Beschreibung:

MONROE, James (1758 - 1831). Autograph letter signed ("Jas. Monroe") as Secretary of State to Charles Everett, Washington, 19 April 1813.
Two pages, 198 x 239mm (ink corrosion on one strike-through on the second page, a few tiny holes along the original folds.)
Writing of the stresses of the War of 1812: "You know but little of the heavy pressure which has borne on me, since I have been here..." Charles Everett was Monroe's physician and later served as his personal secretary during his presidency. At the time of writing, Everett was recently elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. Responding to a letter from Everett likely announcing his election, Monroe "sincerely rejoice[s] at the proof which the county has afforded of its confidence in you. It is undoubtedly the strongest it can give, and is one which puts down all the little attempts to injure you." However, in response to apparent accusations of his writing too infrequently, he takes a far harsher tone: "You complain of my not writing you, without being aware that you are open to the same complaint. You have never written me, although I have expected from you, only, hints, about my private concerns... You know but little of the heavy pressure which has borne on me, since I have been here, & of the few consoling circumstances that have occurred, to diminish any part of it, as even in that respect, you would have found a sufficient motive to have declined any complaint. I have written scarcely a letter to any one, & had I had time, I have had little inclination for it..." Monroe also mentions a supposed favor made to one "P. Marks", likely a military endorsement, though he states this was likely without effect, and encloses "a letter for him to Col. Goodwyn, to whom I advised, in a letter to Mr Shelly, his application some time since".
In a short postscript, Monroe adds: "I did not know that any opposition to Mr Nelson was contemplated. I am happy that it has received its merited vote". This is possibly related to a congressional resolution, introduced by Virginia representative Hugh Nelson the prior year, that would provide Revolutionary War soldiers on the Virginia Line with land warrants that were already promised to them by the Virginia Legislature on 2 January 1781. James Monroe was one of the signatories of the related deed of cession in March 1784. Despite Nelson's initiative, Congress would not settle the issue until 30 May 1830. (Hugh Nelson to Thomas Jefferson, 22 March 1812,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-04-02-0464.) This letter is published in the Papers of James Monroe, Vol. 6.