The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
| II. |
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON. |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Dear Sir,—I have recd. your two favors of Novr 11
& Decr 8. Along with the former I recd. the two
pamphlets on animal magnetism & the last aeronautic
These articles were a great treat to my curiosity. As
I had left Richmd before they were brought thither by
Col. le Maire, I had no opportunity of attending myself
to your wishes with regard to him; but I wrote
immediately to Mr. Jones & desired him to watch
over the necessities of le Maire. He wrote me for
answer that the Executive tho' without regular proof
of his claims were so well satisfied from circumstances
of the justice of them, that they had voted
him £150 for his relief till the Assembly could take
the whole into consideration. This information has
made me easy on the subject though I have not withdrawn
from the hands of Mr. Jones the provisional
resource. I thank you much for your attention to
my literary wants. All the purchases you have made
for me, are such as I should have made for myself
with the same opportunities. You will oblige me by
adding to them the Dictionary in 13 vol. 4° by Felice
& others, also de Thou in French. If the utility of
Moreri be not superseded by some better work I
should be glad to have him too. I am afraid if I
were to attempt a catalogue of my wants I should not
only trouble you beyond measure, but exceed the
limits which other considerations ought to prescribe
to me. I cannot however abridge the Commission
you were so kind as to take on yourself in a former
letter, of procuring me from time to time such books
as may be either "old & curious or new & useful."
Under this description will fall those particularized in
my former letters, to wit: treatises on the ancient or
and the history natural & political of the New
World; to which I will add such of the Greek &
Roman authors where they can be got very cheap, as
are worth having and are not on the common list
of School classics. Other books which particularly
occur are the translation (French) of the Historians
of the Roman Empire during its decline, by—
Pascal's Provincial letters—Don Ulloa in the Original
—Linnæus best edition Ordinances Marines—
Collection of Tracts in french on the Oeconomics of
different nations, I forget the full title. It is much
referred to by Smith on the wealth of Nations. I am
told a Monsr Amelot has lately published his travels
into China, which if they have any merit must be
very entertaining. Of Buffon I have his original
work of 31 vol. 10 vol. of Supplemt, and 16 vol. on
birds. I shall be glad of the continuation as it may
from time to time be published. I am so pleased
with the new invented lamp that I shall not grudge
two guineas for one of them. I have seen a pocket
compass of somewhat larger diameter than a watch &
which may be carried in the same way. It has a
spring for stopping the vibration of the needle when
not in use. One of these would be very convenient
in case of a ramble into the Western country. In
my walks for exercise or amusements, objects frequently
present themselves, which it might be matter
of curiosity to inspect, but which it is difficult or impossible
to approach. A portable Glass would consequently
be a source of many little gratifications. I
a cane without making it too heavy. On the outside
of the tube might be engraved a scale of inches
&c. If such a project could be executed for a few
Guineas, I should be willing to submit to the price;
if not, the best substitute I suppose, will be a pocket
telescope, composed of several tubes so constructed as
to slide the lesser into the greater. I should feel
great remorse at troubling you with so many requests,
if your kind & repeated offers did not stifle it
in some measure. Your proposal for my replacing
here advances for me without regard to the exchange
is liable to no objection except that it will probably
be too unequal in my favour. I beg that you will enable
me as much as you can to keep these little matters
balanced. The papers from Le Grand were sent
as soon as I got them to Mr. Jones with a request
that he would make the use of them which you wished
me to do.
Your remarks on the tax on transfers of land in a
general view appear to me to be just but there were
two circumstances which gave a peculiarity to the
case in which our law adopted it. One was that the
tax will fall much on those who are evading their
quotas of other taxes by removing to Georgia &
Kentucky; the other that as such transfers are more
frequent among those who do not remove, in the
Western than the Eastern part of the Country, it will
fall heaviest where direct taxes are least collected.
With regard to the tax in general on law proceedings,
it cannot perhaps be justified if tried by the strict rule
time however will gradually in some measure
equalize it, & if it be applied to ye support of the
Judiciary establishment, as was the ultimate view of
the periods of the tax, it seems to square very well
with the Theory of taxation.
The people of Kentucky had lately a Convention
which it was expected would be the mother of a separation.
I am informed they proceeded no farther
than to concert an Address to the Legislature on
some points in which they think the laws bear unequally
upon them, they will be ripe for that event at
least as soon as their interest calls for it. There is
no danger of a concert between them & the Counties
West of the Alleghany which we mean to retain. If
the latter embark in a scheme for independence it will
be on their own bottom. They are more disunited in
every respect from Kentucky than from Virginia.
I have not learnt with certainty whether Genl
Washington will accept or decline the shares voted
him by the Assembly in the Companies for opening
our rivers. If he does not chuse to take to himself
any benefit from the donation, he has I think a fine
opportunity at once of testifying his disinterested
purposes, of shewing his respect for the Assembly,
and of rendering a service to his Country. He may
accept the gift so far as to apply it to the scheme
of opening the rivers & may then appropriate the
revenue which it is hereafter to produce to some
patriotic establishment. I lately dropped a hint of
this sort to one of his friends & was told that such
subscriptions for Potowmac I hear amount to £10,000
Sterling. I cannot discover that those for James
River deserve mention, or that the undertaking is
pushed with any spirit. If those who are most interested
in it let slip the present opportunity, their folly
will probably be severely punished for the want of
such another. It is said the undertaking on the Susquehannah
by Maryland goes on with great spirit &
expectations. I have heard nothing of Rumsey or
his boats since he went into the Northern States. If
his machinary for stemming ye current operates on
the water alone, as is given out, may it not supply
the great desiratum for perfecting the Balloons?
I understand that Chase & Jenifer on the part of
Maryland, Mason & Henderson on the part of Virginia
have had a meeting on the proposition of Virga
for settling the navigation & jurisdiction of Potowmac
below the falls, & have agreed to report to the two
Assemblies, the establishment of a concurrent jurisdiction
on that river & Chesapeak. The most amicable
spirit is said to have governed the negociation.
The Bill for a Genl Assesst has produced some
fermentation below the Mountains & a violent one
beyond them. The contest at the next Session on
this question will be a warm & precarious one. The
Port bill will also undergo a fiery trial. I wish the Assize
Courts may not partake of the danger. The
elections as far as they have come to my knowledge
are likely to produce a great proportion of new Members.
In Albemarle young Mr. Fry has turned out
has been baffled in his own County, but meant to be
a Candidate in Surry & in case of a rebuff there to
throw another die for the borough of Norfolk. I do
not know how he construes the doctrine of residence.
[32] It is surmised that the machinations of tyler who fears
a rivalship for the chair are at the bottom of his difficulties.
Arthr. Lee is elected in prince William he is
said to have paved the way by promises to overset the
port bill which is obnoxious to dumfries and to prevent
the removal of the Assize Court from this town to
Alexandria.
I reed, a letter from the marquis fayette, dated on
the eve of his embarcation which has the following
paragraph I have much conferred with the General
upon the Potowmac system many people think the
navigation of the Mississippi is not an advantage but
it may be the excess of a very good thing, viz the opening
of your rivers. I fancy it has not changed your
opinion but beg you will write me on the subject in
the meanwhile I hope Congress will act coolly and prudently
by Spain who is such a fool that allowances
must be made. It is unlucky that he should have left
America with such an idea as to the Mis̃ipi. It may
be of the worst consequce as it is not wholly imaginary
the prospect of extending the commerce of the atlantic
states to the western waters having given birth to it.
I can not believe that many minds are tainted with so
illiberal and short-sighted a policy. I have thought
it not amiss to write the marquis according to the
and obligations which must render the U. S. inflexible
on the subject of the Mis̃sipi, the folly of Spain in
contesting it and our expectations from the known
influence of France over Spain and her friendly dispositions
toward U. S. It is but justice to the marquis
to observe that in all our conversations on the Missipi
he expressed with every mark of sincerity a zeal for
our claims and a pointed dislike to the national character
and policy of Spain and that if his zeal should be
found to abate I should construe it to be the effect of
a supposed revolution in the sentiments of America.
This would have been of somewhat earlier date but
I postponed it that I might be able to include some
information relative to your Nephews. My last informed
you that your eldest was then with Mr. Maury.
I was so assured by Mr. Underwood from his neighborhood,
who I supposed could not be mistaken. I
afterwards discovered that he was so, but could get
no precise information till within a few days. One
of my brothers being called into that part of Country
by business, I wrote to Mrs. Carr and got him to wait
on her. The answer with which I have been favored
imports that "her eldest son was taken last fall with
a fever which with repeated relapses kept him extremely
weak & low till about the first of Jany from
which time he was detained at home by delays in
equipping him for Williamsbg till the 1st of April,
when he set out with promises to make up his lost
time—that her youngest son had also been detained at
home by ill health till very lately, but that he would
on hand was over, that his time had not been entirely
lost as his brother was capable of instructing him
whenever his health would admit." Mr. Maury's
School is said to be very flourishing. Mr. Wythe &
the other gentlemen of the University have examined
it from time to time & published their approbation of
of its management. I cannot speak with the same
authority as to the Academy in Prince Edward. The
information which I have recd has been favorable to
it. In the recommendation of these Seminaries I was
much governed by the probable permanency of them;
nothing being more ruinous to education than the
frequent interruptions & change of masters & methods
incident to the private schools of this Country.
Our winter has been full of vicissitudes, but on the
whole far from being a severe one, the spring has
been uncommonly cold & wet, and vegetation, of
course, very backward; till within a few days during
which it has been accelerated by very uncommon heat.
A pocket Thermometer which stands on the second
floor & the N. W. side of the House was on the 24
inst. at 4 O'Clock, at 77°, on the 25, at 78, on the 26,
at 81 1/2; to-day, 27, at 82, the Weather during this
period has been fair & the wind S, the atmosphere
thick N. W. Our Wheat in the ground is very unpromising
throughout the Country, the price of that
article on tide-water is about 6s. Corn sells in this
part of the country at 10s. & under, below at 15s. and
where the insect prevailed as high as 20s. It is said
to have been raised by a demand for exportation.
37s 6. It is generally expected that it will at least
get up to 40s. Some of our peaches are killed &
most of our Cherries. Our Apples are as yet safe.
I can not say how it is with the fruit in other parts of
the Country. The mischief to the Cherries &c was done
on the night of the 20 when we had a severe black frost.
I can not take my leave of you without making my
acknowledgemts for the very friendly invitation contained
in your last. If I should ever visit Europe I
should wish to do it less stinted in time than your
plan proposes. This crisis too would be particularly
inconvenient as it would break in upon a course of
reading which if I neglect now I shall probably never
resume. I have some reason also to suspect that
crossing the Sea would be unfriendly to a singular
disease of my constitution. The other part of your
invitation has the strongest bias of my mind on its
side, but my situation is as yet too dependent on circumstances
to permit my embracing it absolutely. It
gives me great satisfaction to find that you are looking
forward to the moment which is to restore you
to your native Country, though considerations of a
public nature check my wishes that such an event
may be expedited. Present my best respects to Mr.
Short & Miss Patsy, & accept of the affectionate
regards of Dear Sir your sincere friend.
What has become of the subterraneous City discovered
in Siberia?
Deaths. Thompson Mason Bartholomew Dandridge
Ryland Randolph Joseph Reed of Philadela.
| The writings of James Madison, | |