Requests for Information Related to Thomas Jefferson

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> I noticed 2 items under "Property" refer to a letter from Jefferson to
> Rev. James Madison, 1785. The Ford ed. identifed the addressee of this
> famous letter as Rev. JM, but in fact I believe scholars now agree that
> it was to the great James Madison. Just a fine point.

Thanks much for writing.  I had never researched this possibility before,
but I am convinced that what you relate is correct and have eliminated
the "Rev." from the quotes you noted.  This letter is included in Dr.
Peterson's Library of America collection without the "Rev."  I also
noticed that Jefferson closed the letter in question with "Yours
Affectionately" -- a close he frequently used in letters to the "real"
Madison, and one that he did *not* use in all his other letters to the
Rev.  To the latter, he consistently used rather formal language and some
form of "with esteem and respect" as a close.  Thus, the internal
evidence of the letter supports the scholarly conclusion.






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