University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
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 NOAH WEBSTER.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
expand section
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
expand section
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
expand section
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
expand section
 
 
 
 
 
expand section
 
 
 
expand section
 
 
 
 
 
 
expand section
 
 
 
 

 
 

TO NOAH WEBSTER.

MAD. MSS.

Dear Sir,—In looking over my papers in order to
purge and finally arrange my files, my attention fell
on your letter of Aug. 20, 1804, in which I was requested
to give such information as I could as to the
origin of the change in the Federal Government
which took place in 1788. My answer does not
appear, the copy of it having been lost, if one was
retained as is probable. Will you be so obliging
as to enable me to replace it, and to pardon the
trouble I am imposing on you; accepting at the same
time assurances of my esteem, and of my friendly
respects.

Where can your pamphlet entitled "Sketches of
Amn. policy" be now obtained; also that of Mr.
Peletiah Webster referred to in your letter.[9]

 
[9]

See ante, Vol. VII., p. 162. Peletiah Webster's pamphlet was:
A Dissertation on the Political Union and Constitution of the Thirteen
United States of North America: which is necessary to their Preservation
and Happiness, humbly offered to the Public, by a Citizen of Philadelphia
.
Philadelphia: 1783. It was reprinted in 1908, as Pub. Doc. 461,
60th Cong., 1st Sess. (Senate.)

Apparently, Madison was unsuccessful in obtaining the pamphlet
from Noah Webster for he wrote to Tench Coxe November 10, 1820:

In looking over my pamphlets & other printed papers, I perceive
a chasm in the Debates of Congress between March 4, 1790 (being
the close of No. III of Vol IV, by T. Lloyd) & the removal of Congress
from Philadelphia to Washington. May I ask the favor of you, if it
can be done without difficulty, to procure for me the means of filling
the chasm. I should be glad also to procure a pamphlet, "Sketches of
American policy by Noah Webster," published in Philadelphia in
1784 or '5; and another, "Pelitiah Webster's dissertation on the
political Union & Constitution of the thirteen U. States," published
in 1783 or '4. Both of them have disappeared from my collection of
such things.—Mad. MSS.