1From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 8 November 1795 (Madison Papers)
We arrived here on friday and are to go forward this morning. I went yesterday to Mr. Dunbar & had the satisfaction to learn from him that he had applied to the forge for the Mill Irons & that the whole Bill wd. be executed according to your orders. I gave him a memorandum of the articles I wanted for my negroes, which he said should be laid by for the arrival of Collins, with liberty to him...
2From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 27 December 1795 (Madison Papers)
I have delayed writing to you hitherto, on the supposition that you might not be returned from Frederick, as well as on acct. of a pressure of other writing on my hands. We had on the whole a convenient journey and arrived safe & in due time. All the articles sent by water have since got safe also, and will fully answer the purpose we had in view. To the articles sent from Orange, was added...
3From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 17 January 1796 (Madison Papers)
I have not had the pleasure of a line from you since we left Orange. A letter from Fanny is the only information we have received. Inclosed is a small pamphlet containing the proceedings of the H. of Reps. in the case of two adventurers in the line of Bribery. This is the only business of consequence that has latterly occupied us. The Treaty has not yet been laid before Congs., & it seems is...
4From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 21 February 1796 (Madison Papers)
I have been much disappointed in not hearing from you on the subject of the Chariot; as well as on the enquiries I made respecting my crops of Corn, & the quantity of Wheat sent from my farms to Mr. Dunbar. I have just heard that Mr. Anderson expected to receive a quantity of Clover seed, & have written to Mr. Blair to procure me from 1 to 3 bushls. accordg. to the price, & forward it to...
5From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 6 March 1796 (Madison Papers)
In a letter to my brother Wm by last mail I acknowledged yours of the 8th. Feby; previous to which I had written several letters to which I refer on the subject of yours of Jany. 12. I am sorry to find our crops of Wheat falling so much short. The price it is to be hoped will make some amends. Flour is now up at 15 or 15½ dollars & Wheat at 20/. at least. It would have been convenient to me if...
6From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 13 March 1796 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your’s of Feby 24. I am glad that Majr. Lee has so kindly undertaken to attend to the friendly suit for adjusting the share I have in the lands held in the name of my late brother. I can lay down no rules for him which will not occur to himself. The object being simply to vest in me legally what is mine in equity, he will perceive that a suit in equity is necessary, that a good...
7From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 11 April 1796 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your’s of the 28th. Ult: At the date of my last I had not finally closed the bargain for the Chariot, wishing to see the manner in which it would be fitted. I have now agreed to take it with some little improvements, with collars instead of Breast plates to the Harness &c, which will render it dearer than was first calculated. The cost however will be less than £80 Va. Curry. I...
8From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 25 April 1796 (Madison Papers)
In consequence of my brothr. Wms. letter I have written to Hickley to assist in chusing & sending on a pr. Cologne Stones. The Windsor Chairs made here at present are dear & slight, & as they wd. be newly painted would suffer much on the way. I think you had better get them at Fredg. or Richmond where I understand they are cheaper & at least as good as here. I inclose a third No. of the...
9From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 1 May 1796 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Mr. Chew, with the papers to which it refers. I have not yet recd. the subsequent letter promised. I have thought it best to put every thing he has sent into your hands, that you may be the better able to take the steps which his interest requires. The Letter for Z. Taylor, will go with more safety by private hands from Orange, than thro’ the post office from this...
10From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 10 August 1796 (Madison Papers)
You will learn from Sam that we all continue much as when you left us. I was down at the Mill yesterday & found the work going on properly. It is of importance however that the abutment should be well secured before much rain comes; as it is found that a small swell in the river will accumulate at the dam so as to overflow it; and as the dam is rather higher than the Bank of the river, the...
11From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 27 November 1796 (Madison Papers)
We ended our journey on tuesday afternoon, without any injurious incident on the way. We found the roads better than I ever experienced them, and the weather was equally favorable. Mordecai arrived the day before yesterday, and sets out on his return today. Immediately on my getting here, I called on the man who was to make the hoisting Screw, & had the satisfaction to find that it had been...
12From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 19 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
We have been concerned as well as disappointed in not having a single line from Orange since we left it. Fanny has written by every post; & has reminded you & complained of it. I have never even heard whether Mordicai got back safe or not. I refer to the letter to my brother William, for the state of things here, the price of wheat &c. You expressed a wish that some articles for Negro’s...
13From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 25 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
Your two letters of the 12 & 11. came duly to hand since my last. The power of Atty sent me proves sufficient. It will be necessary for you to have a proper one at Richmond to prevent another transfer hither. The weather has been so intensely cold that I have not yet gone out to the proper office with Saml. French’s Certificate. I am at a loss to account for Mr. Noe’s draught. I know of no...
14From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
The last post brought me your favor of Jany. 2d. It will be well for you to send on your list of articles wanted as soon as possible. I hope Kyser will not disappoint us in the Clover Seed; and that other chances at Fredg. & elsewhere will be watched: As I shall get some at all events even here, I wish a Box to be made as soon as can be done. It will be the more necessary the more scanty the...
15From 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...
16From 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...
17From 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...
18From 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...
19From 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...
20From 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.
21From 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...
22From 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...
23From 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...