University of Virginia Library

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

The returns from N. Hampshire, Vermont, S. C.,
& Georga are still to come in, & leave the event of

the Election in some remaining uncertainty. It is
but barely possible that Adams may fail of the highest
number. It is highly probable, tho' not absolutely
certain, that Pinkney will be third only on
the list You must prepare yourself therefore to be
summoned to the place Mr. Adams now fills. I am
aware of the objections arising from the inadequateness
of the importance of the place to the sacrifices
you would be willing to make to a greater prospect
of fulfilling the patriotic wishes of your friends; and
from the irksomeness of being at the head of a body
whose sentiments are at present so little in unison
with your own. But it is expected that as you had
made up your mind to obey the call of your country,
you will let it decide on the particular place where
your services are to be rendered. It may even be
said, that as you submitted to the election knowing
the contingency involved in it, you are bound to
abide by the event whatever it may be. On the
whole, it seems essential that you should not refuse
the station which is likely to be your lot. There is
reason to believe, also, that your neighbourhood to
Adams[121] may have a valuable effect on his councils
particularly in relation to our external system. You
know that his feelings will not enslave him to the
example of his predecessor. It is certain that his
censures of our paper system & the intrigues at new
York for setting P [inckney] above him, have fixed an
enmity with the British faction. Nor should it pass for
nothing, that the true interest of new england particularly
requires reconciliation with France as the
road to her commerce, add to the whole that he is said
to speak of you now in friendly terms and will no
doubt be soothed by your acceptance of a place subordinate
to him. It must be confessed however that
all these calculations are qualified by his political
principles and prejudices. But they add weight to
the obligation, from which you must not withdraw
yourself.

You will see in the answer to the P's speech much
room for criticism. You must, for the present, be
content to know that it resulted from a choice of evils.
His reply to the foreign paragraph indicates a good
effect on his mind. Indeed he cannot but wish to avoid
entailing a war on his successor. The danger lies in
the fetters he has put on himself & in the irritation &
distrust of the French government.