University of Virginia Library

TO JAMES MADISON.

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We have heard little of late from Europe, except
that the Mediation proffered by Russia in the dispute
between England & Holland has been referred by the

former to the general pacification in which the
mediation of the Emperor will be joined with that of
Russia. As this step is not very respectful to Russia
it can only proceed from a distrust of her friendship
and the hopes entertained by Britain as to the issue
of the Campaign, which as you will see in an intercepted
letter from Germaine to Clinton were extravagantly
sanguine. We have no late intelligence from
the W. Indies. Genl. Washington is going on with
his preparations & operations agst. N. York. What
the result will be can be decided by time alone.
We hope they will at least withdraw some of the
invaders from Virginia. The French fleet is still at
Rhode Island. The British it is reported has lately
left the Hook.

Augst. 2d.—Information has been recd. from N. York
thro' a channel that is thought a good one, that orders
are gone to Virginia for a large part of the troops
under Cornwallis immediately to sail for that place.
Should this be well founded the execution of the
orders will announce it to you. Among other advantages
attending an evacuation of Virga. it will not
be the least that the communication with this place
by the Bay will supply the State with many necessary
articles wch. are now transported by land at so much
expense & will enable you to pay for them easier by
raising the price of your commodities. It gives me
pain to hear that so many of the people have incautiously
sold or rather given away their Tobo. to
speculators when it was in no danger from the Enemy.
The destruction of that article, which alarmed them,

was an obvious cause of its future rise, and a reason
for their retaining it till the alarm should be over.
Goods of all kinds, particularly dry goods are rising
here already. Salt in particular has risen within a
few days from two dollars to a guinea per bushel.

I send you by this opportunity five English Grammars[2]
for Mr. W. Maury agreeably to his request.
This is the first that has offered although I have
had them on hand for some months. The price of
the whole is a guinea. The price of Dr. Collins medical
book published here is also one guinea. If you
would choose a copy on that condition I can send you
one by a future opportunity. With my most affectionate
regards to the family.