Yours of July 9 & 27 are unanswered.

I cannot reconcile myself to the Idea of a Division of this Continent, even fifty Years hence. great Sacrifices ought to be made to Union, and an habit of Obedience to a well ordered, and judiciously limited Government, formed at this early Period. a Dissolution of the Union involves Consequences of so terrible a kind, that I think We ought to consent to an Unity of Executive Authority at least, if not even to a Consolidation of all Power in one national Government rather than Seperate. We must first, however make a fair Tryal of the present system.

The Compensation to the Vice President, is, to be Sure, a Curiosity.— But the fault is entirely in the Massachusetts. There is not a State in the Union so weak in its Policy as that. There is not and never was these 15 Years any Union or Harmony among her Delegates

They never had a head—those whose Vanity pretended to be foremost had no heads on their shoulders. The Consequence has been, that altho the first Men have been produced by that state tho their military Power has been equal to almost all the rest: tho their 160 commercial Advantages are superiour to any other; Yet they have the Reputation of nothing: their Commerce has been half ruined, and their Liberties nearly overwhelmed.— I Seriously think that their whole State Policy has been weaker than any in the Union.

The Opposition to the V. P. salary originated in Massachusetts.— Massachusetts moved to cutt off 500£ of my Salary in Europe immediately after I had made them a Peace. If that State is not made a signal Example of Vengeance against Injustice and Ingratitude, it will not be because it has not deserved to be.—

Other States reward their Benefactors. King, only for manœuvring Congress out of their design to go to Philadelphia has been nobly rewarded.— But a Man may drudge forever for Massachusetts and die a beggar,; nay what is worse die in disgrace. God forgive them.

how the President will decide, on the judiciary Appointments I know not.— There is no system nor Harmony among the Men from Massachusetts—One recommends one, and another another. Dont you be chagrin’d, mortified humiliated nor vexed Let it go as it will.

I am, sir yours

My second son the bearer of this letter as soon as he was out of College was entered as a student at Law in the office of Colo: Hamilton upon certain conditions, one that if I should remove from New York, he should be at liberty to remove with me, and another was that if Hamilton should be made a minister of State his pupil should look out another patron. The latter condition being now realized, I send my son to you sir in order to know upon what conditions you will take him into your office.1

If it should not be inconvenient to you to receive him I should be obliged to you for your answer. I must still make a condition that I may be at liberty to take him with me wherever I may go. He will board with me, and attend your office as he did Col Hamiltons, from ten in the morning till three in the afternoon.