Agreeable to my promise in my last, I now inclose to you Mr Jeffersons letter, which I consider to be the counterpart of the letter to Mazzei and which, you must have more philosophy, than I think you possess, to read without bitter indignation—without execrating the author, in the most unqualified terms. The whole letter is in the canting style of the vilest demagogue of our Country.— Throughout insidious—in some places obscure. The letter is supposed to have been written to T. Fairfax of Berkely county in answer to one Mr. J. received from him, requesting him to deny that he was disbeliever of the Christian religion. It is confidently asserted that F. wrote such a letter to Mr. J. and there are good grounds for believing this is the answer.— Is it true, “that the great question which divides our citizens (true democratic dialect) is whether it is safest, that a preponderance of power should be lodged with the monarchical or the republican branch of our government.”1 No. A man must be politically blind, totally unacquainted with the state of parties in this Country or an infernal rascal who would dare to make so false an assertion. The great question in this Country is whether we shall have a mild government, administred on the mildest principles or anarchy—“the tempestuous sea of liberty.” This is the grand question which agitate parties in this Country. Dont you agree with me?

Executive “patronage.” This is an old hackneyed subject & has been harped upon by demagogues of all ages. It has been urged as a mighty argument for a reform under a monarchical government and has been made a principal engine of opposition in this. It is a political bugbear, imposed upon the people by insidious and unprincipled men to excite their passions—to make them jealous of and withdraw their affections from their government. Undue executive patronage does not exist in this Country and how is it possible that it should? Comprehending an immense territory, with nearly 8 millions of inhabitants, every one of whom thinks himself fully competent for any & every office in the Presidents power to give? There is no office vacant, however low in rank—however small its pecuniary reward, but 557 what there ten or fifteen, frequently twenty and thirty and sometimes I have known nearly an hundred, who have sollicited it. All the dissappointed candidates immediately are become embittered against the President and opposed to his administration and it is a certain and well known fact, that you may trace all the principal opposition of this Country to unseccessful sollicitations for office. So that I have solid ground for saying, that so far from the Executive gaining improper patronage by the his constitutional power of appointing to office, he makes himself many violent ennemies without any very warm friends. I say further, that there is scarcely a single power, vested in the Executive, which if he executes with integrity and to its full extent, will not make him as many ennemies as friends. In this Country, under our present Constitution, there is no danger of the a preponderance of the Executive over the legislative branch—but experience has proved, that there is every thing to fear from frequent attempts of the popular branch to usurp the prerogatives of the other and thus destroy the Constitution. “Armies and navies” “useless pageants”!!

Your letter of the 29th I have received with a sett of the Port folio— If it were not for your brothers Silesian tour I would not give much for all the numbers, but they render them invaluable. This seems to be the general opinion here. No writers beside have appeared of very great merit

None of the Judges of the S.C. have yet arrived except Judge Cushing & Chace. Judge P. will not be here & it is very doubtful whether Judge More will attend.

In great haste

The Senate have not yet concurred in the J. bill, the foolish conduct of Hillhouse & some others I fear, render it very doubtful whether it will pass2

I Suppose the reason why I have not had a Letter from You for a long time, arrises from Your expectation that I am upon my Journey; the Roads have been represented to me as so intolerable bad, and I know them to be So, that I have been prevaild upon to remain longer than I designd. I now think I shall stay untill after the 13th of Febry,1 the great important Day which may in its concequences deside the fate of our Country; I feel as it is so near at hand, as tho I could not quit the city untill I know what, or rather who is to be our future Ruler; never were a people placed in more difficut circumstances than the virtuous part of our Countrymen are at the present Crisis— I have turnd, & turnd, and overturned in My mind at various times the merrits & demerrits of the two candidates; long acquaintance private friendship and the full belief that the private Character of one is much purer than the other, inclines me to him who has certainly from Age Succession and public employments the prior Right. yet when I reflect upon the visonary System of Government which will undoubtedly be adopted, the evils which must result from it to the Country, I am sometimes inclined to believe that, the more bold daring and decisive Character would Succeed in Supporting the Government for a longer time.

what a lesson upon Elective Governments have we in our Young Republic of 12 years old? what is the difference of Character between a Prince of Wales—& a Burr—? have we any claim to the favour or protection of Providence, when we have against warning admonition and advise Chosen as our chief Majestrate a Man who makes no pretentions to the belief of an all wise and supreem 559 Govenour of the World, ordering or directing or overruling the events which take place in it. I do not mean that he is an Atheist for I do not think that he is—but he believes Religion only usefull as it may be made a political Engine, and that the outward forms are only as I once heard him express himself, Mere Mummery in short, he is not a believer in the Christian System— the other if he is More of a believer, has More to answer for, because he has gravely offended against those Doctrines by his practise

Such are the Men whom we are like to have as our Rulers— whether they are given us in wrath to punish us for our sins and transsgressions, the Events will disclose— but if ever we saw a day of darkness—I fear this is one which will be visible untill kindled into flame’s

My Health is better than it was the first part of the winter; I hope I shall be able to encounter this dreadfull journey, but it is very formidable to me, not only upon account of the Roads, but the Runs of water which have not any Bridges over them, and must be forded— Mr and Mrs Cranch are very well and dinned with me last sunday, as did William and Richard. to day the Judges and Many others with the heads of departments & Ladies dine with me for the last time— My best Regards to all My Friends and acquaintance. with the hope of seeing them e’er long I am / Your truly affectionate / Sister

Susan sends her Duty She has had the hooping cough, but is getting better—