney.”
19To James Madison from Stephen R. Bradley, 18 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
Previous to Colo. Monroe’s departure for Europe he transmitted to me papers and documents accompanying a Claim to five thousand acres of Land in the Township of Middlesex in this State in right of his wife, this Township was held under a Patent from The late province of New York and was one (among many) of those patents which were extinguished in the late treaty or Settlement between New York...
20To James Madison from Joseph Jones, [ca. 16 February] 1797 (Madison Papers)
Being longer detained in Albemarle than I expected I did not arrive here untill the last evening, when I received your letters of the 2d. & 5th. and of the 13th. I will attend to what you recommend respecting the republication of observations under the signature Citizen two Nos. have only appeared that have come to my knowledge and these in papers of the first week of the month. The lapse of...
21To James Madison from Timothy Pickering, 16 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
On the 11th instant I delivered to Samuel Bloodworth, son of the Senator, a letter to Mr. Jefferson covering the certificate of the President of the Senate of his being elected the vice-president of the U States, which Mr Bloodworth was specially charged to deliver in person to Mr. Jefferson. To-day the father returned me the letter, under a cover which contained one with your name upon it...
22From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 13 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I recd. yesterday your’s of the 16th. covering a letter for Mr. Chew, & by the prec[e]ding mail yours of 30th Ult: I shall attend to the objects of both. I am glad you did not retain Js. Coleman’s Ned at the price he demanded. I do not think the profits to me would justify it. I suggested some time since a mode in which I thought you shd. try to get Clover seed, which I hope you have made use...
23Petition of Anna de Neufville, [13 February] 1797 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison observed that he should be sorry to interfere with public business, but the peculiarity of the case of the family of De Neufville was such as to call for immediate attention, he therefore moved that the petition of the widow and daughter of the deceased John De Neufville, be now taken up. Merchants’ Daily Advertiser , 14 Feb. 1797 (also reported in New World , 15 Feb. 1797, and...
24From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 11 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
After several little turns in the mode of conveying you notice of your election, recurrence was had to the precedent of leaving the matter to the Senate, where on the casting vote of Mr. Adams, the notification was referred to the President of the U. States, in preference of the President of the Senate. You will see in the papers the state of the votes, and the manner of counting & proclaiming...
25To James Madison from James Swan, 10 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I recommend to you personally & to the Delegates from your state in general, the cause of Mrs. De Neufville, widow of the deceased Mr. John De Neufville, Mercht at Amsterdam. He had for a long time before his death been in very, very narrow circumstances, caused by the ruin he brought on himself by a blind zeal for the support of the liberty & independence of this Country. His widow is totally...
26To James Madison from Robert Gamble, 7 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have taken the liberty of enclosing to you a power of attorney to draw from the Treasury of the United states the sum of 54 Dolls. 39 Cents, being a dividend of 2 pr. Centum, re-imbursement, which was payable at The Loan office here Jany 1796. But owing to an ommission between myself & Mr. Hopkins the Officer of Loans—the Matter was overlooked till the time elapsed by Law—which requires all...
27Petition of Anna de Neufville, [7 February] 1797 (Madison Papers)
On 3 February 1797 Anna de Neufville had presented a petition to the House on behalf of herself and her infant daughter, “praying compensation for services rendered” by her late husband during the Revolution. It was referred to a committee of five headed by JM ( JHR Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (9 vols.; Washington, 1826). , 2:678). Mr. Madison, from the...
28From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 5 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of giving notice that we shall have the pleasure of seeing you here soon, but that letters written before the 7th. would arrive before you leave home. Nothing occurs to alleviate the crisis in our external affairs. The French continue to prey on our trade. The British too have not desisted. There are accounts that both of them are taking our East-India-men. This is an...
29From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 5 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have red. since my last your two letters of the 10th. & 23d. Ult, which came by the same mail. That referred to as of the 16th. inclosing a letter to Mr. Chew has not yet come to hand. R. Smith’s land would be a very convenient appendix to my farm at Sawney’s; but I find I dare not venture on the purchase particularly at the price stated. What little surplus I may be able to save out of my...
30To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 5 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
By the last mail from this place I acknowledged the rect. of your favors to the 16th. last month among them the first part of T. P’s letter to the president which had been somewhere delayed as I recd. the other part sometime before. This weeks mail altho’ it arrived on Friday evening (the usual time) has yet furnished neither letters or papers as the Young man who keeps the P. Office went from...
31To James Madison from Joseph Chew, 3 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
It has been thought Necessary to Secure to Sir John Johnson the two Thousand acres of land I have in Bourbon County Kentucky that I should pass Deeds to Some persons in the States to hold it for him. I have therefore Executed and passed Deeds to Robert & John Watts Esquires of New York and by Agreement the land is to be disposed of within or at the End of Eighteen months. I now my Dear friends...
32To James Madison from Stephen Moylan, 2 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
The north wall of your house, in which I live has been built so bad, that every rain penetrates, and in time must give way. I dare say Mrs. Maddison is not unacquainted with this Circumstance, I know her good Mother Mrs. Payne was not. Shall I have the house preserved, by remedying the deffect, or must it remain as it is, I cannot be at the expence of doing it myself, if not allowed me in my...
33Post Offices and Post Roads, [2 February] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House went into a Committee of the Whole on a bill for discontinuing and establishing various post roads within the United States. The last clause of the bill, authorizing the postmaster general to discontinue carrying mail on any road not producing more than one-fifth of the costs within three years, caused considerable debate ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress...
34Military and Naval Appropriations, [31 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House went into a Committee of the Whole on a resolution calling for appropriations for the military and naval establishments in 1797. Gallatin (Pennsylvania) offered an amendment striking out naval appropriations until the House had decided to complete the building of the frigates already authorized by law ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States …...
35To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of the 15th. came to hand yesterday. I am very thankful for the discretion you have exercised over the letter. That has happened to be the case which I knew to be possible, that the honest expressions of my feelings towards mr. A. might be rendered mal-a-propos from circumstances existing & known at the seat of government, but not seen by me in my retired situation. Mr. A. & myself were...
36Manumitted Slaves, [30 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
Swanwick (Pennsylvania) presented the petition of four manumitted slaves from North Carolina, requesting that Congress interpose whatever authority it could to relieve them and their families from harassment and efforts to return them to slavery ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 2d sess., 2015–18)....
37To James Madison from James Madison, Sr., 30 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 30 January 1797. Acknowledged in JM to James Madison, Sr., 13 Feb. 1797 . Discusses farm business at Montpelier.
38From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 29 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Yours covering an unsealed letter to Mr. Tazewell came duly to hand, and will be turned to the use you wish. As you take the Philada. Gazette in which the Belligerent answer to Adêts note has been printed in toto, I refer to that for the posture & prospect of things with France. The British party since this overt patronage of their cause, no longer wear the mask. A war with France & an...
39From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 29 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
My last answered yours of the 8th. since which I have recd. no letter from you, nor a single line from my brother William since his return from Richmond; altho’ I have written him several letters. Fanny has a letter from Nelly Madison of the 10th. which gives an unpleasing account of her mother’s health. It mentions that you & my mother were expected at Mr. Macon’s in a few days; but as your’s...
40To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 29 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
After my return from Loudoun I came to this place, where I last post received your several favors to the 13th. I shall continue here untill the 10th. or 12th. next month when I shall return to Fredericksburg. It seems to be now well ascertaine⟨d⟩ that A. will be the p. & J. the Vice p. I have for a length of time considered Mr. A. as a friend to the British Nation and Government whr. he still...
41To James Madison from John Wilcocks, 28 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have occasion to send a commission to Williamsburg Virginia for the examination of a witness (on interrogatories) in a Law suit depending in the courts of this State: you will permit me to ask the favor of you to name two Gentleman to me as Commissioners for that purpose; You will pardon the liberty, with compliments to Mrs. Madison I have the honor to be Sir Your most humble Servt: RC ( DLC...
42Compensation to Public Officers, [26 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House, in a Committee of the Whole, considered a report for increasing the salaries of cabinet members and other public officials as well as for continuing the act of 30 May 1796 regulating the compensation of clerks throughout 1797. The act of 30 May 1796 was read to the committee ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington,...
43From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 22 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of Jany. 8th. You will find by the papers that the communication on French affairs, has been at length made. Being ordered to be printed without being read, I have no direct knowledge of its character. Some of the Senate where it has been read in part, represent it as well fitted to convert into an incurable gangrine, the wound which the friendship between the two Republics...
44From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 22 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
The last mail brought us the pleasure of yours, of Jany. 8th. Fanny did not bring the letter-types with her, and cannot say with absolute certainty where they are to be found. She is pretty confident however that she put them in the Closet upstairs, on the right hand shelf, among some books. The shortness of the crop of Corn at Black-Meadow is a proof of the ruinous tendency of perpetual...
45To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 8th. came to hand yesterday. I was not aware of any necessity of going on to Philadelphia immediately, yet I had determined to do it, as a mark of respect to the public, and to do away the doubts which have spread that I should consider the second office as beneath my acceptance. The journey indeed for the month of February is a tremendous undertaking for me, who have not been...
46To James Madison from Robert Gamble, 21 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Your esteemed favor of the 15th: is at hand Covering a Bank note of Fifty Dollars for Mrs. Payne, which I will deliver her, as soon as she returns to Town. Polly & her are gone to Mrs. Winstons in Hanover about a Week past. They are however expected back in a day or two—polly having promised to return in time for the next dancing Assembly night Viz the 25th . The several packets of letters for...
47From James Madison to Horatio Gates, 20 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
During my recess in Virginia Mr. Jefferson put into my hands to be forwarded to you, your Letter Book which you had been so good as to leave with him. Considering the deposit as a precious one, I have been more anxious for a certain than a speedy Conveyance for it. The trip Mr. E. Livingston makes to N. York, furnishes an unexceptionable one, and I accordingly avail myself of it. We get our...
48Additional Revenue, [20 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House took up the resolution for direct taxes on land and on slaves reported by the Committee of the Whole on 19 January. Coit (Connecticut) called for the propositions for taxes on land and slaves to be put separately ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 2d sess., 1932). Mr. Madison thought it...
49To James Madison from Enoch Edwards, 19 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Before I left France Mr: Skipwith prepared the inclosed Papers —for you, & wished very much they should be published—but on a Conversation I had with Him I prevailed on him to retract from that Determination. He however left the Papers with Me & desired I would use my own Discretion as to what Use might be made of them. I have been a good deal indisposed since I had the Pleasure to see you...
50Additional Revenue, [19 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The report of the Committee of Ways and Means calling for additional revenue of $4,724,360 had been presented to the House on 12 January. The next day a Committee of the Whole began a lengthy debate on direct taxes (on land and slaves) and indirect taxes (on salt, sherry, wine, foreign spirits, tea, brown sugar, stamps, and windows, and including an increase in ad valorem duties on imports)....