NOTES FOR CHAPTER 9
| Edward Coles |
Edward Coles to his brothers and sisters--The letter can be found in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Back It is made up essentially of private affairs--The talk of Betsy's lover is contained in two letters: Edward Coles to his sisters and brothers, February 3, 1810; and Edward Coles to Rebecca Tucker Coles, February 4, 1810, which also contains the description of the conversation with the young lady. Coles talks of the sale of various crops in many letters: Edward Coles to brothers, February 27, 1810; Edward Coles to John Coles III, March 18, 1811 (which also contains the mention of a stud for his mares); Edward Coles to John Coles III, November 22, 1811; etc. All of these letters can be found in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Back He asks his brother John--Edward Coles to his brothers and sisters, February 3, 1810, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Back a letter from Mr. Coles--Quoted in Irving Brant, The Fourth President: A Life of James Madison, Indianapolis, 1970, p. 167. I have not been able to find a copy of the letter alluded to here. Back I am sick--Edward Coles to John Coles III, January 28, 1811, Princeton University Library. Back I see from Sally's letter--Ibid. Back I hope, however--Edward Coles to John Coles III, March 18, 1811, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Back the two set out--See Rebecca Coles to John Coles III, April 13, 1811, Roberts Coles Collection, for evidence that John was in Washington by mid-April. The Almanac Dates say that John left for the north on May 8. Back getting rid of Smith--This recital of the story, like much of the background in this chapter, is taken from standard biographies of Madison, especially Brant (op. cit.) and Ralph Ketchum, James Madison: A Biography, Charlottesville, 1990, as well as from Henry Adams, History of the United States During the First Administration of James Madison, New York, 1891, which, while somewhat out of date, is still shrewd, colorful, and generous with primary sources. For a version of Robert Smith's dismissal more sympathetic to Smith, see Frank A. Cassell, Merchant Congressman in the Young Republic: Samuel Smith of Maryland, 1752-1839, Madison, 1971. Back The Smiths are said--Edward Coles to Dolley Madison, June 10, 1811, New York Public Library. Back Leaving this nest--From Baltimore Edward and John went to Philadelphia, where through an introduction from Monroe, Coles met Nicholas Biddle, a friend who was to become increasingly important in his life. Passing through Princeton, they were guided around the campus by Humberston Skipwith, the younger brother of Helen and Selina, and then went on to New York, Newport, and Boston. See letters of introduction from James Monroe to Edward Coles, May 19 and May 25; an invitation of the Bunker Hill Association to Edward Coles to attend their July 4th celebration, June 27; and an invitation from the governor of Massachusetts to Edward Coles, July 1 or 7, 1811, all in the Princeton University Library. See also Rebecca Tucker Coles and Tucker Coles to Edward and John Coles, June 17; and Helen Skipwith Coles to Selina Skipwith, June 28, 1811, both in the Roberts Coles Collection. Back In a letter--Edward Coles to Henry S. Randall, May 11, 1857, William and Mary Quarterly, ser. 2, vol. 7 (1927), 166-170. Back Mr. Jefferson's letter--The letter alluded to is Thomas Jefferson to Dr. Rush, December 5, 1811. Back From Boston--For Coles' itinerary see the 1863 autobiography. For the date of his return to Enniscorthy see the Almanac Dates. Coles' identification of the turning point in Madison's policy towards England can be found in his letter to Rives cited below. Back It was congenial--Edward Coles to William Rives, January 21, 1856, William and Mary Quarterly, ser. 2, vol. 7 (1927), 162-165. All of Coles' recollections of Madison's policy are taken from this letter. Back from that time--July 23, 1811, was the date on which Madison rejected the British Minister Foster's demand that France repeal its decrees for all--not only American--shipping. Note that Coles was away on his northern trip at that time. Back John Henry was a spy--This recital of the story of the Henry papers follows most closely the one in Brant (op. cit.). Back son of the celebrated duke--Quoted in Brant, p. 412. Back that it seemed quite necessary--Ibid. Back called him an imposter--Augustus John Foster, Jeffersonian America: Notes on the United States of America Collected in the Years 1805-6-7 and 11-12, San Marino, CA, p. 72. Back What's it about--Serurier to Maret, March 12, 1812. Quoted in Brant, p. 413. Back The administration--Quoted in Brant, p. 416. Back That he [Crillon]--Elbridge Gerry to Edward Coles, March 17, 1812, Princeton University Library. Back Well, sir, it is then decided--Serurier to Maret, March 23, 1812. Quoted in Adams, vol. II, pp. 194-195. Back Much will depend--Edward Coles to John Coles III, May 6, 1812, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Back Had the French emperor--James Madison to Mr. Wheaton, February 26, 1827. Quoted in Adams, vol. II, pp. 265-266. Back
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