I received yours of the 9th and thank you for the excellent matter which it contained.1 Mr Shaw has not sent you any papers from hence, because the papers have not been worth transmitting, a torpor appears to have seized every person and the query what can be done? what will be done? what ought to be done? seems to be the questions, amongst the three parties, into which not only the Legislature but the Country is divided. Some are for Jefferson, some for Burr, others for making no choice, if the latter should be the case, the President will immediately refuse being considered as a candidate, the spirit of party has arisen to such a height, that it cannot be appeased by the wisest and best measures, which might however for a time have arrested the progress of it, but the devision of the federal party amongst themselves, produced the change in the administration. And from being united in support of the Government & the constitution, they became a faction in support of an individual, whom they have failed in carrying. Division has caused all the mischiefs which threaten us. Conscious that no part of this blame can justly be attached to the President, who has conducted the affairs of the nation without partiality, and without hopocricy, he retires, or rather is pushed off by a combination of circumstances as little honorary to the Country, he has so faithfully and successfully served, as I fear it will prove to their peace tranquility or happiness. For myself I have but a few more short years to remain, should my life be protracted to even three score years and ten, I cannot therefore for myself regret the change, but instead of calmness, and serenity in retirement I foresee strife and contention for my Country. Should ever that unfortunate period arrise, the President will have the satisfaction of knowing and feeling, that he did not leave his Country, for surely no obligation remains upon him to be again the 531 mark for calumny (intrigue), and falshood, for the rage of party vengeance to shoot at, the Country and not he, must be responsible for all that is to follow. The more genious, industry, and spirit are employed to destroy, the harder the task of saving the Country becomes; those who go about to destroy, are animated from the first by ambition and avarice, the Love of power and of money, Fear often makes them desperate at last they must be opposed by a spirit able to cope with ambition, avarice and despair itself, where is this manly and disinterested spirit to arise. is the service of our Country rendered either honorable or pleasurable, is it rewarded by gratitude or respect? let the present annals declare.

I learn that General Hamilton is opposed to the election of Burr & has written several letters to that effect, he is also opposed to the ratification of the convention, and as he is assuredly dictator over a certain part both of house and Senate, his influence will pervade both.2 He may however find himself out Generaled as it respects the convention. he thinks if Jefferson is elected, he may more easily be hunted down than Burr, at least I conceive that is his motive, united to feelings that revolt at the idea of Burrs exaltation over him, thus does ambition often over shoot the mark. I readily believe that all the candid Demos, would readily compound to have things as they were. I have heard that said here. I do not chuse to express an opinion with respect to either candidate. I hope they are not sent in wrath to rule over us.

I inclose you a Boston News Boy, in return for your N. York, tell the Coln that I received last week his letter by General Armstrong.3 General Gunn has been sick ever since his return from Philadelphia, so that nothing has been done though I trust all is safe.

I shall let you know when I leave this place and I shall get on as far as New York, where I will rest a few days. Susanna has got the hooping cough, she has had it near a month, it pulls her down, but she will not I hope, have it very bad, my love to Caroline.

Be assured my dear daughter that I am ever / Your affectionate Mother.

I have your favor of the 15th: instt: and am pleased to find in it an interpretation of the 6th: Article of the Convention with France, which had escaped my reflection—1 Viewing it as a provision only to operate after the expiration of our treaty with G Britain, it may be both natural & proper, but as the time when it was to operate was not specified, many others, like myself, have supposed it to be quite incompatible with our precedent engagements—

It has always appeared strange to me, that the same men and the same families, who during the first paroxism, which the french Revolution produced among all ranks of people in this Country, were led away with the most extravagant admirers & partizans of revolutionary doctrine, should have vibrated to the opposite extreme, without seeming to be aware of the glaring inconsistency of their behavior. In the years 1791. 2. 3–4. yourself & family were obnoxious to the greater part of the now high toned Oligarchiques, because you were firmly opposed, from conviction of their evil tendency, to the principles of the french Revolution, and it is remarkable, though not surprising, that a judicious and discriminating foreigner, should be the only one to applaud & to notice your opinions in this particular. I allude to the pamphlet of Mr: Gentz and the note to page 56. where he speaks of a conversation between M. de Brissot and yourself, for the authenticity of which fact he appeals to Brissot’s 533 tour itself.2 I have a vivid recollection that so early as the year 1789 when I was at New York, you drew my attention to two french works of great merit & singular application to the Revolution which had just then burst forth in France; and although I was then too young and too much a tyro in the french language, or the science of politics, to appreciate the records which those books contain—I have since read them with delight and I hope with improvement. The Books were L’esprit de la ligue, & L’esprit de la fronde. The Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz are of the latter period, and not less instructive than either.3 Our Countrymen, who affect to be so learned, so wise, and to have attained such perfection in the Science of government, are almost universally ignorant of all these repositories of wisdom and experience; and they are obstinately bent upon going over the same turbulent round of experiment, which must inevitably lead to the same pitiful & deplorable results, and all for the love of liberty—

The adherents of Mr: Hamilton are men of violence; impetuous in their resentments and utterly regardless of the ties of gratitude. They can discern no title to favor or support in any but devoted partizans. In general they are hostile to our present institutions, and therefore feel no obligation imposed upon them to promote the success of them. They imagine that opposition is the only means to effect a change more consonant to their wishes. The Democrats, who are a vast majority when compared with this small band, profess that the design & scope of their opposition is to restore the Government of the Country to old, original principles. The plausibility of their doctrines is irresistibly persuasive with the multitude, who have in all ages been gulled out of their liberties by such gilded artifices. They yield to the syren song of these base & profligate seducers, who no sooner have robbed them of their chastity than they desert them, or impose heavier shackles than they wore before.

The Judiciary Bill now labouring in the house of Representatives, excites some attention. I, for one, think that the salaries proposed for the Judges are too high. It is true that Two thousand dollars per annum, is a small compensation to men of the first talents and repute in their professions; but some discrimination proportioned to the different prices of living, in the several Circuits, ought to be made.4 The people of this Country are not lightly taxed for the degree of liberty & security & protection they enjoy— I will go as far as any individual in this Country, in contributing, according to my means, towards the support of a permanent, respectable and numerous Navy— It is all the defence we want against foreigners and 534 the only gurantee we shall ever obtain for our National growth. But in our domestic regulations, frugality bordering on parsimony would be excusable in order to secure the other object.

Should the judiciary Bill be enacted into a law, this Session, there will be an host of officers to appoint, before the rising of Congress, and numerous applications will doubtless be made for those places. Mr: Ingersoll, who will be at Washington in February would be able, if consulted, to designate suitable characters in this State, and I hope his advice will be asked.

I am with true respect & attachment / Your Son