TO MORRIS ANTHONY.[80]
Montplr., Jany. 27, 1826.
Dear Sir: I have just received your favor of the
24th instant, and am much obliged by the friendly
attention of which it is a proof. There must be
some mistake in the case it mentions. No dividend
or stock of the United States can belong to me. On
my first entrance into public life I formed a resolution
from which I never departed to abstain whilst
in that situation from dealing in any way in public
property or transactions of any kind, and I am
satisfied that during my respites and since retirement
from the public service I never became possessed
of any stock that could give me a title to the
derelict in question. It is possible that my father
whose name was James and who had I believe a few
public certificates accruing from property impressed
or furnished for public use, may have neglected after
funding them, or the unclaimed dividend may
possibly belong to the estate of Bishop Madison
whose name was also James.
If you will have the goodness to add to the trouble
you have taken a discriptive notice of whatever
circumstances of date, of place, of amount, etc., may
aid in its tracing the ownership of this balance on the
Books, I will put it into the hands of the Acting
Executor of my father who will make the proper
examination of his papers.
Mrs. M. desires me to make the proper return for
your kind remembrances, and joins me in assurances
of our cordial respects and good wishes, and of the
pleasure we should feel in repeating them within our
domicil.
