I thank you for your favour of the 25th Ult. and its Contents.

A Governor of a State in a Solemn Speech to both Houses, at the opening of a session, expressing a private Opinion only of a Treaty and that in the most rude insulting and unmeasured Language is such a Complication of Imbecility Hypocricy and Superannuation, As I never heard of.

I pray that my Country may take from me all temptation to remain in office after the app before the Approach of Dotage shall take from me the Capacity of doing any thing but Mischief to the Public and dishonour to my Character.

Whatever Tenderness of Friendship I may feel for a Gadsden a Rutledge a Dickinson, a Warren or an Adams, with all of whom I have acted on the Public stage in earlier Life, I am Stunned and astonished at their Vanity Presumption and Ignorance— I cannot but ascribe it to the Imbecility and decrepitude of Age.

In their Solitudes, unable to read, to converse or to think, destitute of all the Information which Government possesses. do they think to dictate and to domineer, like Pædagogues over school boys?

I wish you would write me oftener and more in detail.—

I am very happy to find that my Friend Dr Eustis has acquitted himself like a good Citizen and a wise and Upright Man upon this occasion. His first Thoughts and feelings on the Treaty I can easily account for, without the Smallest Imputation on his Motives Conduct or Character. His Ultimate Determination to leave the Thing where the Constitution has placed it does honour to his Head and Heart.1

I wrote you about your and Mr Codmans Clover seed and wait your answer.2 My Regards where due

I was this morning favored with your obliging Letter of the 31 ult.— D’Ivernois is very industrious— I hear no more of his plan of transplanting the University of Geneva into the united States. He is a sensible diligent man, and I suspect that his Correspondence with Mr Gallatin has done no Harm—1

It gives me pleasure to find that in your opinion no great mischief will be done by the combustible Materials in Congress— If like Doctr. Youngs Squib, they only “burn hiss and bounce, waste paper, stink and dye” all will be well.2 The Tide has changed, and begins to run strong— I hope it will be observed and used, or as they say in Massachusets, improved.—

To be with my Family is a Comfort, and yet I have too much to do with public affairs to be comfortable— You can retire from the Senate to your Country Seat, and pass six months of otium cum Degnetate—3 We have both had busy Lives, and I apprehend that in the fluctuation of human affairs, I am not to expect to enjoy the Tranquility and Repose which all wish for, but which few find until they pass to that country where the weary rest from their Labours—and 445 where parties and Politics have no admittance. I suspect that young nations like young people are apt to burn their Fingers; and that we have yet much wisdom to learn, and to pay for— I think I see in this country the seeds of Trouble; and that our political machines will in more Senses than one get out of order— But be these things as they may, I believe it to be wise to do all the good we can, and to enjoy all the good we meet with—

That you may always meet with a liberal Share of it, is the wish of / Dear Sir / your affte. Friend & Servt