1820 Letters

Jamaica, NY - 14 January 1820

I likewise received from Mr. Bacon, on the part of the Senate, information of my appointment

Jamaica, NY - 14 January 1820

I last evening recd the letter, of which a copy follows, from W. W. Van Ness

Washington, MD - 22 January 1820

Henry Clay letter to Adam Beatty... On the subject of the next Governor I had communicated my views, prior to the receipt of your letter, to several friends at Frankfort...

Georgetown, VA - 30 January 1820

I arrived on the 25th, found the Senate and House both engaged upon the Missouri Question, which engrosses the whole time and attention of Congress.

Washington, VA - 31 January 1820

The V. P. left us today at noon ; on his way he stopped at the Senate, and we had a short conference in one of the Committee Rooms.

Litchfield, CT - 6 February 1820

I am happy in being able to say that I accomplished my business with the State of Massachusetts much to my Satisfaction

Washington, VA - 6 February 1820

The Missouri question is still in debate;

Washington, VA - 11 February 1820

I have been very much engaged in the Missouri question

Washington, VA - 16 February 1820

having entered fully into the Missouri Debate, I have been so entirely engaged in it, that I have attended to nothing else.n

unknown - 16 February 1820

I observe that you have consented to admit the Judge to appear with Counsel before yr. Committee, and that the House have also employed on their part Counsel.

unknown - 17 February 1820

I have been deeply engaged in the Missouri question. Mr. P. had delivered his speech before my arrival ; it was pronounced by his admirers to be unanswerable...

unknown - 20 February 1820

The Missouri Bill is gone from the Senate, but meets with formidable opposition in the House of R.

unknown - 20 February 1820

The more I have thought of the course adopted by your Committee, and which has been sanctioned by your House, the more fully am I persuaded that it has been altogether erroneous

Washington, VA - 23 February 1820

I yesterday received the Columbian with Mr. Miller's indecent address to the public concerning the charge agt. him in the American.

unknown - 25 February 1820

The Missouri Bill remains as it was. Nothing decisive has occurred. I fear ill ; we are on slippery ground, and my experience teaches me that time here gives strength to the wrong side.

Washington, VA - 29 February 1820

The reception of the V. P., at Albany excited some considerable feeling ; what will be its effect, and how the struggle between him & Mr. C. will terminate, I am without the means of judging.

unknown - 0 March 1820

But when the opinions, and arguments ascribed by one speaker to another are not only stated, but the very words cited and marked by inverted commas, the public are naturally led to suppose such report to be correct even to the letter.

unknown - 0 March 1820

The subject of domestic slavery is one with which Mr. K. is very imperfectly acquainted and on which he has not bestowed much consideration

Washington, VA - 3 March 1820

The observation of a Compromise is therefore deceptive. The slave States with the requisite Recruits from the Senators & Representatives of the free States have carried the Question

Washington, VA - 4 March 1820

I will not however suffer my opinions respecting the Editors of the A. to be misrepresented, nor shall I acquiesce in being misrepresented concerning Mr. Clinton.

unknown - 5 March 1820

I shall not suffer Mr. Miller's misrepresentations, either in respect to the Editors of the American or of my sentiments or opinions respecting Mr. Clinton to go uncontradicted...

Washington, VA - 11 March 1820

We have been most shamefully deserted in the H. of R. on the Missouri Bill, which has given a great triumph to the slave States. The result will be fatal, unless the People apply the true corrective.

War Department, MD - 15 March 1820

In this state of uncertainty the President is of the opinion, that it would be improper to take any military measure now

Washington, VA - 18 March 1820

My opinions of Mr. C. and his associates, I mean his recruits from the Federalists, are unchanged ; and I cannot ever be insensible of the liberal and very general support of the Republicans, who are opposed to Mr. Clinton.

Washington, VA - 20 March 1820

I received today from Charles the letter addressed to me by yourself and others relative to the course which you have elected to pursue, in the approaching election.

War Department, MD - 23 March 1820

We have had the misfortune to loose our your youngest child. She died last night at 10 o'clock after a most painful illness of 16 days, the last ten of which we had but little hope of her living.

Litchfield, CT - 30 March 1820

If this Robinson property which cost us $2469 - will really bring but $1500. I had rather pocket that loss (as I have many thousands besides it) than have any of my Children bear it.

Washington, VA - 1 April 1820

I mentioned this subject to the Sec. of the Navy before I suggested it confidentially to Mr. Van Buren and to you, in order that the friends of the V. P. should be seasonably apprized

Washington, VA - 9 April 1820

I understand that Maine will return Holmes (as contemptible and vulgar a fellow as any one in the new State) to be one of her Senators.

Washington, MD - 11 April 1820

A representation has I understand been made to the directors of the national bank respecting a change in the Direction of the branch in Lexington Ky

Washington, VA - 22 April 1820

The situation of the Treasury is bad.

unknown - 28 April 1820

After a long session the H. of R. have this evening passed the Tariff Bill to be engrossed & read a third time by a majority of 12 or 15 : its fate in the Senate, which stands adjourned till Monday, is said to be doubtful.

unknown - 30 April 1820

On passing thro Paris Genl. Vives told Gallatin that he was not the bearer of the Ratification of the Treaty, but had power to consent to our occupation of Florida preliminarily, and thus to enter into further negotiations with the U. S.

Washington, VA - 4 May 1820

There will be no opposition to Mr. Monroe that I have heard of ; none is expected even from New York, whose Legislature in all probability will be anti-clintonian.

War Department, MD - 7 May 1820

Your mother is residing with us and appears to be very well satisfied. She will not return to Carolina this summer; and I hope she will make up her mind to take up her permanent residence with us.

unknown - 8 May 1820

Congress will adjourn at farthest on this day week. Otis adjourned himself, and with his brother Mason went off yesterday.

Washington, VA - 9 May 1820

The Florida Message was sent to the two Houses of Congress to-day, and the tenor thereof is pacific as was anticipated.

Jamaica, NY - 25 May 1820

As Virginia has appealed to the respective States in the Missouri Question, I hope that your Legislature will not only sustain the appeal, but give judgment in the cause.

Jamaica, NY - 4 June 1820

I yesterday received your letter of the 30th past : its frankness is gratifying to me...

Jamaica, NY - 5 June 1820

The truth is we have no scholars, or so few that the value of the ancient authors is neither understood nor properly estimated : the young men are to study Chemistry, & Philosophy, and Eloquence...

Jamaica, NY - 6 July 1820

States like Men who fail in self-respect, are without title to the respect of others.

War Department, MD - 14 July 1820

Mrs Calhoun and myself are much obliged to you for your kind suggestion and offer in relation to the springs near your residence in London.

Boston, MA - 17 August 1820

As to a president, I have weighed the subject very much in my own mind, and conversed on it on every occasion with the friends of the college. My mind is not made up in favor of any candidate.

Monticello, VA - 31 August 1820

Thomas Jefferson letter to John Saunderson, Esq.... I wish it were in my power to furnish you more fully, than in the enclosed paper, with materials for the biography of George Wythe

Andalusia, PA - 8 October 1820

You will I am sure feel some interest in the inclosed paper which I have thought it advisable to publish in order to correct some deeply rooted prejudices against some of the measures of the last war.

Litchfield, CT - 21 October 1820

You may recollect that you proposed to take the Robinson property at $1500, at which Sum I placed it to Marias Accot. I understand that it has been sold for but $700.

War Department, MD - 23 October 1820

Setting jesting aside, I am glad, that you offered for the legislature; and hope sincerely, that you have succeeded

Jamaica, NY - 24 October 1820

I wish that I had been earlier apprised of the proposed plan of establishing a theological Seminary in this Diocese, and regret that it was not in my power to express my unwillingness to be chosen one of the V. Presidents of the Society

Washington, VA - 19 November 1820

It seems that the French Govt. required of Mr. Gallatin, authorized on our part ... to allow the admission of French vessels into Louisiana on the same footing as the vessels of England

Washington, VA - 21 November 1820

A committee of each House is charged with the Constitution of Missouri, and I am doubtful whether any business will be done before the question of the admission of the State be determined.

Washington, VA - 22 November 1820

The Clintonians here are encouraged in their hopes, and leave nothing undone to advance their views

unknown - 24 November 1820

The solicitude wh. manifests itself concerning the admission of Missouri convinces me that no business will be done until the question be settled.

Belmont, PA - 25 November 1820

Every occurrence in which you have shared, or originated, seems, by some strange perversion, to be misunderstood or misstated by the present generation, when some favourite individual or topic induces the obliquity.

War Department, MD - 26 November 1820

I have received the money paid to Dr. Simonds; and I hope that your collection will enable you to make me a farther remittance.

unknown - 26 November 1820

As yet no business is done by Cong, and none will be done before the Missouri Decision be made tho the Senate does not probably create any solicitude, the House occasions a good deal.

Senate Chamber, VA - 29 November 1820

On Mr. Thompson's nomination being called up to-day, Mr. Sanford & myself according to usage were expected to say something respecting the Candidate.

unknown - 1 December 1820

The Pr. is in fine temper, the prospect of a unanimous Reelection very naturally excites these kindly feelings.

unknown - 18 December 1820

All the new States, whose Constitutions passed under the Revision of Congress, disregard property qualifications. Virginia adheres as yet, but she was obliged to make practical concessions

Washington, VA - 21 December 1820

I see that Mr. Clinton & friends are industrious in their labors to vindicate themselves, and to depreciate their opponents, among whom you are not omitted.

unknown - 24 December 1820

By the terms of office the Judiciary is exempt from the instability which belongs to, and is mingled up in the other Departments of our Govt.

Bedford, NY - 26 December 1820

Men who are ardent in the pursuit of influence and its fruits, and more attentive to the prosecution than to the propriety of their schemes, usually become and remain hostile to those who steadfastly disapprove of their manoeuvres.

Litchfield, CT - 27 December 1820

I purpose to forward a sum in Bank Bills, by Washington, & am in constant Expectation of a D'ft from the South of $2000 which I shall deposit to my Cr. at some Bk. in N.York.