The Papers of James Madison project, housed at the University of
Virginia, was established in 1956 to publish annotated volumes of
the correspondence and writings of James Madison, the Virginia
statesman most often remembered for his public service as "Father
of the Constitution" and as fourth president of the United
States.
The published volumes provide accurate texts of Madison's
incoming and outgoing correspondence, informative notes on textual
and subject matters, and comprehensive indexes. They are
incomparably rich sources for students of Madison's life and
valuable research tools for those interested in the general history
of the period in which Madison lived (1751-1836).
The project has collected more than 27,000 copies of documents
related to Madison's life, including letters, essays, notes,
diaries, account books, ledgers, wills, legal papers, and
inventories. The project serves the public by translating into
print these decaying and often nearly illegible manuscripts,
thereby preserving them for future generations and making them
easier to use. The published volumes also make the contents of
Madison-related documents--the originals of which are housed in
some 250 archives worldwide--easily accessible to libraries and
interested individuals anywhere books travel.
The "Presidential Series, " covering the years 1809 to early
1817, centers largely on Madison's record as commander-in-chief
during the War of 1812, the first full-scale conflict to be waged
under the U.S. Constitution of 1787. Madison's correspondence as
president deals with a particularly wide range of
concerns--national politics, international diplomacy and war,
Indian affairs, the construction of the nation's capital, even
petitions from ordinary citizens for charity and mercy--to which
Madison responded.
Volume 7 of the Presidential Series, covering the period between
late October 1813 and June 1814, documents Madison's response to
diplomatic developments and European military events affecting the
war between the United States and Great Britain. Early in 1814 the
president accepted an offer of direct peace negotiations, although
his country's military situation did not augur well for the
outcome. He sought to improve U.S. diplomatic prospects by
strengthening commercial ties with Europe in the wake of Napoleon's
defeat, but also supervised planning and financing for continuing
U.S. military campaigns if necessary. Some of Madison's private
affairs are documented through family correspondence and a
vituperative letter from a disgruntled former White House steward.
In addition, there is the Edinburgh Review editor Francis Jeffrey's
revealing account of conversations with Madison in November 1813.
Access to people, places, and events of the period is facilitated
by detailed annotation and a comprehensive index.
General
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