It gives me pleasure to read that you are making preparations of timber for a corn-house, and I hope Shaw will be as attentive as he can through the whole winter to all my manufactures of manure, that we may make a good cornfield in the summer.

I had yesterday a charming letter from Charles. According to him, had the electors of New York been chosen by the people, their votes would have been very different. The representation of the people in their present legislature is very unequal and partial in favor of the Antis and Clinton, as he has explained very intelligibly. Mr. Taylor, the new senator from Virginia, has made a motion for opening our doors and building a gallery; but he will not be assisted in his argument by the late example of Virginia, where the electors at Richmond opened their doors and held debates and made philippics before" the Marseillois," by which means six votes are said to have been converted either by reasoning or by fear. This example will not convince the majority of the senators of the necessity, expediency or propriety of opening their doors.

I have a warm chamber with a southern exposure, and have a fire in it day and night. I am warm enough o' nights, but cannot sleep as I ought. I have scarcely had a complete night's sleep since I left you, which keeps me apprehensive of the fever and ague in the spring. I hope, however, to escape it. I shall not be able to leave this place until the fifth or sixth of March. The roads will be bad and the jour

ney by the stage fatiguing, but I, who was born to be a slave must fulfil the end of my creation.

Tenderly,

J. A.

Blanchard to-day is to set all the world upon the broad stare at his balloon. I wish H. would make it an interlude and send him back to Europe.

LETTER CCVII.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

Philadelphia, 14 January, 1793.

I have re

It is known

THIS day I received yours of the 2d. ceived all the votes from all the States. that Georgia voted with North Carolina, Virginia and New York; and Kentucky voted for Jefferson. There is no other newspaper circulated in the back country of the southern States than Freneau's National Gazette, which is employed with great industry to poison the minds of the people. The federal court has again had a sitting in Virginia, and by reason of Mr. Jay's sickness, the great cause' is again continued, which serves to keep up the rage in that State and North Carolina, which is its echo.

Alexander Chisholm vs. The State of Georgia, involving the question, whether a State could be sued by a private citizen of another State.

If you hire the man you mention, you should know before hand what kind of skill and experience he has in farming, as well as his integrity and good disposition. I shall leave it, however, to you. Twenty-six pounds are too high. Twenty-four are enough; but if you cannot get one for less, we must give twenty-six.

I expect, ere long, to hear that Paine is split and sliced for an aristocrat; perhaps roasted, or broiled, or fried. He is too lean to make a good pie, but he is now in company with a number who are admirably qualified and disposed to feed upon each other. The foolish vote of the constituting assembly in favor of a rotation and excluding themselves from being reelected has cost every man of weight and talents among them his life, or his country and his fortune. All are murdered, banished and confiscated. Danton, Robespierre, Marat, &c., are furies. Dragon's teeth have been sown in France and come up monsters. The army has behaved better, and the people seem to be zealous; but if they have not some system by which they can be united, what is to be expected? We have our Robespierres and Marats, whose wills are good to do mischief, but the flesh is weak. They cannot yet persuade the people to follow them. If the National Assembly can subdue the mutinous rabble at Paris as well as Dumourier has driven the Prussians, they may be free, and do something, but what, I know not.

Tenderly yours,

J. A.

LETTER CCVIII.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

Philadelphia, 24 January, 1793.

OUR good friend, General Lincoln, gave me this morning your favor of the 7th, which compensated in part for my disappointment by Monday's post. I set my heart on one letter a week, and as many more as you please.

I cannot say that my desire of fame increases. It has been strong in some parts of my life, but never so strong as my love of honesty. I never in my life, that I know of, sacrificed my principles or duty to popularity or reputation. I hope I am now too old ever to do it. But one knows not how trials may be borne till they are made. The hell-hounds are now in full cry in the newspapers against the President, whom they treat as ill as ever they did me. The same insolent and impudent Irishman who is said to have written so much against me, is now suspected to be writing against him.

Both houses of Congress are making strict inquisition into the treasury, with upright and patriotic views, no doubt. Hamilton will find no more mercy than is due from a generous nation to a faithful servant. But I presume his character will shine the brighter. However, it is still but an experiment whether the ministers of state under an elective ex

ex

ecutive, will not be overborne by an elective legislature. I believe it to be certain that two elective houses of legislation, or even one, have it in their power whenever they shall have it in their will, to render any minister of state, or even any elective ecutive, unpopular, though he may be possessed of the best talents and most perfect integrity. I presume that neither of our houses will be disposed to such injustice, but the time may come.

I am so well satisfied with my present simplicity, that I am determined never to depart from it again, so far as I have. My expenses in future, forever, shall at all events be within my income, nay, within my salary. I will no longer be the miserable dupe of vanity. My style of life is quite popular. What say you to living with me in lodgings next winter ? This shall be my plan, if I cannot hire a house for six months only. Your friends, who are very numerous, inquire tenderly after your health. Benson says he is for making Mrs. Adams Autocratrix of the United States. This, however, must be secret, because it is a sort of treason.

Tenderly yours,

J. A.