MADISON, James. Autographed letter signed ("James Madison"), as President, to an unnamed recipient, Washington, D.C., 19 April 1816.
2 pages, 4to, written on recto and verso, some ink showthrough. Madison sends a letter hoping for help in locating his missing nephew, Ambrose Rose, son of his sister Frances Taylor Madison and Robert Hugh Rose of Lynchburg. "He has just entered his 15th year is a bout 5 feet high, square but and stoops a little in his shoulders [he] left Lynchburg in Virginia in the month of January last and instead of returning to his fathertook an unknown direction, and has not since been heard of. His parents apprehensive that he may have possibly formed a project of going to sea are extremely anxious to prevent an execution of it. You will oblige them therefore greatly, as well myself by taking the necessary steps for discovering whether such a youth has connected himself with any vessel in your port, or be hovering about with an appearance of having that in view"
Property from the Robert L. McKay Collection, North Tustin, California
