University of Virginia Library

TO JAMES MADISON.

HonD. Sir,—I receiv'd yours dated June 4th. & have
applied to Mr. Hoops as you directed; he says you
must suit yourself in paying him, & if you should let
him have a bill of Exchange it must be on your own
terms. Forty pounds £40. New Jersey Currency is
the Sum I shall have of him before I get home, my
frugality has not been able to keep it below that,
consistent with my staying here to the best advantage.
I shall be glad, if it should be convenient for
you, to have my next year's stock prepared for me
against I come home, for I shall not be able to stay
in Virginia more than 4 weeks at most. Half Jos—
pass here to the greatest advantage. I have spoken
to several of the present senior class about living
with you as Tutor, but they will determine on
nothing unless they know what you would allow
them, as it would not be proper for them to remain
in suspense 'till I should return here; If you should
receive this time enough to send me an answer by
the middle of September & let me know the most
you would be willing to give, I think there would be
a greater probability of my engaging one for you. Inclosed
are the measure of my Neck & rists. I believe
my Mother need not hurry herself much about my
shirts before I come for I shall not want more than
three or four at most. I should chuse she would not
have them ruffled 'till I am present myself. I have
not yet procured a horse for my Journey, but think
you had better not send me one as I cant wait long

enough to know whether or not you'll have an opportunity
without losing my chance most of the horses
being commonly engaged by the Students sometime
before vacation begins. If I should set off from this
place as soon as I expect you may look for me in
October perhaps a little before the middle if the
weather should be good.

We have no publick news but the base conduct of
the Merchants in N. York in breaking through their
spirited resolutions not to import, a distinct account
of which I suppose will be in the Virginia Gazette
before this arrives. Their Letter to the Merchants
in Philadelphia requesting their concurrence was
lately burnt by the students of this place in the college
yard, all of them appearing in their black Gowns
& the bell Tolling. The number of Students has increased
very much of late, there are about an hundred
& fifteen in College & the Grammar School twenty-two
commence this Fall all of them in American
Cloth.