What! are my venerable Old Friend Gates, and my respectable old Acquaintance Osgood, and my intimate Connection W. S. Smith, about becoming Town Meeting Men and to aid the Democratical Societies, the Constitutional Societies and the Jacobinical Clubbs, in their Attempts to overawe the Government of their Country? or is the Object to divide the People into Parties? or to force Us into a War Nolens Volens, Nolentes Volentes?1 or what does it all mean?

Is it Clintonian Electioneering? or is it that Osgood and Smith are setting Up for Representatives? Was you at the Meeting? What says the Wise Baron to all this? tell me Charles all about it in Confidence— Dont let any of them know that I asked the Questions or that you answered them.2

Let me know another Thing is Mr Burr a Man of Such ample Fortune as to purchase Richmond Hill and large Additions to it, make Improvements of very expensive kinds and all this? Is the Practice of Law such a mine of Gold with You? Has he moreover so great a share of that Practice?3

We have been a Week with our Doors open trying Mr Gallatins Election: and have had much sterling Sense, much sound Law, much strong Reasoning much harmonious Eloquence and much brilliant Action: but We have had Some puerile Declamation, some Party Spirit, some miserable sophistry, some transports of Passion, and Some ignorant unintelligible Jargon. The Ballance however was greatly for the Honour and Dignity of the senate, and the Decision just and right.— Be discreet and secret. dont expose these free strictures which are intended for your confidential Use & Amusement.

What Figure did you make with your Cause? Dont make me wait a Week now, for an Answer.

I am, with usual regard

You will doubtless hear before this reaches you, the event of a Town-meeting which was called here lately for the purpose of helping forward Mr: Madison’s resolutions, and of intimidating our respresentatives who opposed them. After great [exertion] had been made to raise a Committee ready for every thing, [and the?] Committee had reported a number of resolves to answer [their purpo]ses, a very decided majority of a crowded town-meeting, voted to adjourn without day, and did not even hear a discussion of the resolves. The lurking serpent was perceived and avoided. The commercial part of the Town were almost unanimous, and the aversion to any measures which might be productive of War, appeared very decidedly to be the prevailing sentiment with the citizens of every description. The Jacobins were completely discomfited, and will have the mortification to find their intended poison, operate as an invigorating cordial.

The arrival of the new Minister from France, and recall of Genet is another circumstance of mortification to the same party. They are not yet sure that Mr: Fauchet, will imitate his predecessor by connecting himself and his Country with a desperate Faction intent upon the ruin of our own Government, and while that remains an uncertainty they feel extremely fearful of losing their main support. I hope however that the new plenipoteniary, will pursue a different system, and that we shall still be permitted to remain at Peace.

Our Supreme Court has been sitting about a fortnight. Without being overburthened with business, I have on my hand[s sufficie]nt to employ almost all my time, and to keep upon my mind, a continual anxiety, which unfits me for any thing else. This will be my excuse, for having so long neglected to write you.

Since the contest between Americanus and Barneveld, the reputed author of the former, has treated me with an unusual degree of civility. He has even in one or two causes of considerable consequence, advised his client’s to engage me.— I know the Man, and shall have as little dependence upon his kindness, as I have fear of his resentment. I know he will never injure me, while I keep myself out of the reach of his malice.

My mother I presume gives you constant information respecting the state of my Grandmother’s health. She has had a long illness, and still continues in a dangerous situation. At her age every disorder is alarming; we have hopes however that she will yet recover.— The rest of our friends, here, and at Quincy are well.

The abandonment of Toulon by the fleet of England and Spain, and recapture of the place by the French republicans is our most recent European intelligence, and that is not yet fully authenticated. We have no late arrivals from Europe here, though I believe some are soon expected.

I remain Dear Sir, your affectionate Son