New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-15


early 1868 obtained patent for tract of land
on the shore Of Chesapeake Bay, in the vicinity Of
York River. There was, indeed IN the colony as
early as 1622-the date of the Indian massacre 30
nearly fatal TO the infant settlements Captain
Isaac Madison. who distinguished himself in the
Indian war that followed He might have been the
founder of the Virginan family Of Msdisons,
though its genealogy cannot be traced back beyond
the John Madison above mentioned.
Ambrose Madison, grandson Of this John aud
grandfather Of James Madison, emgrated TO whist
was then the extreme Western frontier He set
tied in Orange County, some thirty miles from the
eastern foot Of the Blue Ridge, thst same estate
of Montpelier, which, after having been occupied
BY Mr. Madison's father. descended eventually to
hin. His father, who also bore the name Of James,
married Eleanor Conway, the daughter Of planter
of King Georges County In that county, on the
10th Of March, 1851, James Madison was born, at
the house Of bis maternal grandmother, during 8
visit Of bis mother there. lie was the Oldest OF
seven children who lived to grow up, OF whom four
weIe sons and three daughters.
Though his father, who was a wealthy and pros
porous planter, had not enjoyed himself many ad-
vantages Of education he was anxious to secure
them for bis children. The young Madison was
first cent TO a school in the County of King and
Queen, which enjoyed high reputation, kept by
ScotcbmaD, one Donald Robinson. Under this
teacher, beside Greek and Latin he acquired some
knowledge of French and Spanish Subsequently
be prosecuted bis studies at home, under the tut
ton of the Rev Thomas Martin, the minister Of
the parish, who lived at the time in the family at
Montpelier. In the Autumn Of 1863 the young
Madison became a student at Princeton College, of
which DR.. WitherspoOn bad lately been appointed
President. Why be went TO this Presbyterian Col
Iege instead of to William and Mary, where most
of the young Virerians received their education,
does not appear. At Princeton he spent three
years Among his fellow students were Brock
hoist Livingston, William Bradford (afterward
Attorney General Of the United States during
Washipgton's administration, Aaron Burr, Nor.
gan Lewis, Aaron Ogden, and others afCerward
distinguished. With Bradford he formed an init
mate friendship, and kept up correspondence
with him AFTER leaving the college. Though ar
IDENTIFY devoted TO bis studies, he took also warm
interest in the dispute with the mother country on
the subject Of taxation by Parliament, which
about the time of bis gocg to Princeton had re-
vived with new vigor. In = letter to bis f,ther
dated July %, l770, be refers to the "base con-
duct of the merchants Of New. York" in breaking
through their non importation agreement and pro-
ceeds to relate how the letter Of these New York
merchants to the merchants Of Philadelphia, ask
ing their concurrence in this step-of which Lord
NOrth's BILL repeating all the lately imposed duties
except that on tea, had been made the location
had been burnt by the students in the college
yard, all of them appearing in their black gowns
aud the bell tolling
In I772 Mr.. Madison, then 81 years old, returned
to his fathers house at Montpelier Here he Oc-
cupied hmselffor some time as tutor to the younger
members of the family.
He came back from Princeton in feeble health,
under which he continued to suffer for several
years His attention at this time appears to have
been good deal attracted to religious subjects In
letter to bis friend Bradford, after his return,
be thus writes: GAS to my self, am too dull aud in
firm now to look out for any extraordinary things
in this world, for think my sensations for many
months have intmsted to me not to expect long
or healthy life; though it may be better with me
after some time; but hardly dare expect it, and,
therefore, have little spirit elasticity to set about
anything that s difficult Of acquiring and useless in
possessing after one has exchanged time for eter-
nifty" 1t was probably ut this time that he CON-
posed the minute and elaborate notes on the Cos
pels ard the Acts Of the Apostles which have been
found among his manuscripts, and which appear
to have been of early date. He seems also, to
have given good deal Of attention t. the history
and evidences of Christianity, resulting in mss
terry Of those subj sets not common among his
contemporaries, though not perhaps so complete or
extensive as Mr.. Rives represents. We cannot
think that the list of theological works which Mr.
Madison furnished st Jeferson's request, for the
benefit Of the library of the Virginia University,
and which Mr.. Rives prints in his appendix,
affords any such evidence Of Mr.. Msdison's theolog
icsl learning as his biographer seems to suppose
As to that biogrspher's representation that at
this time Mr. Madison L" explored the whole
history and evidences of Christianity on every side,
through clouds of witnesses and champions for and
against, from the fathers aud schoolmen down to
the inhdel philosophers of the eighteenth century
this is one Of those rhetorical fourishes, to be
received with many grains of allowance, with
which this volume too much AbOunds. The library
a, Montpelier, certainly at this period could hardly
have afforded the materials for such extensive re.
searches.
Tie interest which Mr.. Madison took in the subject
ofrelgOus freedom dates also from this early period
The Church of England enjoyed in Virginia al
the advantages of al establishment supported BY