The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
TO EDMUND RANDOLPH.
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 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TO EDMUND RANDOLPH.[1]
Dear Sir,—The offensive paragraph in the correspondence
of Mr. L. with Mr. P., spoken of in your
favor of the fifth, was, as you supposed, communicated
to me by Mr. Jones. I am, however, but very imperfectly
informed of it.
We have not yet received a second volume of the
negotiations at Versailles; nor any other intelligence
from Europe, except a letter from Mr. Carmichael,
dated about the middle of June, which is chiefly confined
to the great exertions and expectations with
respect to Gibraltar. Whilst the siege is depending,
it is much to be apprehended that the Court of
Madrid will not accelerate a pacification.
Extract of a letter from Sir Guy Carleton to
General Washington, dated New York, September
twelfth, 1782.
"Partial though our suspension of hostilities may
be called, I thought it sufficient to have prevented
those cruelties in the Jerseys (avowed) which I have
was the choice, I never expected this suspension
should operate further than to induce them to carry
it on as is practised by men of liberal minds. I am
clearly of opinion with Your Excellency, that mutual
agreement is necessary for a suspension of hostility,
and, without this mutual agreement, either is free to
act as each may judge expedient; yet I must, at the
same time, frankly declare to you, that being no
longer able to discern the object we contend for, I
disapprove of all hostilities both by sea and land, as
they only tend to multiply the miseries of individuals,
when the public can reap no advantage from success.
As to the savages, I have the best assurances, that
from a certain period, not very long after my arrival
here, no parties of Indians were sent out, and that
messengers were despatched to recall those who had
gone forth before that time; and I have particular
assurances of disapprobation of all that happened to
your party on the side of Sandusky, except so far as
was necessary for self-defence."
It would seem, from this paragraph, that the insidious
object of a separate convention with America
was still pursued.
The symptoms of an evacuation of New York became
every day less apparent. Our next intelligence
from Charleston will probably confirm our
expectations as to that metropolis.
| The writings of James Madison, | |