The Madisons at Montpelier: Reflections on the Founding Couple

Contents

Contents Preface xi 1. return to “books and farm, to tranquility and independence” 1 Montpelier: The Mansion in 1817 4 John Payne Todd 9 Madison Family Visitors 14 Payne and Cutts Family Visitors 17 James K. Paulding’s Impressions 21 Daily Life at Montpelier 24 Dolley’s Preoccupations 30 Virginia Agriculture in Decline 33 Further Challenges to the Virginia Economy 36 Slavery, That “Dreadful Calamity” 38 2. continuing public involvement 48 Virginia Convention of 1829–30 58 Nullification, “a Deadly Poison” 66 Fears and Sorrows at Montpelier 73 Establishing the University of Virginia 78 3. “i may be thought to have outlived myself” 99 Living and Making History 101 Lafayette Comes to Virginia 105 viii contents Farewell to Thomas Jefferson 114 Jefferson’s Death and Eulogies 127 Old Friends Pass: James Monroe and Others 133 The Founding Era Passes 140 Next-Generation Madisonians 143 4. “the last of the great lights of the revolution has sunk below the horizon” 146 Advising the Younger Generation 156 The Last Visit to James Madison’s Montpelier 164 Death and Eulogies of James Madison 171 postscript: dolley madison, 1836–1849 177 Source Notes 183 Bibliography 189 Index 193 Illustrations James Madison, 1817 2 Dolley Madison, 1817 3 Montpelier, restored as it was ca. 1820 5 Montpelier, 1764, 1797, and 1812 6 Montpelier plantation, ca. 1820 8 Montpelier first floor, ca. 1812 10 John Payne Todd 12 Anna Payne Cutts 19 Montpelier, 1818 26 Edward Coles 41 Madison speaking at the Virginia constitutional convention on December 2, 1829 61 Nelly Conway Madison 77 Orange County, Virginia, and vicinity 94 Life mask of James Madison 120 Life mask of Dolley Madison 120 Life mask of Thomas Jefferson 121 Life mask of the marquis de Lafayette 121 Martha Jefferson Randolph 124 Montpelier, 1833 148 James Madison, 1833 166 Dolley Madison, 1846 166 This page intentionally left blank ...