University of Virginia Library

TO JAMES MONROE.

Dear Sir,—No definite steps are yet taken for the
transportation of your furniture. I fear we shall be
obliged to make use of a conveyance to Norfolk as
soon as one shall offer. I have examined the workmanship
of the man in Chappel street. The face of
it is certainly superior to that of your workman.
Whether it may prove much so for substantial purposes,
I do not undertake to say. Should Mrs.
Monroe not be pleased with the articles, I wd. recommend
that you dispose of them, which may be done
probably without loss, and send us a commission to
replace them. I think we could please you both;
and on terms not dearer than that of your purchase.
We learn nothing yet of a remittance from S.
Carolina.

The business of the Mississippi will I think come
to a point in a few days. You shall know the result
in due time.

A motion was lately made to remove shortly to
Philada. six States would have been for it. Rh.
Island was so at first and would have been a seventh.
One of the delegation was overpowered by exertions
of his Eastern brethren. I need not rehearse to you

the considerations which operated on both sides.
Your conjectures will not mistake them. My own
opinion is that there are strong objections agst. the
movement, objections which nothing would supersede
but the difficulty of bringing the sense of the Union
to an efficient vote in Congress, and the danger of
losing altogether a proper measure by waiting for a
proper time. A middle way would have been my
choice; that is, to fix Philada. for the meeting of the
ensuing Congs., & to remain here in the mean time.
This would have given time for all preliminary arrangements,
would have steered clear of the Convention,
and, by selecting a natural period for the event,
and transferring the operation of it to our successors
in office, all insinuations of suddenness, and of personal
views, would have been repelled.

I hear with great pleasure that you are to aid the
deliberations of the next Assembly, and with much
concern that paper money will probably be among
the bad measures which you will have to battle.
Wishing you success in this and all your other
labours for the public and for yourself, I remain, with
best