I have received your favor of the 23d: instt: I hesitated for some days, whether I should enclose the paper containing the Number of Horatius, which was so ridiculously headed as that you refer to, but I finally concluded that the intention of the Author was good, and that an honest though deluded zeal, had transported him, like so many others, whom we have seen, to bolster up a cause, certainly capable of sustaining itself or not worthy to be supported at all, with the charm of a name. It is a mortification to me also, that so few men in this Country, are wise or honest enough to discover & to avow, that the Administration of the last four years, & the measures 390 that have been carried into effect during that period, have exalted this nation, in her own esteem & in the consideration of foreign powers, infinitely beyond the attainments of the eight preceeding years. Has this been, because Washington approved? But it is useless to dwell upon this subject. “Popularity is” I am well persuaded, “more arbitrary than despotism.” It is in this State always a matter of calculation, how far it may be necessary to bend to it for the sake of interest. This will be illustrated by a recent example. It is usual for the two great political parties here to assemble in separate meetings some time prior to any election of considerable consequence, for the purpose of fixing upon such candidates as may be necessary to fill the different offices, whom they can recommend to the support of their friends & adherents— Such meetings have lately been held here, by both parties, and tickets agreed upon to run at the approaching election— It is a considerable object with the federalists to secure a majority of their number in the City Councils; but a very unpopular measure, that of taxing the Citizens for supplying the City with water, has been pursued by the present members at the instigation of a very numerous list of petitioners, among their Constituents— The labor is yet incomplete, more money must probably be raised; a great clamor has been excited against the present Councils & in order to appease the wrath of the Sovereign people—the federalists have consented, under an idea of necessity, to abandon the principal number of their servants of last year, who have conducted entirely to their satisfaction, discharged their duty with zeal, & fidelity, would have deserved to be censured & turned out of office with disgrace if they had not conducted as they have; and yet—they are unpopular & we must not run the risk of running their names again, but assure them how highly we value their former services, by substituting an entirely new set of members to take their places, because, the democrats will carry the day, if we do not thus accommodate— I was present at several of these meetings, & grieved at such irrational, unjust & dishonorable behavior— I said nothing, but gave a silent vote against the sense of the majority— A motion was made to reconsider at the last meeting, what had been done at a preceeding respecting the City Councils. It was lost by a majority of two to one— I was again in the minority—went from the meeting with disagreeable reflections but never expected to hear any thing more of the business— It seems however that even my silent vote was narrowly watched by somebody present— It disgusted & vexed the leaders of the majority & they cast some illnatured & 391 hasty remarks upon my motives—this was heard by some of the minority, who had resolved upon having a separate meeting in another place, for the purpose of proposing obtaining an alteration in the ticket proposed. I received an invitation to attend—went, and the meeting, which though small was respectable, agreed to appoint a committee of conference to endeavour to obtain from the other meeting’s committee, an alteration in favor of the old & tried servants. I am named as one of the Committee to confer, but we have not yet met on the business.1

This seems to me to be an epitome of the State of parties on the great political scale. The object in this instance is small, but human passions are often developed in very trifling concerns, so as to afford lessons of wisdom— The real cause of dispute, which I might never have known, but for the schism, is whether the City shall be supplied with water, by Latrobe’s Engines, or whether the Canal Company, which sunk so much property in leveling rocks & mountains to no purpose, shall have a chance to make a market for their stock, by bringing their scheme once more into view.2 I never can agree in opinion with a majority of these people.

Your letter to Tench Coxe, which he so obligingly & honorably gave over to “the Aurora,” has appeared, twice already; the remarks & comments must afford you amusement— I hope the types will never be unset, until the electioneering campaign is closed— It is an excellent standing dish for all palates—

I am, dear Sir / Your Son

I have not written You a line my dear son Since I returnd to this place, now three Months; I felt almost discouraged from writing, by not having received a line from You, for a very long period of time. Yours of Febry 18th at last reachd me in the month of july, and two days Since I received your favour of May 25th, for which accept my fervent thanks. the 17 of the present Month will compleat six years Since You left Your native Country. as I then advised You to go, I now advise you to return Six years is a period full long enough for a Man at Your years age to remain seperated from all those with whom he is hereafter to take a part, whether in private, or public Life. it is too long to be parted from those who have but a short leise of Life remaining to them, and to whom you are very Dear. Services renderd to a Country in a Diplomatic line can be known only to a few; if they are important and become conspicious they rather excite envy than gratitude, but at present it is My opinion that You May Serve Your country to more advantage at home than abroad You have tallents which cannot fail of being brought into action let who will hold the Helm; I have no great allurements to hold up to you. if You serve Your Country, You must do it from motives as disinterested, as Your Father has done before You; and very like, meet with as much abuse and calumny. You must endure envy, Jealousy and Mortifications of various kind’s. You will find those who have grown rich and prosperous under a wise and just administration of Government, rising up to over throw that system of political wisdom which has raised them to their present oppulence— I still request You to return to the Bosom of your parents and Make Some establishment for Yourself: it is high time that you were Setled—and in some regular course of buisness— tho a return to the Bar May be urksome to you after a lapse of years, I certainly would adopt the resolution; and come back to my profession with resolutions of moderation and occonomy So gratefull to your Countrymen, tho very little practised by them— to think of again seeing You, a wise and virtuous Man is a cordial to my Heart and mitigates in some measure the pressure of sorrow which weighs it down from an other source— by one from 393 which I have not a hope of change, habits are so rooted, the temper so Soured the whole Man so changed that ruin and destruction have swallowd him up, and his affairs are become desperate. Sally and her Infant daughter are gone to her Mother. susan I brought home with Me— all is lost— poor poor unhappy Wretched Man. all remonstrances have been lost upon him— God knows what is to become of him. His Father has renounced him— but I will not my dear Child afflict You. I bless God that I have Dear and Worthy Children, who serve to comfort and support Me under So trying a calamity— Your sister and her little Girl have past the Summer with me; the two Boys are at Atkinson in an accadamy where they behave well. the col has been appointed supervisor and inspector of the Port of Nyork, since the disbandment of the Army.1 as he has sufferd in the school of adversity, I hope he will consider; and Make a proper estimate of Life. Your sister will return to NYork this Winter.

Thomas is still in Philadelphia the City has as yet escaped the fever, and as the season is so far advanced I hope it will not be again visited with it— he will write to you as he frequently does— he is getting into buisness, and if his Life and Health Should be continued, I trust he will be Successfull. he possesses honor virtue and integrity upon Principles which are well founded

Your Father made a visit to the city of Washington before he returnd to Quincy. he was received with politeness and respectfull attention throughout his journey. he returnd the begining of July; much pleasd with his Tour.

The approaching Election occasions some fermentation; it is very difficult for Me to give you a clue to the present political agitation, without bringing before your View Characters which We have considered as the most respectable in this state, so changed in their Sentiments, and in their conduct as to create astonishment. the Mission to France has never met with there approbation. the late secretary of state took, whilst in office every possible occasion to excite the public sentiment against it— the removal of him became absolutely necessary; the Disbandment of the Army tho an act of Congress, and really a popular Measure, destroyed the hopes of a certain Little General possessd of as much ambition, as talents. no hopes of becomeing commander in chief, but by intrigueing and bringing in at the approaching Election a person who should hold the Reins, whilst he conducted the vehicle. to effect this purpose certain federilists in every state must be trained to the purpose, and deciplined. the removal of the late Secretary, who tho naturally sour 394 could not be supposed to be sweetned by So decisive a disapprobation of him, gave a good opportunity to seize upon him, to excite a clamour against the administration. the Essex junto were proper persons to carry into effect their measures and being much devoted to H   n he came on early in the Spring to concert his measures with them— previous to the rising of Congress a caucus was held by some influential Members who agreed to put up Gen’ll Pinckny as Vice President.2 Hamiltons language, here was, that the President had made himself So unpopular by the mission to France, that there was no chance of his being reelected, and therefore tho he ought to be Voted for, mr Pinckny was the Man who ought to be Elected. Jefferson must be Sacrificed at all events— to some the Party have represented the President as superanuated; true he was to be respected for former Services, but now he was grown old, and incapable of conducting the Government: lies and falshoods of all kinds have been raised and circulated, one that a coalition had taken place between the President and Vice President—and they had mutually engaged to support each other Writers in the public Papers have arrayed against each other. a series of papers under the signature of Dicius call’d the Jeffersoniad to prove him an Atheist, and every thing bad, have been publishd in Boston republishd in Philadelphia: young Lowell said to be the writer— Character of Hamilton in three numbers, in which he is extolled to the utmost pitch, as the first Character now upon the stage—asscribed to George Cabbot—signd no jealous Rival—3 the Characters leagued together are Cabbot Ames Lowell Higginson and the chief Justice. your old Master is also said to be in the same Box, tho he Does not go all lengths with them. the animosity of the judge, may be traced to the nomination of Gerry, and the mortification of finding Gerry stand So high as a candidate for Govenour of the state— every method and art is practised to bring the other NEngland Stats over to their System, but Many are aware of their views. they see that these people are driving the Country into an unhappy division, and that confusion and Anarchy must ensue— in what it will terminate time alone will disclose. the Jacobins are so gratified to see the federilist Split to peices, that they enjoy in silence the game, in this quarter whilst in the Southern states, they combine to bring mr Jefferson in as President— So much for Elective Governments— if we pass the ordeal this time, I am satisfied from what I have Seen and heard, that it is the last.

God save the United States of America—

I do not know by what conveyance this Letter will go. I do not send you any papers now, but should you get B Russels centinal, I would notify You that, that paper is devoted to the party. J Russels is the only paper of repute in Boston— I Mean it is less of a party paper—and has never given into any abuse upon the government. the English party have quite overuled the French party—but true Americans will not be duped by either— I hope You will Send us the Poem You have been engaged in translating;4 Your observations upon the Letters of the Northumberland Philosopher have been considerd as very accurate and just, a Wrestless Spirit; Cooper is still in prison writing Jacobinism for Duane paper—5

The late successes of Buonaparte in Itally give him a reputation as a Warriour, and his usurpation, as a Sovereign—6 I believe other powers will be led to treat, beside America that our differences will be so speedily and so readily accommodated as some Imagined. I am far from believing, yet tho we fail we certainly have not lost any thing—and we have gained time— we have not any official communications from our Envoys since May. Rumour says that the negotiation is broken of— if it is not, I believe it will be contracted protracted from the hope that a new President May grant them greater favours—

I shall endeavour to be more punctual in My correspondence, and give You our State of parties from time to time. I however see but little difference between French Jacobins and federal Jacobins as they are call’d one are for Democracy and the other would be for Monarchy if they dare openly avow it—

Your Father enjoys good Health, and bears all this bustle with that calm Philosophy which conscious integrity imparts; he will not voluntaryly quit his station at this critical time. if he is releasd, the concequences to the public will not lie at his Door— adieu