altho’ this Letter is somewhat of a public Nature, yet I dare not address you in a consonant manner, ’till the Point is settled between his Excellency and John Adams. I apply to you, as I feel you in my Heart to be; satisfied that the Yeas & Nays of no public Body whatsoever concerning Epithets can in any measure alter Essences.

Dear Sir,

Sturgis Gorham of Barnstable is my Brother in Law, whether I wished it or not; He is less beloved by me however on that Score, than because he has been habituated to esteem you. 1 Inspired early by the Prognostications of James Otis junr when you was on your first Barnstable Circuit, he has looked for an Event of Eminence which Time has realised; and he feels happy in considering the Merits of a young Barrister ripen’d into the Dignity of a Vice President of the United States for the Promotion of his and my Felicity in common with other Fellow Citizens. He is so situated in Barnstable as to be locally fit for a Collector. He has been so educated as to be fit for a scientific and efficacious officer of the Customs—is in Estate responsible and is deeply interested, personally and as a Citizen, to make a good Collector for the United States, in that District.

I cannot conceive how the President will nominate so great a Number of Officers as the Districts make necessary without depending much upon Informations; for he certainly cannot have personal Knowledge in such various Localities. In this Idea, I have written to Mr Partridge who is representative of the District.—2 I do not consider Mr. S. A. O3 as one whom the President will consult with Propriety—or as fit to be consulted in this Case, especially.

As on the one hand I would not seek for a Place myself unless in the full Idea of Faithfulness, so on the other I would not recommend any Man for any other Place but on the same Idea—

I consider this Attempt as connected with my own Reputation Mr. Partridge’s and yours so far as the President may be influenced by it, and I feel a conscientious Awe with Firmness.

I am Sir / your devoted Friend

However you & I may have been taught by Civilians, & however History confirms the Maxim, that an Imperium in Imperio is a Solecism, this Country will continue to learn from its own limited School, & by the most expensive Experiments, those Truths which Statesmen, Legislators & enlightened Politicians have in vain pointed out to them.—

Our present Confederacy is not very unlike the Monster of Nebuchadnezzar, which was composed of Brass, Clay & Iron— It is neither completely national, federal nor sovereign, for each State has reserved some seperate & independent Powers. Was it composed of the four Eastern States only: Or did it embrace the Inhabitants from the Hudson to the Potomack; or did the Limits of Virginia & Georgia confine its Operations, the Inhabitants might soon agree in consolidated national Principles. But a Country, extensive as the present united States, so differently settled, & so widely dissimiliar in Manners & Ideas cannot easily be reduced to a homogeneous Body—Nature & Circumstances have marked the dividing Lines of the three Kingdoms that fifty Years hence will Occupy & part the present immense Territory, which, the glorious Peace of Paris, gave to the united States. Twenty years ago New England contained but one Set of People, the Middle Colonies two, & the Southern Provinces 62 three. It may be different now. Common Dangers & Common Sufferings have had Effects in bringing Us nearer together, but it is a Monarchy alone, limited & republican if they please, that can make Us great or contented. While each State exercises the Powers of making distinct & particular Laws, independent in numerous Instances of the general Governments, although perhaps they may not amount to a direct Contravention of the Statutes of Congress, they will operate in perpetuating local & different Principles of Action, in the distant Parts of the Empire. I most heartily wish my Countrymen Freedom & an honest Independence, because Myself & Children are to participate in it, but I also wish an energetic, stable & magnanimous Government, that shall protect Us at home, and make our Country respectable abroad.

Mr. Ames & Mr. Minot are two excellent young Men, & very capable of serving their Country, in different Walks. I shew to the latter the Paragraph which so flatteringly mentions him & his History.1 He has beg’d Me to return his Thanks for so obliging a Testimony of your Approbation of well intended Labour.

I find by the Judiciary Bill which has been printed, that my Letter to the President is superceeded by a certain Office being to be disposed of as the District Judge shall think proper. And Of that Judge whoever he may be, I shall have no Favours to sollicit.

I am with great Affection & Respect / Dear Sir / Your faithfull Friend & Servant