Yesterday I received the newspapers which you enclosed with my Mother’s letter of the   instt:—& which by accident was sent on to Washington instead of Philadelphia—1 Moreover not having had time to read the papers yesterday, they were laid aside and I did not, until this morning, discover my Mothers letter, which was concealed in one of the papers. You will easily believe that the letter was more valuable to me, than all the Gazettes, though I am not the less obliged to you for sending them. This morning also brought me your favor of the 21st: instt: with more papers.2 I am thus supplied with an abundance of unprofitable reading, from which however I find it difficult to refrain— Upon an average, I read, or rather, look over, between 30 & 40 Diaries pr week, and it seems to me, whatever some of my friends may think to the contrary that I cannot be fairly accused of apathy or indifference to the political concerns of my Country—

Your’s & my Mother’s letters some times give me information, which is not to be collected from the public prints— I learn with regret, the political Schism, which many gentlemen of talents, influence & fortune have too readily & too lightly given in to. They have not been & never can be so materially affected by the measures, which seem to have incurred their censure, as to authorize their present cool & Sullen behaviour towards the Chief Magistrate. There is something foul & rotten at the bottom of this systematic distance, observed by certain distinguished characters. The public cannot readily fathom it, because a veil is drawn before it, which conceals the cloven foot under plausible professions, necessary to carry on the delusion.

I hope the depth & wickedness of the plot will be seasonably laid open, and defeated. Junius Americanus, is the only writer I have seen, who knows the Actors thoroughly— His No 3, which you point out to me, is the Key to the whole Cypher— The composition is nervous, spiritual & intelligent. It strikes at the root & every blow is felt by the faction against whom it is aimed.3 His vindication under the signature of “Truth” is not so able as it might be, for his opponents expose themselves at all points. I have not read with so much attention the two first numbers, but I will look them up again— Our friend J. G. is struck at as the Author— He is the most probable man 388 I can fix it on & I should not be at fault, in the least, if his father-in-law, did not rank with the Junto.4 Our friend J. Q. how is he? I am afraid of his connections too—though, if he had a good adviser, and his ambition should not too much interfere he would try to be right. There are very few of Mr: Adams’s advocates in this State— We are all Jacobins or Hamiltonians— But the high toned federalists, would not risk the experiment of a change in the Administration, for the sake of securing Mr: Pinckney— At least, they say so. Boston folks say the same. Believe them who may.

On the subject of Our Envoys to France—Plutarch to which I referred you, in the Gazette of the U. S. was inserted at my request, in reply to some stupid remarks of the Aurora, upon the intelligence or rumor, that the negociation was broken off. Something I knew, would be said, and as I had undertaken, (under the auspices of D——e, who shows a good disposition to co-operate), to effect a regeneration of that paper—it struck me as a good opportunity for beginning the work— The paper had so bad a name, when Fenno left it, and the public were so thoroughly disgusted with it, that the labor seems Herculean to redeem it from perdition. D—— has not an unlimited controul over it, & the proprietor is less refined in his taste & more deficient in Education, than could be wished; I think the paper improves by degrees, & I think nothing outrageously indecorous will hereafter find admittance into it.

Have you seen the pamphlet published by Fenno? It out does the Aurora in extravagance & scurrility & blasphemy, against the Government & the President. I think “it will do the State good service.”5

The long threatened letter, has at length come out, in the Aurora of to day—with remarks—6 I send the paper, but you must return it, with all the rest I have sent. The file is invaluable to me—

Here is a dish of politics for you, which I would not take the trouble to set before any other than yourself—

I am sorry to hear of your excellent Mothers violent & serious indisposition; but it is grateful to hear that she had so far recovered, as you represent. I do not despair of seeing her once more, in this world, though my lot is cast in a corner so remote from all my tenderest connections.

Remember me kindly to all friends, particularly to my Cousin Boylston, of whom you say less in your letters than heretofore. Your anecdote of Job Bass is pithy, I mean to put in the newspaper, for the benefit of Duane—7

Good night, I am weary of scribling / Your’s sincerely—

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